Innovation Manager – SomRep

With over 70 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 34,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Here’s where you come in:

As Innovation Manager – SomRep, you will 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). You will be responsible for creating value for the organization, thus coming up with new or improved products, business, operational models or services. You 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.

Requirements include:

• 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.
• 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 centred 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).
• 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.
• Nairobi office-based with travel to field locations. Travel: Up to 30% travel within East Africa.