HEAD, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

The Position

Reporting to the Director Marketing, this role is responsible for managing the product innovation pipeline and its effective execution & commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

• Developing a pipeline of products to ensure a sustainable stream of innovative solutions to continuously deliver topline growth.
• Manage new product development projects to maximize speed to market and drive organization alignment.
• Use customer insights to identify potential new product opportunities and market dynamics.
• Provide leadership, creative and strategic oversight throughout the process.
• Use judgment, influence and gatekeeping to stop less viable projects early to avoid unproductive consumption of resources.
• Develop product positioning/repositioning strategies for entire portfolio in order to drive retention/ culling decisions.
• Drive new product development via collaboration with peers across the organization and working closely with the executive management team.
• Responsible for direct management of new product development personnel to include establishment of objectives, key work assignments, and performance management

The Person

For the above position, the successful applicant should have the following: 

• A holder of a degree from a recognized university. Professional qualification in Marketing & or Innovations. An MBA or Master’s degree will be an added advantage.
• Have at least 8 years proven experience in 5 years of which should be in Marketing management position, 2 Years in product development & innovations at a senior management position.
• Experience in Bank operations functions of a commercial bank at a senior managerial level.
• Have strong relationship or communication skills with cross functional team.
• Has a strong drive in execution to meet tight timelines.
• Experience in the identification and management of new channels expansion.
• Should have a thorough knowledge of Retail Banking Products, services and the financial services Industry.
• Should have excellent high, influencing and negotiation skills with the ability to positively and clearly communicate with a variety of constituents.
•  Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish new client relationships and generate new business.
•  Excellent planning, problem solving and analytical skills
• Should have strong leadership skills.

The above position is a demanding role which the bank will provide a competitive package for the successful candidate. If you believe you can clearly demonstrate your abilities to meet the criteria given above, please submit your application with a detailed CV, stating your current position, remuneration level, e-mail address and telephone contacts quoting the job title/reference in the subject field to recruitment@kcb.co.ke.

To be considered your application must be received by June 13, 2014.

Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

JOB REF: MKT03/2014