Customer and Innovation Manager

SUMMARY:
Leading, Durban based Services company seeks a highly inquisitive Customer and Innovation Manager with superior research and analytical skills to track and predict trends in an ever-changing industry to give a competitive advantage.

POSITION INFO:

This is a critical role in driving change and new growth, cultivating innovation capabilities within the organization, and new technologies to be one step ahead. 

You will need:

• Superior research and analytical skills to track and predict trends.
• Deep understanding of significant aspects of technologies, business models, and regulations relevant for the industry.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to persuasively sell ideas.
• Hospitality background will be of interest
• 10+ years of relevant experience in innovation, technology, research and development, product development, and/or solutions development.
• Relevant degree or equivalent in Business Management
• Demonstrated success in defining a culture of innovation and driving dramatic growth through new revenue sources.

Duties:

• Create an innovation strategy that is understood and endorsed by key stakeholders including executive leadership, employees, customers, and partners.
• Build a well-balanced innovation portfolio and roadmap that drives investments & growth.
• Ensure that the company is successful in taking its innovations to market in a timely and scalable way.
• Responsible for tracking new technology developments in areas of interest to the business to ensure that it maintains a technological edge within the industry, analysing and improving upon technology standards, and maintaining organizational awareness of new technologies.
• Use innovation to differentiate the company in the market, provide unique value to customers and help build long-term relationships with customers.
• Follow customer responses to new ideas to track and analyse success.
• Monitor research and development of other organizations to spot trends in innovation and supplement research findings in the company’s industry.
• Analyse existing practices to isolate areas ripe for improvement or enhancement.
• Encourages creative thinking in employees and finds ways to nurture innovative thinking across all areas of the company.
• Push business boundaries and challenge long-held assumptions.
• Rethink solutions to emerging business problems.
• Develop cutting-edge ideas that invite change and differentiation.
• Keep all new projects in line with the company’s mission and maintains consistency with the company’s vision and brand.

NB! This job is now closed. You can apply for other jobs by uploading your CV.