Corporate Innovation Specialist
Organizational Context
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is an intergovernmental platform focused on inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development. The secretariat supports national development objectives and regional agreements through knowledge generation and capacity building. This Corporate Innovation Specialist role operates organization-wide within the Division of Administration, reporting to the Office of the Executive Secretary and collaborating with the Innovation Team.
Job Purpose
The Corporate Innovation Specialist will drive innovation within ESCAP's work culture, products, and services. This role supports the Innovation Team in designing and implementing innovation activities and training programs to foster a culture of innovation and build capacity in methodologies like Design Thinking and Human-Centered Design. The specialist will coach project teams, assist personnel in leveraging digital tools for innovation, and contribute to the development and implementation of automation solutions to enhance business processes. The position aims to increase the impact of ESCAP's work in the Asia-Pacific region by promoting cross-collaboration and exposing staff to new tools and approaches.
Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include designing and implementing innovation activities and training programs to foster an innovative culture and build capacity in methodologies such as Design Thinking and Human-Centered Design. The specialist will coach project teams, assist personnel in utilizing digital innovation tools, and manage their licenses and training. This role also involves collaborating with IT specialists to develop and implement automation solutions for business processes and supporting workflow mapping. Additionally, the specialist will manage the annual Seed Funding exercise, assist with the Innovation Mapping Exercise and Awards, and organize innovation events, labs, and training sessions. Communication and outreach efforts, knowledge management, and monitoring innovation performance against KPIs are also integral.
Work Experience
A minimum of two years of professional experience in corporate innovation is required. Proven experience in organizing innovation events or training programs (e.g., hackathons, open innovation challenges) is necessary. Experience in implementing or supporting Design Thinking and Human-Centered Design methodologies is also required.
Skills
Design Thinking, Human-Centered Design, Digital Tools for Innovation, Innovation Methodologies, Event Organization, Training Program Development, Coaching, Business Process Automation, Workflow Mapping, Knowledge Management, Communication, Outreach Strategy, Monitoring and Evaluation.