Head, Innovation & R&D Studio

About the Role The Head, Innovation & R&D Studio explores emerging technologies and develops new solutions to drive Polaris Bank's future growth. This role directs three functions — Emerging Technology Research, Rapid Prototyping, and Proof of Concept Development — through specialist leads and engineers. Key Responsibilities Emerging Technology Research Oversight Direct research into AI, blockchain, IoT, and other emerging technologies relevant to banking Maintain a technology foresight function that keeps the bank ahead of market shifts Rapid Prototyping Oversight Oversee the development of MVPs and prototypes to test new concepts quickly Drive design sprint practices that reduce time-to-market for new ideas Proof of Concept Development Oversight Direct the development and validation of PoCs with partners and customers Ensure innovation pilots are rigorously evaluated before recommending further investment Core Competencies Technology foresight and innovation strategy Rapid prototyping and design sprint facilitation Business case development and investment validation Partner and cross-functional collaboration Familiarity With Tools (used by the function's teams) Industry research and technology scouting platforms; Figma, InVision, low-code/no-code platforms; PoC frameworks, validation and collaboration tools Requirements Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field; advanced degree an advantage Demonstrated track record leading innovation, R&D, or new product incubation functions, ideally in banking or a comparable regulated industry