Value Stream Lead

This is a senior role responsible for driving the innovation agenda for Etihad with the purpose of positioning Etihad as an innovation leader within the airline industry and the Abu Dhabi ecosystem. The role holder will support In building a culture of continuous Improvement and Innovation In Etihad and lead the identification of emerging and future digital trends to deliver value to Etihad and its customers, building a network of global innovation partners including start-ups and government entities to support the ideation process and delivery of prototypes and products.The Innovation Value Stream Lead is an innovator who identifies new solutions and digital technologies to deliver on Etihad���s strategic imperatives. The role holder will manage the innovation lab and its seed fund for project delivery and chair the innovation value stream board, made up of business and DTI representatives, which will assess the market and technical potential of innovative ideas using measurable criteria to decide which ideas are prototyped and trialed, and which initiatives are taken forward by DTI value streams.ResponsibilitiesStrategy & PlanningDrive the innovation agenda, ensuring rapid delivery of prototypes and pilots that demonstrate the potential to create value for the organisation Lead the identification of emerging and future digital trends that could deliver value to Etihad���s customers and the organisationResponsible for working with the business to articulate well defined problem statements / requirements for which potential solutions can be prototyped and tested with the business and Etihad���s customersDrive the validation and assessment of market / technical potential of innovation ideas using measurable criteria. Provide key stakeholders with data driven insights on the value an innovative idea could create for the organisation and work with the business to define the investment that would be required to create a minimum viable product Foster an innovation culture through internal events and competitions such as hackathons, using tools, such as crowdsourcing to replenish the innovation funnelDrive the strategy and implementation of iFikra, Etihad’s internal ideation engagement platform for employeesBuild a network of global innovation partners including start-ups, government entities and academia to support the ideation process Management and OperationsManage the innovation lab and pipeline of projects and hold budget responsibility for the labLead a team of Product Owners and provide line management and performance management of the teamDefine the career path for resources within the innovation value stream and oversee the learning and development plans for these resourcesCreate an environment that enables autonomous teams by fostering a culture of open and honest communication, a shared vision, retrospection and recognitionOwn the resourcing of projects with the support of other Value Stream Leads and the Resource Management and Capacity Lead. Ensure the appropriate sizing of the team and drive recruitment decisionsAccountable for the proactive identification of cross value stream risks, issues and dependencies, acting where necessary to ensure swift resolutionOwn relationships with senior business stakeholders, take action to address impediments, manage risks, and drive relentless improvementChampion agile and modern waterfall techniques, be a seen as a role model in these disciplines, leading by exampleLead and motivate a high performing cross functional delivery teams that will consist of resources from other areas of the Digital Technology and Innovation function e.g. DevOps Prototyping and PilotingOversee innovation ideation workshops with the business using the Design Thinking methodology. Drive the discovery of un-met user needs, synthesis of insights and development of innovative but practical solutions that are aligned to the organisation���s objectives and the DTI strategyOversee co-creation workshops with external vendors (start-ups, VC���s etc.) and organise innovation events (e.g. hackathons) Own relationships with innovation and technology partners and the Abu Dhabi ecosystem, fostering an environment of collaboration and co-creationWork closely with internal data science and analytics communities to identify opportunities to utilise innovative solutions, including AI, predictive analytics and machine learning to improve customer experience and to achieve business objectivesResponsible for the on time and on budget delivery of prototypes and pilots, within agreed scope and quality measures. Work closely with the business to test the prototypes and collect customer feedbackOverall responsible for the coordination and dependency management across the value stream to ensure a set of integrated solutions are delivered (where necessary)Drive a culture of lean-agile working and a ���get it done��� mentality; seek to simplify and automate processes where possibleQualifications10+ years��� experience in delivering complex projects and digital solutions is essential3+ years��� experience in the airline industry is essential3+ years’ experience In Innovation Is essentialBachelor���s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration or equivalent is mandatory. Master���s degree would be a strong advantage3+ years of experience following Agile at scale is beneficial, i.e. agile applied at a portfolio, value stream or program level. Experience in executing PI planning events and coordinating multiple Agile Release Trains (ART) is beneficialShould possess Agile delivery certificates (Scrum, SAFe or equivalent)Must have experience with design thinking methodologies and with facilitating cross-functional workshops with a customer centric focusPassion and curiosity for emerging trends in technology, innovation, business strategy, and the challenges of transforming large enterprises, with strong enthusiasm to drive significant value for customers and the organisation Comfortable working with technology teams and collaborating in an Agile environment to develop new innovative solutions. Strong product development focus. Proven track record innovating, productising and implementing solutions that drive value deliveryA strategic leader who continuously breaks down barriers, identifying new and more effective ways to accomplish innovation goalsMust have outstanding interpersonal, communication, and effective relationship building skills at all levels within an organisation with experience of engaging at an executive leveltrong written and oral communication skills including the ability to interact directly with business representatives that do not necessarily have an IT background, to explain complex technical solution and problems in a way that can be easily understoodMust have strong experience managing cross functional teams including third-party service providersMust have experience of leading high performing teams and motivating team members to maximise their potential