At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative projects that shape the future of finance and deliver real customer value.
- Company: Join Lloyds Banking Group, a leader in diversity and innovation.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to creating an inclusive workplace.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact in the financial services sector with cutting-edge AI solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in AI, strong commercial thinking, and excellent stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 78098 - 91880 £ per year.
Salary Range: £78,098 - £91,880
We support flexible working – click here for more information on flexible working options.
Location: Edinburgh.
Hours: Full-time.
Working Pattern: Our work style is hybrid, which involves spending at least two days per week, or 40% of our time, at one of our office sites. Colleagues with disabilities can be supported with workplace adjustments including hybrid working expectations in line with our Flexibility Works policy.
Scottish Widows is on a mission to deliver outstanding customer value while improving efficiency and ensuring our products and services are fit for the future. We’re looking for a highly capable Senior Innovation Manager to join our team. This person will play a meaningful role in crafting how we deliver outcomes for millions of customers.
Key Responsibilities:
- Innovation & Insight: Maintain a pioneering perspective on innovation trends, particularly in emerging AI (e.g. GenAI, automation, advanced analytics, agentic systems). Interpret market, competitor and technology developments to identify radical opportunities and risks. Translate insight into clear, actionable innovation propositions aligned to strategic priorities.
- Commercial Value Creation: Develop robust, data-driven recommendations with clear articulation of costs, benefits, risks and return on investment. Ensure all innovation initiatives are grounded in strong commercial logic and deliver tangible, measurable outcomes. Define success metrics upfront and track benefits realisation post-delivery.
- Ecosystem & Partnership Development: Build and maintain strong relationships across the UK startup and innovation ecosystem, including London, FinTech Scotland and other key hubs. Identify, assess and onboard external partners, particularly those maximising AI-led capabilities. Represent the organisation externally to enhance our innovation brand and market credibility.
- Delivery & Execution: Lead initiatives end-to-end—from ideation through pilot to scaled implementation. Apply structured innovation approaches such as test-and-learn, rapid prototyping, and experimentation frameworks. Navigate ambiguity and unblock issues to ensure momentum and delivery at pace. Build trusted relationships across business, technology and risk, by communicating complex concepts in a business-relevant way.
- Leadership & Behavioural Expectations: Acts with ownership and accountability for outcomes. Thinks commercially, is customer-obsessed, and focuses on delivering value. Simplifies complexity and prioritises what matters. Adapts quickly and leads well in ambiguous environments. Influence senior stakeholders and guide executive decision-making with compelling evidence and narrative.
Essential:
- A proven understanding of emerging AI and its practical application.
- Ability to build data-driven, financially robust business recommendations, and then deliver initiatives end-to-end.
- Strong commercial thinking with a focus on measurable outcomes.
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- Experience engaging with startups, ecosystems or external partners.
Desirable:
- Existing connections within London and UK innovation ecosystems (e.g. FinTech Scotland, accelerators, venture networks).
- Experience in financial services (banking, insurance, investments) or regulated industries.
- Experience working with AI solutions, digital transformation or innovation programmes.
We know that great talent comes from many backgrounds. Whilst this job advert may reference specific years of experience, we recognise that skills are developed in many ways, so if you have relevant, transferable experience, we encourage you to apply.
This is a place for you: Our ambition is to be the leading UK business for diversity, equity and inclusion supporting our customers, colleagues and communities, and we’re committed to creating an environment in which everyone can thrive, learn and develop.
Ready to make an impact? Apply today.
Senior Innovation Manager in Edinburgh employer: Lloyds Bank
At Lloyds Banking Group, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, particularly for the Senior Innovation Manager role based in Edinburgh. Our commitment to flexible working, a diverse and inclusive culture, and robust employee growth opportunities ensures that you can thrive while making a meaningful impact in the financial services sector. Join us as we innovate for the future, supported by a collaborative environment that values your contributions and fosters professional development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Innovation Manager in Edinburgh
✨Leverage Innovation Hubs
Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like Lloyds Bank.
✨Connect at Industry Conferences
Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.
✨Use Your University’s Resources
If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like Lloyds Bank.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Innovation Manager in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.
Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at Lloyds Bank that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.
Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at Lloyds Bank and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at Lloyds Bank
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at Lloyds Bank, they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Technologies
Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show Lloyds Bank that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At Lloyds Bank, they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.
