Head, Innovation & R&D Studio at Polaris Bank Limited

Polaris Bank was established by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on September 21, 2018 to offer commercial banking services to the Nigerian public. The bank commenced services on the same day, having purchased the assets and assumed certain liabilities of the defunct Skye Bank.With a footprint of over 350 branches across the country, Polaris Bank prides itself in delivering exceptional customer experience, leveraging best in class/state of the art Information Communication Technology (ICT). By focusing on ICT solutions across multiple service delivery channels (mobile banking, ATMs, POS and online platforms) Polaris Bank maintains a pivotal role in the Nigerian banking industry, providing customers with simple, convenient and secured banking services.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head, Innovation & R&D Studio

Location: Lagos
Job Type: Full Time

About the Role

• The Head, Innovation & R&D Studio explores emerging technologies and develops new solutions to drive Polaris Bank's future growth.
• This role directs three functions — Emerging Technology Research, Rapid Prototyping, and Proof of Concept Development — through specialist leads and engineers.

Key Responsibilities
Emerging Technology Research Oversight:

• Direct research into AI, blockchain, IoT, and other emerging technologies relevant to banking
• Maintain a technology foresight function that keeps the bank ahead of market shifts

Rapid Prototyping Oversight:

• Oversee the development of MVPs and prototypes to test new concepts quickly
• Drive design sprint practices that reduce time-to-market for new ideas

Proof of Concept Development Oversight:

• Direct the development and validation of PoCs with partners and customers
• Ensure innovation pilots are rigorously evaluated before recommending further investment

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field; advanced degree an advantage
• Demonstrated track record leading innovation, R&D, or new product incubation functions, ideally in banking or a comparable regulated industry

Core Competencies:

• Technology foresight and innovation strategy
• Rapid prototyping and design sprint facilitation
• Business case development and investment validation
• Partner and cross-functional collaboration

Familiarity With Tools (used by the function's teams):

• Industry research and technology scouting platforms; Figma, InVision, low-code/no-code platforms; PoC frameworks, validation and collaboration tools.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online