Resp & Qualifications
PURPOSE:
The Innovation Advisor empowers and enables project teams, responsible for the delivery of innovative solutions (e.g. new products, processes, businesses, prototyping, etc.) to real-world problems and challenges. This role includes strategic consulting and support to pods as they create innovative solutions from concept to validation, acting as both a player and coach along the way.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Innovation portfolio and solution development consulting, advisory, coaching. Empower pods in the development and delivery of solution sets (products, businesses, processes, etc.) from problem to proof of concept to validated minimum viable product (MVP), including:
- Day-to-day work of dedicated solution (or “pod”) team, ensuring utilization of relevant tools and techniques such as human-centered design and Lean methodologies
- Standardize market research methods and actively contribute to hypothesis development, experiment design to drive new solutions
- Preparation of target user personas, market sizing, journey maps to identify and prioritize user pains, unmet market needs and design principles
- Facilitation of ideation sessions, customer planning, and stakeholder demo meetings to solicit feedback for product components and user experience
- Iteration on prototypes and proofs of concept to identify new potential solutions and business models for commercialization and/or internal transformation
- Development of business modeling for proposed solution(s) and partner with stakeholders such as Market Research, Strategy, Planning & Finance on inputs to business case as needed
- Identify and resolve business obstacles throughout solution discovery and development
- Create clear structure, timing, action plans, meeting cadence, recaps, presentation materials, ad hoc analyses, and other supporting materials as needed
- Build and maintain internal relationships and external resources (e.g., consultants, subject matter experts, etc.) that help facilitate rapid, iterative experimentation
- Facilitation of cross functional teams (including Healthworx resources, CareFirst associates and external partners) and drive progress towards milestones and deliverables
- Translate business needs into executable requirements. Work closely with business stakeholders, and technical teams to understand, analyze, refine, prioritize, and communicate needs to ensure full understanding of solution scope, objectives, and requirements
Innovation portfolio operations: oversee resource coordination, shared services and external partner management activities for “pods. Maintain tools and processes to measure portfolio management, performance management processes, and overall forward progress of Innovation projects
- Collaborate with Healthworx Operations team and core shared services (e.g. procurement, IT, others as identified) to ensure that pods have relevant resources to work and minimal operational obstacles
- Onboard and offboard external partners to relevant project-based tech tools
- Oversee feedback collection, capture and archive learnings from projects, methodology, process, people feedback
Data-driven strategic recommendations: Ensure pods’ capture of key metrics, outcomes, and measures of solution validation at each stage of development and cycle (Research, Design, Development, Beta test, etc.). Leverage these outputs to recommend to governance bodies (Healthworx and CareFirst leaders) whether to advance the solution to a next stage, pivot, or discontinue, etc.
Continuously deepen and improve Innovation methodology skillset in order to fill in gaps for pod teams as they emerge. Represent Innovation throughout the enterprise through participation in Innovation Council meetings, stakeholder management, and discussions and meetings as identified
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education Level: Bachelor's Degree in Bachelor's degree in Design, Business, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering or equivalent
Experience: 8+ years’ experience working in an innovation role – at a specialized consulting firm, incubator, accelerator, venture studio, a design firm, and/or within a corporate innovation team OR 8 years in a product development, product strategy, or a startup leadership role with oversight of multiple concurrent initiatives and teams of direct and indirect reports, preferably experience building tech solutions OR in lieu of a Bachelor's degree, an additional 4 years of relevant work experience is required in addition to the required work experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior experience working in Startup/Incubator environment, Product Teams, Digital Agencies, Corporate Innovation, and/or Strategy Consulting
- Prior experience in heavily regulated industries, tech, healthcare or other digital companies and early ventures
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
- Strategic thinker with the ability to build and execute innovative solution sets (e.g. digital, tech, process or otherwise), combined with tactical ability to execute simultaneously against multiple competing priorities
- Strong project management skills. Must be able to provide structure, be proactive, navigate ambiguity, manage stakeholders, hold others accountable without authority, and create appropriate professional collateral (e.g., decks, white papers, design briefs, project plans, etc.)
- Leading cross functional teams and extracting the best from each team member, ability to leverage change management best practices to mitigate resistance, Track record of taking action “getting things done” with minimal guidance
- Exceptional communication, active listening, critical thinking, and presentation skills
- Passionate about the healthcare innovation, trends, attending events, etc.
- Ability to actively communicate with, inspire and motivate all levels of staff
- Ability to work and manage initiatives independently. Ability to work independently without supervision and navigate day-to-day decision making
- Experience working with teams comprised of a variety of skills (research, experience design, software development, marketing, project management, data and technical operations)
- Ability to network with key contacts within and outside CareFirst and create formal networks with key decision makers
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office packages and common innovation tools (e.g. Jira, AirTable, Mural, Mentimeter, etc.)
- Must be able to effectively work in a fast-paced environment with frequently changing priorities, deadlines, and workloads that can be variable for long periods of time. Must be able to meet established deadlines and handle multiple customer service demands from internal and external customers, within set expectations for service excellence. Must be able to effectively communicate and provide positive customer service to every internal and external customer, including customers who may be demanding or otherwise challenging
Department
Department: Corporate Development
Equal Employment Opportunity
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
Hire Range Disclaimer
Actual salary will be based on relevant job experience and work history.
Where To Apply
Please visit our website to apply: www.carefirst.com/careers
Closing Date
Please apply before: 11.17.2021
Federal Disc/Physical Demand
Note: The incumbent is required to immediately disclose any debarment, exclusion, or other event that makes him/her ineligible to perform work directly or indirectly on Federal health care programs.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The associate is primarily seated while performing the duties of the position. Occasional walking or standing is required. The hands are regularly used to write, type, key and handle or feel small controls and objects. The associate must frequently talk and hear. Weights up to 25 pounds are occasionally lifted.
Sponsorship in US
Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without Sponsorship