JOB PURPOSE.
The purpose of the job role is to be responsible for, and actively contribute to, leading and organizing innovation efforts and promoting conditions and capabilities in support of innovation, in World Vision East Africa Region (WV EAR) in technical collaboration with SomReP (Somali Resilience Program) and SomRIL (Somali Response Innovation Lab). The role is responsible for creating value for the organization, thus coming up with new or improved products, business, operational models or services. The position holder will focus on mainstreaming innovation tools, HCD (Human Centered Design) curriculums, brokering partnership between innovators, humanitarian agencies, and donors primarily in the East African region.
KEY RESPONSIBILITES
Innovation Strategy
To lead development and continuous update of the organization’s innovation strategy in coordination with key stakeholders.
Align and integrate the innovation strategy with strategic objectives of the organization, including operational and business models, and road maps for products and services
Maintain an innovation portfolio (consisting of e.g., innovation- or new business development projects)
Define and assess key organizational prerequisites (structure, staffing, etc.) for implementing the innovation strategy
Develop appropriate metrics to measure the effectiveness (e.g., number of new or improved offerings) and efficiency (e.g., throughput time) of the innovation process
To lead development and the continuous maintenance of an inventory of innovation methods and tools, including idea management systems, idea generation methods, staff training programmes, and internal networking initiatives.
Innovation Leadership
Provide strategic leadership on Innovation commitments and goals in every office, and support Line Managers
Lead and support the coordination and quality implementation of Innovation work plans promoting synergies.
Work closely with the Global Office and National Office colleagues to review and adapt innovation systems and processes to support project implementation.
Provide leadership in the identification, design, formulation and negotiation of new projects and programs and draft concept notes and project document briefs for discussion with partners
Identify and work with incubation and acceleration business providers to develop and implement an incubation/acceleration program aimed at equipping the cohort businesses in: product-market fit, and other key planning activities.
Provide leadership in aligning and integrating the innovation strategy with strategic objectives of the organization, including operational and business models, and road maps for products and services
Adaption and Innovation Support
Provide technical guidance to field offices in the co-creation process during piloting and scaling by facilitating matchmaking process
Provide guidance in running local innovation challenge to build the innovation capacity of the local ecosystem
Support National Offices and Line Managers to ensure learning processes are in place to understand, capture and share learning and impact.
Help build a community of practice amongst local innovation hubs, working with innovation practices and facilitate long-term thinking and learning on how change happens in different contexts
To promote an innovation friendly organizational culture supporting experimentation, open communication, empowerment, autonomy and a tolerance for failure
Support the development of learning and communications resources and resources such as case studies, tools, guidance and insights papers
Help develop how the team consolidates, organises, and shares the learning and insights
Support the growth of a culture of learning, including using learning as an evaluative measure, and sharing from experience.
Partnerships and Collaborations
Organize convenors to bring together key stakeholders to unpack the key challenges and map the problem owners to initiate the innovation journey at field office level
Support the SomReP Chief of Paty, National Directors and Regional Leader to execute the partnership engagement strategy for the entire community including donors, start-ups, investors, corporates, mentors, advisors, and domain experts.
Contribute to planning future innovation initiatives and collaborate with the resource mobilisation team to secure appropriate funds.
Work closely with the Grants Team to implement and grow the Innovation grant portfolio that provides business start-up and expansion grants to targeted businesses and scale-up stages
Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice relevant to innovative partnerships with the private sector; public sector and the overall donor community, including identifying best practices that can be shared nationally and internationally.
Work closely with RIL team both at regional and global level to develop pathways to both vertically and horizontal
Portfolio Management and Quality Assurance
Provide oversight of Innovation funded projects are implemented on time, on scope, on budget and meeting defined quality expectations.
Provide leadership in formulating strategies and plans for risk reduction programming, emergency preparedness and response activities in Innovation Projects
Collaborate with Operations Leadership and Program Quality & Development Unit, to ensure that all program designs meet the required best practices and standards.
Working closely with the MEAL team, ensure that robust monitoring and evaluation, quality data collection and analysis systems are in place, adhered to and used as a decision-making tool, encouraging consistency across projects and for future learning.
REQUIRED EDUCATION, TRAINING, LICENSE, REGISTRATION, AND/OR CERTIFICATION.
Must have first degree in Information Technology; Industrial Design; Social Science, Business Management, International Development or any relevant degree that is supported by innovation experience.
REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
At least 5 years’ experience in a relevant at managerial position, of which the three years must be experience in managing entrepreneurial/innovation projects, incubators and accelerators.
Prior experiences of facilitating human centered design process.
Must demonstrate experience in at least two of the area of developing and executing partnerships; program development plans; proposal writing; acquisition of projects and project development.
Demonstrated ability to cultivate, build and maintain strong working relationships with universities, research institutions, industry experts, associations and like-minded institutions that are into innovation.
Knowledge of innovation processes, techniques and approaches (knowledge of some specific techniques and approaches such as design thinking, systems thinking, sense making, systems/ecosystem mapping and visualisation, futures and prototyping would be an advantage).
Familiarity of working with a large humanitarian/development organization and navigating systems.
Demonstrates well-developed interpersonal skills, excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, as well as negotiation skills and professional maturity. Highest proficiency in written English.
REQUIRED TRAVEL AND/OR WORK ENVIRONMENT ACCOMMODATIONS
Nairobi office-based with travel to field locations.
Travel: Up to 30% travel within East Africa.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND/OR OTHER QUALIFICATIONS.
Strong partnership management skills
Experience of using innovation tools like Design Thinking frameworks, Lean Startup Methodology, Idea Management tools etc.
Ability to use tools like: brainwriting, idea collection, tracking and scoring, mind mapping, business model canvas etc.
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