Job Title: Senior Innovation Associate

Start Date: ASAP

Reporting to: Manager – Innovation Consulting

Hours: Full-time

Duration: 24 months

Location: Lusaka (Primary); Hybrid – Office/Remote

About the Innovation Unit:

The Innovation Unit at BongoHive Consult helps organizations build products and services their customers love. We use strategy, creativity, sector and business insights, and technology; bringing our vast experience supporting high-growth ventures to co-create what’s next.

As an Innovation Associate in the BongoHive Consult – Innovation Unit, you will contribute broadly in the following ways: 

• Provide recommendations and strategic/tactical plans based on business data and market knowledge. 
• Create specifications for reports and analysis based on business needs and data elements. 
• Provide consultation to clients and lead cross-functional teams to address business issues.

You will work with the rest of the BongoHive Consult team to handle innovation projects and assignments, following a human-centered, Agile, UX, and Lean approach, designing and deploying products and services to enter the Zambian and regional markets on behalf of BongoHive Consult and our clients.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Leverage BongoHive Consult’s unique abilities to apply innovative approaches to address complex business challenges both internally and externally.
• Work closely with our partners to identify the problems that need to be solved in their context, and the right approaches to solving them. 
• Assist in the design and delivery of various innovation approaches and activities in collaboration with the rest of the team ensuring a seamless end-to-end experience for clients.
• Identify external and internal innovation opportunities that align with market trends and business needs and help develop an organizational path forward in driving more innovative outcomes for the organization.
• Collaborate across other functional teams to support operational work and the integration of information into strategic planning recommendations.
• Lead project management and coordination/development of work plans, deliverables, and activities.
• Supervise other associates and interns that are in the unit.
• Maintain reports and other resources.
• Manage internal and external client relationships and cultivate new relationships to support Innovation priorities.
• Support the Innovation Manager in the operational running of the unit.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Post-secondary education in a relevant field, or a combination of relevant education and experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of fundamental concepts, practices, and procedures of strategic analysis, entrepreneurship (or intrapreneurship), design thinking, and/or innovation.
• Experience working with Human-centred Design, Agile, UX and Lean methodology approaches preferred.
• Keen interest in technology and digital transformation (experience working in the field a plus).
• Strong organizational skills and detailed orientation.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Exceptional quantitative and analytical skills.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability to analyze and interpret data, identify errors, and prepare presentations or reports.
• Ability to negotiate, influence, and collaborate with others.
• Ability to work well as part of a tech-first, fast-paced, asynchronous team.
• Proclivity for learning new, and seemingly complex methodologies. 
• A positive attitude, professional appearance, and manner (in written and verbal communication).
• Ability to learn and effectively use new software and other technology to manage operational processes.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, and work both collaboratively or independently as tasks require.
• Excellent computer skills, not limited to Microsoft Office and Google Drive.

Supervision Given/Received:

• Manage team projects and ensure quality deliverables.
• Lead project planning and management of data collection and reporting.
• Make recommendations to management by presenting data summaries, briefs, reports, and presentations.
• Serve as a resource for management to make informed business decisions.
• Typically report to a Manager or Director.