Innovation Specialist - Emerging Products

At U.S. Bank, we’re on a journey to do our best. Helping the customers and businesses we serve to make better and smarter financial decisions and enabling the communities we support to grow and succeed.  We believe it takes all of us to bring our shared ambition to life, and each person is unique in their potential. A career with U.S. Bank gives you a wide, ever-growing range of opportunities to discover what makes you thrive at every stage of your career. Try new things, learn new skills and discover what you excel at—all from Day One.

Job Description

Summary:

As an Innovation Specialist on the Emerging Products team, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of financial services by identifying, evaluating, and developing new product and service opportunities. You will apply a data-driven, customer-centric approach to inform strategy, guide internal stakeholders, and drive innovation initiatives at various stages throughout the development process. Operating with minimal supervision, you will support high-impact projects and apply deep expertise in product development and emerging technologies.

About You:

Are you naturally curious? Do you see possibilities where others see limitations? Are you energized by emerging technologies, cultural shifts, and new ideas? If you’re passionate about innovation and eager to apply your product development, management, or marketing skills in meaningful ways—this role is for you.

We’re looking for a self-starter and lifelong learner who thrives on exploration and experimentation. You’ll absorb insights from inside and outside the organization and transform them into actionable ideas. If you're not excited by "what's next," this may not be the role for you. But if you love research, ideation, and having a little fun while doing serious work, we want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify opportunities for innovation in financial products and services, and define strategies that deliver competitive advantage.

• Conduct independent research, facilitate customer interviews, and apply methodologies like Lean Startup and journey mapping to discover new ideas.

• Support product development across phases—exploration, proof of concept, pilot, and commercialization.

• Apply quantitative methods to validate value propositions, pricing, and positioning.

• Create initiative readouts summarizing insights, outcomes, and recommendations.

• Develop business cases and collaborate with business lines to bring successful concepts to market.

• Align product development agendas across internal teams to ensure smooth execution.

• Stay current on technology trends and financial services industry developments.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

• 3-5 years of relevant experience in product development, innovation, or related fields

• Ability to effectively work in-person and remotely

• Strong cross-functional collaboration and interpersonal skills

• Demonstrated ability to learn, adapt, and challenge conventional thinking

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• General understanding of banking with the ability to think beyond traditional models

• Hands-on experience with generative AI and a working knowledge of its applications

• Familiarity with product development methodologies including Lean Startup and Agile

• Proven track record of executing and implementing projects

• Strong research, analytical, and investigative capabilities

• An ability to tell data-driven stories

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Technical aptitude and comfort with digital tools

• Financial and competitive analysis expertise

• Ability to anticipate shifting market and customer needs

• Deep customer-centric mindset focused on delivering exceptional experiences

Impact:

You will help shape the bank’s innovation strategy by turning insights into action, guiding product vision, and ensuring that every initiative is grounded in customer value. Your work will directly influence the future of financial services and contribute to a culture of continuous innovation.

**The role offers a hybrid/flexible schedule, which means there's an in-office expectation of 3 or more days per week and the flexibility to work outside the office location for the other days.**

If there’s anything we can do to accommodate a disability during any portion of the application or hiring process, please refer to our