Innovation Consultant

A different sort of company

Ninety Consulting is an established boutique insurance innovation specialist, working with large global insurance brands, and competing successfully with Big 4 consultancies. We are motivated by a desire to use our profits to play a big part in addressing causes of poverty in third world countries. 

Ninety Consulting is a wholly owned subsidiary of a registered social enterprise, Ninety CIC, and 90% of our distributable profit goes to such causes, with the other 10% being shared amongst staff as a profit share. Our vision is to give £1bn to social causes over a 30-year timeframe. Buy-in to our vision and cause is an important part of feeling part of the team at Ninety. 

Overview

We are looking for an innovation consultant to work alongside our talented team, on a range of exciting innovation proposition and capability projects for Global clients.  

The role will be responsible for delivering upon agreed project activities and objectives, using Ninety’s proprietary innovation methods, as well as developing new and unique ways to innovate to solve problems and achieve objectives where required. 

You will be working with a diverse team of professionals with broad and unique skillsets, and depending on the project need, will work alongside different groups of innovation experts from within the team. 

Although previous consulting experience is not necessary, we would expect you to have the right attributes to fit with how we work; highly motivated, a quick and creative thinker, who’s ready to get hands on to deliver the highest quality outputs. 

An understanding of key innovation methods and philosophies, such as design thinking & lean would be highly advantageous, as would any experience of delivering on innovation projects using methods such as ideation, customer testing and business model design. 

In addition, technological & digital skills, including specifically skills in digital transformation would be an advantage. 

The role may suit someone from the client-side, a tech start-up, or a graduate with the relevant training, understanding or practical experience in innovation, product & proposition design, business model design or technology development & deployment. 

Ninety has significant ambition and a strong and active growth plan, so we’re intentionally setting about building for scale with a strong team on board. Your career path at Ninety can be exciting and varied, with the growing business offering opportunities for role expansion and promotion for deserving candidates. 

Purpose of role

To deliver key activities and deliverables on innovation consulting projects under guidance and leadership from senior members of the consulting team. To bill a minimum of 75% of time on client projects.

Role responsibilities

Methodology:  

• Supporting the delivery and evolution of Ninety’s proprietary methodologies for building innovation capability and creating & launching innovative products & propositions. 

• Developing & maintaining customer-centred approaches to innovation. 

• Promoting Ninety’s values, integrity & ethics. 

• Identifying extensions & value add sales to offer clients where helpful during project engagements. 

Facilitating Innovation: 

• Engaging directly with clients, communicating effectively to forge deep and trusting relationships with key stakeholders. 

• Delivering project activities and outcomes to an exceptionally high standard using Ninety’s innovation Methodologies. 

• Maintaining high levels of client satisfaction, identifying, and addressing issues with key stakeholders, where appropriate, throughout project engagements.  

• Promoting innovation culture and mindsets through ways of working with clients and colleagues. 

• Creating and reporting on plans, activity, progress, and deliverables to senior stakeholders at Ninety and client organisations. 

Teamwork:

• Collaborating effectively with colleagues at Ninety, as well as with client project teams to deliver team tasks efficiently and well.

• Handling specific tasks related to Ninety activities, such as business development, marketing or team building, as agreed with senior members of the Ninety consulting team.  

• Supervising more junior members of the team where required. 

• Working with colleagues to develop and refine our approaches while expanding your own knowledge and skills.

Key skills and experience

We’re seeking an individual with: 

- 3+ years of hands-on innovation, digital transformation or product/proposition development experience, or post graduate academic experience in related fields. 

- Clear evidence of involvement in innovation, digital transformation or product/proposition development initiatives, such as through roles in:

• Innovation consulting, either for a professional services firm, or as an ‘internal’ innovation expert/consultant 

• Strategy or technology consulting, as above. 

• Product or value proposition development, including MVP development, ideation management, pilot / PoCs, etc.

• Postgraduate projects or assignments specifically in innovation, product, or proposition development.

- We will be looking for evidence of your thinking and successes in:

• Test & learn methods, lean & iterative approaches

• Customer co-design, design thinking, customer research & participation

• Workshop design and facilitation, both virtual and in person. 

• Use of digital collaboration toolsets like Slack, Miro, and more. 

- An understanding and interest in the insurance industry, including the regulatory and legal environment affecting the insurance market. 

- A good appreciation for information security sensitivity and data protection 

Desirable personal attributes

We’re also looking for someone who: 

- Is passionate and enthusiastic about innovation 

- Has a creative, inquisitive & innovative mindset 

- Can quickly and easily develop great relationships with clients and potential clients

- Is a great storyteller, and can bring work to life through storytelling 

- Understands how to draw out client’s requirements and turn them into practice 

- Can work with colleagues to brief on opportunities and develop out proposals with them

Ninety colleagues will also have: 

- Strong references from previous employers, tutors or clients. We’ll be looking for signs of performance and excellence, but also for evidence of character, integrity, and ethics.

- Strong ethics, with a keen sense of fairness, and integrity, which are very important at Ninety, and will need to be evidenced.

- Diplomacy, attention to detail, good numerical, organisational and time management skills and a genuine interest in business, plus excellent MS Office, interpersonal, team working and written/verbal communication skills.

- An optimistic outlook, whilst being realistic and pragmatic in their approach to delivering client outcomes. 

- Alignment to our social vision, with a demonstrable willingness to put personal legacy above personal ambition.

What we offer

Salary: Competitive salary, depending on experience, plus package benefits including pension, life and health insurance, great work-life balance with a 4-day working week plus a share of 10% profit. 

Location: The role is home based in the UK with visits to London or South-East for team collaboration and the potential for meeting clients if required.

Basis of employment: Permanent full-time (4-day working week, Monday to Thursday).

Start: ASAP

Reports to: A senior team member, whose role is to lead delivery across an account portfolio.

Hiring process: We will hold initial telephone interviews, then invite a handful of candidates to a formal interview. Those who seem to fit best at formal interview will be invited to a final stage interview.