Background

The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) is seeking an Assistant Director, Innovation to join their team. The IRA's vision is to be the leading insurance industry regulator, with a mission to effectively regulate, supervise, develop the insurance industry and protect insurance beneficiaries. Their core values include Accountability, Team Spirit, Integrity, Professionalism, and Customer Centricity.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate formulation and implementation of innovation policies, objectives and initiatives in line with the Authority’s strategic agenda.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary innovation programmes addressing current and emerging issues in the insurance industry.
• Coordinate identification and strengthening of linkages with research and learning institutions for collaborative innovation.
• Coordinate development of innovation proposals to address identified gaps and mobilise financial and technical support from partners.
• Coordinate dissemination of innovation outputs through workshops, seminars, conferences and publications.
• Coordinate promotion of new ideas and innovations through innovation hubs, challenges and competitions.
• Coordinate development and implementation of innovative initiatives for consideration within the regulatory sandbox and BimaLab.
• Provide technical input in development, implementation and review of the Board’s strategic plan, vision, mission and objectives.
• Coordinate establishment, nurturing and strengthening collaborations and partnerships with Government agencies, development partners, the private sector and other key stakeholders to enhance synergy, resource mobilization and effective delivery of the Department’s mandate.
• Coordinate formulation, implementation, monitoring and review of the Department’s annual budgets, procurement and disposal plans, performance contracts and annual reports to ensure prudent resource utilization, operational efficiency and alignment with the Board’s strategic priorities and governance frameworks.
• Coordinate coaching, mentoring and developing staff to foster a high-performing, motivated and ethical workforce that effectively delivers on the Department’s mandate.
• Coordinate formulation, implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of the Department’s risk management policies and frameworks to ensure robust systems for accountability, enterprise risk management and business continuity.
• Coordinate development, implementation and periodic review of the Department’s Citizen Service Delivery Charter to enhance accountability, transparency and service excellence in addressing stakeholder needs and expectations.
• Foster and entrench a conducive corporate culture that upholds ethical conduct, integrity, professionalism and good governance within the Department, in line with the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and the Board’s core values.
• Coordinate development and implementation of corruption prevention and mitigation strategies in the Department.
• Coordinate implementation of principles of Corporate Governance, relevant national policies, guidelines and directives within the Department.
• Coordinate management of public complaints resolution, information access requests and public awareness initiatives to enhance transparency, stakeholder engagement and public confidence.
• Coordinate development, implementation and review of Annual Departmental budget.
• Coordinate development, implementation and review of Departmental annual procurement and assets disposal plan.
• Coordinate Departmental Resource mobilization.
• Coordinate day-to-day Department activities and ensure smooth operations in line with approved work plans and performance targets.
• Undertake multidisciplinary studies on priority and emerging insurance sector issues to generate evidence for decision-making.
• Implement approved innovation policies and procedures within assigned programmes and projects.
• Execute pilot innovative projects to test solutions to identified sector challenges.
• Prepare periodic progress reports on innovation activities to inform management and stakeholders.
• Appraise the direct reports.

Qualifications and Experience

• Nine (9) years cumulative relevant work experience, three (3) of which should have been at the level of Principal Research & Innovation Officer or in a comparable and relevant position.
• Bachelor’s degree in any of the following fields: Economics, Insurance, Risk Management, Statistics, Business Management or related Social Sciences or equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.
• Master’s degree in any of the following fields: Economics, Insurance, Risk Management, Statistics, Business Management or related Social Sciences or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.
• Leadership Course lasting not less than four (4) weeks from a recognized institution.
• Proficiency in computer applications.
• Proficiency in analytical software (e.g., SPSS, STATA, R, Nvivo).

Competencies and Skills

• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Analytical skills
• Report writing skills
• Presentation skills
• Mentoring, coaching and leadership skills.
• Conflict management

• Coordinate formulation and implementation of innovation policies, objectives and initiatives in line with the Authority’s strategic agenda.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary innovation programmes addressing current and emerging issues in the insurance industry.
• Coordinate identification and strengthening of linkages with research and learning institutions for collaborative innovation.
• Coordinate development of innovation proposals to address identified gaps and mobilise financial and technical support from partners.
• Coordinate dissemination of innovation outputs through workshops, seminars, conferences and publications.
• Coordinate promotion of new ideas and innovations through innovation hubs, challenges and competitions.
• Coordinate development and implementation of innovative initiatives for consideration within the regulatory sandbox and BimaLab.
• Provide technical input in development, implementation and review of the Board’s strategic plan, vision, mission and objectives.
• Coordinate establishment, nurturing and strengthening collaborations and partnerships with Government agencies, development partners, the private sector and other key stakeholders to enhance synergy, resource mobilization and effective delivery of the Department’s mandate.
• Coordinate formulation, implementation, monitoring and review of the Department’s annual budgets, procurement and disposal plans, performance contracts and annual reports to ensure prudent resource utilization, operational efficiency and alignment with the Board’s strategic priorities and governance frameworks.
• Coordinate coaching, mentoring and developing staff to foster a high-performing, motivated and ethical workforce that effectively delivers on the Department’s mandate.
• Coordinate formulation, implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of the Department’s risk management policies and frameworks to ensure robust systems for accountability, enterprise risk management and business continuity.
• Coordinate development, implementation and periodic review of the Department’s Citizen Service Delivery Charter to enhance accountability, transparency and service excellence in addressing stakeholder needs and expectations.
• Foster and entrench a conducive corporate culture that upholds ethical conduct, integrity, professionalism and good governance within the Department, in line with the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and the Board’s core values.
• Coordinate development and implementation of corruption prevention and mitigation strategies in the Department.
• Coordinate implementation of principles of Corporate Governance, relevant national policies, guidelines and directives within the Department.
• Coordinate management of public complaints resolution, information access requests and public awareness initiatives to enhance transparency, stakeholder engagement and public confidence.
• Coordinate development, implementation and review of Annual Departmental budget.
• Coordinate development, implementation and review of Departmental annual procurement and assets disposal plan.
• Coordinate Departmental Resource mobilization.
• Coordinate day-to-day Department activities and ensure smooth operations in line with approved work plans and performance targets.
• Undertake multidisciplinary studies on priority and emerging insurance sector issues to generate evidence for decision-making.
• Implement approved innovation policies and procedures within assigned programmes and projects.
• Execute pilot innovative projects to test solutions to identified sector challenges.
• Prepare periodic progress reports on innovation activities to inform management and stakeholders.
• Appraise the direct reports.

• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Analytical skills
• Report writing skills
• Presentation skills
• Mentoring, coaching and leadership skills.
• Conflict management
• Proficiency in computer applications.
• Proficiency in analytical software (e.g., SPSS, STATA, R, Nvivo).

• Nine (9) years cumulative relevant work experience, three (3) of which should have been at the level of Principal Research & Innovation Officer or in a comparable and relevant position.
• Bachelor’s degree in any of the following fields: Economics, Insurance, Risk Management, Statistics, Business Management or related Social Sciences or equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.
• Master’s degree in any of the following fields: Economics, Insurance, Risk Management, Statistics, Business Management or related Social Sciences or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.
• Leadership Course lasting not less than four (4) weeks from a recognized institution.