Senior Innovation Analyst (Worcester or Hybrid)

Our Business Innovation team is currently seeking a Senior Innovation Analyst. Position is eligible for Hybrid/Flex work arrangement or fully remote.  This is a full-time, exempt role.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

This role will report into our Business Innovation team and is responsible for working with Business Partners from multiple business groups including operations, underwriting, IT and other departments to lead the execution and reporting of assigned projects. Act as project manager and use a structured approach to deliver results via project plans, the scope of which will be driven by project applicability and complexity of the assignment. Also responsible for providing and supporting actions around competitive intelligence for products, processes and technology impacting the insurance industry and Hanover Insurance. 

IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL:

• Lead execution on innovation projects and realization of expected outcomes and learning through cross-functional teams.  

• Continuously monitor project status via a variety of applicable methods; apply best practices and methods as needed, to manage and control project resources and scope.

• Communicate the status of major milestones, identify, classify and manage potential project risk with mitigation strategies and contingency plans, provide continuing direction to the project team, and conduct regular status meetings with key stakeholders to review project activities. 

• Conduct market intelligence to identify market trends and opportunities and identify competitive advantages/threats.  Identifies and may secure cross-functional and cross-divisional stakeholders to ensure continuous alignment and engagement on issues, trends, and opportunities. 

• Surface and/or support cross functional business challenges and dependencies; proactively create and implement solutions with support.  

• Establish market-sensitive research agenda that relates to critical operational topics and functions. 

• Personally conduct vendor briefings, web surveys, and end-user interviews to collect primary market intelligence and build market credibility. 

• Maintain a high level of overview in line of business functions, following technology changes and industry trends, including impacts to processes through innovation.  

• Assist in building long-term relationships with external organizations and end-user partners alike. Regularly collect and analyze market and competitor intelligence from a wide range of internal and external sources. 

• Assess emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, and Insurtech solutions for business applicability and strategic value. 

• Facilitate innovation workshops, design-thinking sessions, and experimentation activities to identify, prototype, and validate new opportunities. 

WHAT YOU NEED TO APPLY:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred. 

• 4-8 years of experience conducting and executing on business and/or IT projects utilizing structured methodologies, such as agile. 

• Prior Property and Casualty insurance preferred but not required. 

• Excellent Verbal and Written Communication capabilities required, including storytelling, writing and presenting. 

• Ability to understand "the big picture".  

• Exhibits creativity and innovation. 

• Communication for Results - Expresses concepts, ideas, feelings, opinions, and conclusions, so that others understand or are persuaded to act.  

• Collaboration - Involves others with a warm engaging style to leverage knowledge or skills and obtain shared commitment. 

• Influencing Others - Communicates ideas or positions in a persuasive manner that build support, agreement, or commitment. Win concessions without damaging relationships.  

• Relationship Building - Understands the importance of developing and maintaining cooperative relationships with others at all levels. 

• Demonstrated ability to build expertise quickly in unfamiliar subject areas; intellectually curious. 

• Strong problem-solving skills. 

• Ability to work independently. 

• Strong work ethic with an inherent sense of ownership and responsibility.  

• Interested in and conversant about technology. 

• Team player who collaborates effectively with a warm, engaging style.  

• Comfortable operating in an ambiguous, “startup-like” environment.  

• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI), collaboration technologies, and emerging AI-enabled productivity tools. Expert understanding of different market research techniques/methodologies in data collection is desired. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Employees are expected to participate professionally in virtual meetings. Use of video cameras is expected under most circumstances.

This job posting provides cursory examples of some of the job duties associated with this position.  The examples provided are not complete, and the position may entail other essential and job-related functions and responsibilities that employees will be required to perform.