Sr. Director of Innovation

About Us:

The Wolfe Companies, LLC, a leader in the Gift Card and FinTech sectors, is known for its prominent brands such as PerfectGift, Gift Card Granny, GiftYa, Reaf Marketing, and Give InKind. Our company excels in delivering exceptional value and customer experience in our industry. You'll find detailed information about our company culture, values, and the recognition we've earned in our industry at the top page of our career site.

Role Summary:

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Director of Innovation to lead our newly formed Innovation Department.

As the Senior Director of Innovation, you will play a pivotal role in driving creativity, fostering a culture of forward-thinking, and spearheading transformative initiatives within the Wolfe Companies. Your mission will be to propel our company’s growth by identifying novel opportunities, validating innovative concepts, and translating them into practical solutions. If you thrive on pushing boundaries, envisioning the future, and turning ideas into reality, this role is tailor-made for you.

If you’re passionate about shaping the future of financial technology and driving innovation, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Together, let’s redefine the boundaries of what’s possible!

The ideal candidate will exhibit the Culture and Values important for success at The Wole Companies; Caring, Drive, Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence. She/He will have a strong background in software engineering leadership and project management and will be scrum certified with a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Vision and Leadership:

• Develop and articulate a clear innovation strategy aligned with our business goals.
• Lead cross-functional teams, inspiring them to embrace innovation and think beyond conventional boundaries.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to integrate innovation seamlessly into our overall business strategy.

Idea Generation and Validation:

• Champion the ideation process, encouraging creativity across all levels of the organization.
• Research and identify emerging trends, disruptive technologies, and market shifts relevant to our industry.
• Evaluate and validate new ideas rigorously, considering feasibility, market potential, and alignment with our vision.

Proof of Concept (POC) and Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Development:

• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and designers to translate validated concepts into tangible POCs or MVPs.
• Oversee the development, testing, and iteration of prototypes, ensuring they align with user needs and business objectives.
• Drive agile experimentation, learning, and adaptation to refine and enhance innovative solutions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with engineering, design, marketing, and business development teams.
• Foster a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives contribute to breakthrough ideas.
• Facilitate workshops, hackathons, and brainstorming sessions to ignite innovation.

Continuous Learning and Trend Monitoring:

• Stay abreast of industry trends, competitive landscapes, and technological advancements.
• Attend conferences, participate in industry forums, and build a network of innovation thought leaders.
• Encourage a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing within the organization.

Metrics and Impact Measurement:

• Define key performance indicators (KPIs) for innovation initiatives.
• Regularly assess the impact of innovation efforts, adjusting strategies as needed.
• Celebrate successes and learn from failures to drive continuous improvement.

Leadership:

• Lead the newly formed Innovation Team and ensure that projects are managed, measured, and delivered on time.
• Embody Caring, Drive, Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence. And expect these values of others.
• Hire, manage and develop team members.
• Be accountable for deliverables.
• Coach and upskill team members.
• Follow Scrum processes.

Drive Thought leadership:

• Build and foster industry and academic relationships.
• Create and file patents on novel innovations.

Qualifications:

• Strong leadership skills.
• Strong attention to detail and technicalities.
• Excellent organizational and technical abilities.
• Good interpersonal and multi-tasking skills.
• Experience with Jira, Confluence, and project management tools.
• A proven track record in inno