Head of Product Innovation, Development and Management at a Reputable Company

We are seeking a dynamic and visionary Head of Product Innovation, Development & Management to lead the evolution of our product portfolio in a rapidly transforming digital landscape. This role is central to our mission of delivering cutting-edge, AI-powered solutions that drive business transformation across industries. You will be responsible for shaping product strategy, fostering innovation, and ensuring seamless execution from concept to market. The role is both strategic and tactical, requiring a balance of creative vision and pragmatic decision-making to successfully bring to life products that resonate with customers, improve the company's competitive edge and engender business diversification.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and execute a bold product vision aligned with the company’s growth strategy and client needs.
• Collaborate with senior leadership, including the Technology, Operations and Business Development executives to define product vision, goals, and priorities.
• Lead product roadmap planning and prioritization, balancing short-term and long-term goals, and managing trade-offs effectively.
• Develop and manage a product roadmap that reflects market trends, client feedback, and emerging technologies.
• Lead the integration of AI, machine learning, and automation into product strategy, design, and lifecycle management.
• Identify opportunities to leverage machine learning, predictive analytics, and generative AI to enhance product performance and customer experience.
• Champion the use of AI to accelerate product ideation, prototyping, and personalization.
• Evaluate emerging AI trends and tools to inform product roadmap decisions.
• Lead experimentation with AI-powered tools for market analysis, user behavior modeling, and feature optimization.
• Oversee the development of data-driven product strategies using AI-enhanced insights.
• Ensure ethical and responsible use of AI in product development, including bias mitigation and transparency.
• Launch and oversee innovation labs or pilot programs to test AI-driven solutions and digital tools.
• Establish a culture of innovation through design thinking, agile experimentation, and rapid prototyping.
• Identify and evaluate new technologies, platforms, and methodologies to enhance product offerings.
• Oversee the full lifecycle of products—from ideation and development to launch, scaling, and sunset.
• Oversee multiple product lines and ensure alignment with business goals.
• Develop Go-To-Market strategies for all products in the portfolio.
• Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure product performance, identify areas for improvement, and inform data-driven decision-making.
• Implement robust frameworks for product performance tracking, customer feedback, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with data privacy, cybersecurity, and ethical AI standards.
• Collaborate with clients to co-create solutions that address complex business challenges.
• Conduct in-depth market research and competitive analysis to identify market opportunities and dynamics to inform product strategies, positioning differentiation, innovation and updates.
• Serve as a product evangelist, both internally and externally, to drive awareness, adoption, and success of the company’s products in the marketplace.
• Represent the company at industry events, thought leadership forums, and client engagements.
• Build and lead a high-performing product team, including product managers, UX designers, and AI specialists.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and growth-oriented team culture.
• Mentor emerging leaders and promote cross-functional learning.

Experience & Expertise

• Age: 35–45 years
• 10–15 years of progressive experience in product development and innovation, preferably in IT consulting or enterprise technology.
• Proven track record of launching successful digital products and platforms.
• Proven success in product innovation, project delivery, and managing cross-functional teams.
• Deep understanding of AI, cloud computing, and enterprise software ecosystems.
• Experience interacting with regulators and integrating product APIs.
• Experience with agile methodologies, design thinking, and data-driven decision-making.
• Strong knowledge of data science and cybersecurity.

Educational & Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.
• Master’s degree (e.g., MBA, MSc in Digital Transformation, Innovation, or related fields) is a significant advantage.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in the ICT industry.
• Relevant professional certifications are desirable, such as:
  • Certified Product Manager (CPM)
  • Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
  • Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO)
  • Certified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP®)
  • New Product Development Professional — PDMA

Key Competencies

• Strategic and analytical thinking.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong leadership, mentoring and team management skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Ability to stay informed about competitive activities and industry best practices.
• In-depth understanding of the regulatory and compliance landscape.
• A deep understanding of information and data privacy legislation, such as the GDPR, NDPR 2019 and NDPA 2023.
• Ability to prepare comprehensive business cases and go-to-market strategies.
• Expertise in business development and partnership management.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, evolving digital environments.
• Strong knowledge of emerging product trends and technologies.
• Experience in market research and data analysis.
• Excellent project management skills, with experience overseeing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency in financial modelling and development of business cases.
• Demonstrated ability to work in cross-functional teams and proven ability to facilitate workshops and brainstorming sessions.
• Experience liaising with external partners and stakeholders.
• Familiarity with pertinent technology evaluation and vendor assessment.
• Strong customer engagement and feedback collection skills.
• Strategic thinking and ability to foresee market and technology shifts.
• Innovative mindset with a passion for technology solutions.
• Honesty and Integrity.
• Confidentiality and Accountability.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary with performance-based incentives
• The opportunity to lead and build a high-impact Product Innovation, Development and Management function.
• A collaborative and innovative work environment
• Career growth and continuous professional development

Remuneration: Attractive and competitive.