Senior Manager Innovation Governance

Job Summary

We are collaborating with a prominent bank in Saudi Arabia to recruit a Senior Manager for Innovation Governance. This role is ideal for a professional passionate about managing the convergence of innovation, regulatory compliance, and governance, particularly in the context of deploying emerging technologies within a highly regulated banking environment. This position is a one-year renewable contract based in Riyadh.

Role Purpose

The Senior Manager Innovation Governance is tasked with embedding innovation throughout the bank by crafting governance frameworks, policies, operating standards, and decision-making mechanisms. This integration ensures innovation is a core part of the bank’s strategic direction, operational workflows, product development, risk oversight, and transformational initiatives.

As the key advocate and guardian of innovation within the bank, the role guarantees that innovation considerations are embedded into major governance forums, policies, procedures, and strategic project decisions. Collaborating across business and support units, the role ensures innovation becomes integral to the institution's culture while staying closely aligned with regulatory, risk, compliance, and corporate governance mandates.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and actively update an enterprise-wide Innovation Governance Framework alongside operating standards.
• Integrate innovation objectives seamlessly within business strategies, policies, procedures, and operational models.
• Serve as the primary innovation liaison across Risk, Compliance, Legal, Procurement, Finance, Human Resources, and Technology departments.
• Lead the preparation of executive reports, governance committee submissions, management information, and forums focused on innovation.
• Ensure all innovation activities comply fully with regulatory standards, risk tolerance levels, internal controls, and corporate governance principles.
• Facilitate cross-department collaboration to promote the establishment and adoption of innovation governance practices.
• Maintain governance documents, policies, procedures, and standards, ensuring they are current and compliant.
• Guide the Innovation Acceleration Forum and support programs aimed at reducing time-to-market for innovations.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to address emerging topics such as AI, open banking, digital assets, and experimentation pilots.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of governance, track innovation project progress and benefits, and constantly seek areas for improvement.

Required Skills and Experience

• Substantial experience in Innovation Governance within a large-scale bank or a seasoned financial services institution.
• Proven record of establishing enterprise-wide governance frameworks and related policy documents.
• Direct engagement experience with regulatory bodies concerning governance and policy compliance.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Open Banking, Open Finance, FinTech innovations, and Virtual Assets.
• Experience managing governance efforts involving Risk, Compliance, Legal functions, and senior executive stakeholders.
• Ability to develop policies, procedures, and operational standards from inception.