Manager Research

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB

To lead efforts to drive the culture of organisational innovation, strategy research, and initiatives that advance the Bank’s strategic objectives and enhance its competitive position in the market.

Reporting to the Head of Strategy and Innovation, this role will play a key role in shaping the Bank’s innovation agenda, identifying emerging trends, and translating insights into actionable strategies.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• B Degree in Engineering, Business Science, Economics or related field
• Postgraduate qualification in Engineering, Business Science, Economics or related field
• Advanced Excel skills
• 5 – 7 years experience in a role supporting Investment Banking/Agricultural Finance.
• 3 years working experience in statistical analysis and statistical packages.
• 3 years experience in Financial Modelling.
• 3 years experience in market research.
• 3 years experience in product management.
• Critical Competencies:

• Environmental management policies and practices
• Financial Policies and Procedures
• Agricultural Industry & Writing skills
• Knowledge/Experience of Business Environment
• Sound knowledge of key legislation applicable to deal origination and structuring e.g. Companies Act 2008, Income Tax Act, Insolvency Act, Competition Act, etc.
• BBBEE Codes of Good Practice specifically Financial Service Sector and Agricultural codes to apply to product analysis

Requirements

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

1. Innovation Strategy and Culture

• Develop and execute the Bank’s innovation strategy and culture, aligning with business goals, macro environmental trends, and key stakeholder needs.
• Identify opportunities for disruptive innovation, product development, and process improvement that drive growth and differentiation.
• Foster a culture of innovation and creativity across the Bank, encouraging experimentation, risk-taking, and knowledge sharing.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, customer insights, and competitive dynamics through ongoing market research and intelligence gathering.
• Translate market insights into actionable recommendations and strategic initiatives that drive business growth and enhance competitiveness.

2. Strategy Research and Development

• Lead strategy research initiatives to explore emerging macro environmental trends (incl. economic, demographic, technological, natural, social and cultural, legal and political trends) which have an influence on the Bank’s strategic choices and decision making and have an impact upon its performance.
• Establish the strategic considerations that should be undertaken by the Bank in a short, medium and long term basis to leverage success in the changing environment.
• Undertake regular stakeholder and market research to understand the key needs and expectations of the Bank’s stakeholders
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define strategy research priorities, design experiments, and analyze data to generate actionable insights.
• Manage the end-to-end strategy research process, from hypothesis formulation and data collection to analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of findings.

3. Development of Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration

• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with research institutions, academia, startups, and industry collaborators to leverage external expertise, resources, and capabilities.
• Collaborate with external partners to co-create innovative solutions, pilot continuous improvements (including new processes and technologies), and drive collaborative research projects that deliver value to the company and its stakeholders.
• Identify and evaluate potential strategic partnerships, alliances, and opportunities that align with the Bank’s strategic objectives.
• Foster strong relationships with key stakeholders, industry partners, and external advisors to support strategic initiatives and business development efforts.

4. Develop / Introduce Systems and Technology Platforms to Enable Organisational Innovation

• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive landscapes to identify opportunities and threats that impact the company's innovation agenda.
• Evaluate potential systems and technology platforms that may be deployed in the Bank to promote innovation.
• Make recommendations to senior leadership on strategic priorities, resource allocation, and investment decisions based on sound analysis and insights.