About the RoleEquitable is looking for a dynamic team member to join our Design Thinking team! You will leverage Design Thinking methodologies to define and solve complex business problems as part of New Ways of Working.
Equitable is looking for as Senior Innovation Analyst to join the Design Thinking team, one of several teams within the Innovation & Design Office (IDO). The mission of the IDO is to increase the metabolism of the enterprise by fundamentally changing the way we think, work and lead as an organization. This includes guiding and executing Equitable's end-to-end approach to innovation strategy and process improvement.
What You'll Be Doing- Design and plan Design Thinking/Process Re-engineering workshops with creative and collaborative problem solving as the priority objective
- Lead pre-workshop discovery sessions and engage with stakeholders to outline the primary goals and initiative approach
- Energetically facilitate collaborative workshops virtually, in-person or hybrid, ensuring participants remain engaged and are led toward achieving desirable outcomes
- Actively lead and manage projects - ranging from simple to complex - including prioritization of activities, working within team capacity and anticipating issues
- Structure workshop formats and agendas including pre-work consulting with stakeholders
- Develop detailed documentation for process flows
- Create training and education materials for Design Thinking
- Actively participate in the Design Thinking team activities around including team-building, communications and department support
- Participate in discovery research and analysis of quantitative and qualitative information
- Support a culture of iterative thinking, continuous learning and innovation
- Champion Design Thinking and Process Re-engineering throughout the organization as a key pillar of the Innovation & Design Office
We are looking for a leader who has Design Thinking and business analyst experience, understands the financial services space - specifically, the Insurance, Retirement, and Asset Management industries - is comfortable interacting with executives and is excited to work through Agile principles and practices.
Candidates must be comfortable working in a high-profile, dynamic environment and must be willing to support various projects, often simultaneously.
What we're looking forA strategic thinker who:
- Is passionate about improving client, advisor and employee experiences leading with empathy
- Drills down to root causes to clearly identify and articulate core problems, not symptoms
- Is able to explore new domains and grasp complex concepts quickly
- Leverages outside research and industry trends to provide thought leadership
- Combines strong logical thinking with the ability to formulate creative solutions
- Can clearly explain your work, process and decisions to teammates and cross functional stakeholders
- Supports internal growth, development and innovation programs
- Conducts in-depth analysis of existing business processes to identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks
An outcome-driven team member who:
- Takes ownership of workstreams and with a focus on driving results
- Is a "do-er" - can build and structure quality presentations, conduct analysis and do research
- Perseveres in the face of challenges and even thrives on uncertainty and ambiguity
- Shows good judgment about when to get input or ask for help
- Maintains a humble, collaborative attitude and is committed to doing what is needed-regardless of task size-to drive team success.
- Manages (often multiple) complex projects to ensure overall success, including scope, timelines, resourcing, and timely quality deliverables that meet stated objectives
- Is skilled in synthesizing qualitative information and quantitative data into impactful, results-oriented reports
An effective listener, communicator and facilitator who:
- Actively listens to stakeholders' needs and can take the perspective of counterparts
- Synthesizes complex ideas into simple language and actionable next steps
- Brings people together to build consensus and co-create solutions
- Demonstrates powerful oral and written communications skills (e.g., can lead executive-level presentations and also write compelling Board-level memos if needed)
- Cultivates an environment of iterative thinking, continuous learning and innovation
- Provides direction and mentorship to team members
- Has the impeccable ability to communicate with and lead a group of individuals (often including executives) through the process of Design Thinking, Process Re-engineering and collaborative ideation
- Exhibits an ability to influence in a matrixed environment
- Has the ability to rethink foundational business assumptions.
This position offers a hybrid work schedule, with an on-site presence of 2-3 days per week combining flexibility with team collaboration.
The base salary range for this position is $95,000 - $140,000. Actual base salaries vary based on skills, experience, and geographical location. In addition to base pay, Equitable provides compensation to reward performance with base salary increases, spot bonuses, and short-term incentive compensation opportunities. Eligibility for these programs depends on level and functional area of responsibility.
For eligible employees, Equitable provides a full range of benefits. This includes medical, dental, vision, a 401(k) plan, and paid time off. For detailed descriptions of these benefits, please reference the link below.
Equitable Pay and Benefits: Equitable Total Rewards Program
QualificationsWhat You Will BringRequired Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree
- 3+ years of experience with planning, facilitating, and leading collaborative innovation workshops
- 2+ years of Business Analyst experience
- Experience using digital collaboration tools, such as Microsoft Whiteboard and Miro
- Proficiency in process mapping, journey mapping and activity flows
- Proven experience with PowerPoint, Word and Excel
- Experience with Agile-based project delivery
- Understands Design Thinking and human-centered design principles; is a effective advocate for the customer
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bridge the gap between technology, business, and customers
- Have versatile visual design skills including presentation development and prototyping
- Experience with Service Design blueprinting
- Design Thinking formal coursework
SkillsCommunicating for Impact: Knowledge of the concepts, tools and techniques for effective listening and communicating; ability to apply these theories to receive, transmit and accurately interpret information and ideas to influence others in various situations.
Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
Design Thinking: Knowledge of concepts, principles, and processes of design thinking; ability to utilize the knowledge in designing new products and services and even improving organizational operation.
Effective Presentations: Knowledge of effective presentation tools and techniques; ability to present information to groups with the appropriate degree of formality.
Results Orientation: Knowledge of the importance of meeting or exceeding established targets; ability to drive critical activities to completion.
Storytelling: Knowledge of concepts and ability to plan, create and present business proposals, initiatives and ideas by storytelling actual business scenarios that are situation-specific, engaging, memorable and persuasive as compared to one-way, fact-based presentations.
