Head Innovation at Safaricom Kenya

Detailed Description

Reporting to the Chief Business Development and Strategy Officer the role holder will lead innovation transformation that will help Safaricom meet its purpose of transforming lives.  The incumbent will lead the development of new scalable solutions that solve customers’ needs, through the delivery of customer centric products, services and solutions.  As part of the Business Development team, the head of innovation will be responsible for creating a stimulating, innovative and entrepreneurial environment that is founded on the Safaricom Spirit. The incumbent will lead new thinking and new product management processes, from ideation to proof of concept, pilot phase, and into commercialization.  In addition, he/she will be a creative leader who will combine Safaricom’s strategy and Vision with an understanding of the regional market, a passion for customers and a track record for leading the development of innovative/transformational usable products/solutions.

Key accountabilities

• Own the creation, execution and successful delivery of the Innovation Product and solutions, which includes managing the full product lifecycle from ideation to commercialization
• Develop, implement and manage the application of Safaricom’s innovation framework
• Lead the development of new products and/or solutions that meet customers’ needs and ensure the Safaricom’s continued growth.
• Understand and analyze customer needs. And then lead teams to solve for specific customer & business needs using cutting edge innovations that result in critical business outcomes
• Initiate and prioritize projects within squads in partnership with relevant tribes and stakeholders.  
• Engage closely with the technology tribes and teams to help determine the best technical implementation methods and with reasonable execution schedules;
• Manage squads with designers, architects, programmers, engineers and other professionals

Job Qualifications

• Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills;
• Demonstrated managerial skills;
• BS/MS in Engineering, Computer Science, Business and/or related technical area or equivalent practical experience;
• 10-15 years of work experience
• 7 years of proven track record of leadership roles ideally in the entrepreneurial space;
• International experience;
• Distinct analytical and systematic thinking;
• Design methodology skills and
• Strong Project Management skills. Experience in Agile ways of working