Plays a lead role in steering initiatives towards the creation of innovative solutions (products, programs, and services) for the 50+ as a big thinker, strategic thinker, team player, problem solver, and articulate communicator. Designs solution development plans and prototypes and is a detail-oriented team member. Supports teams in the development of early stage concepts, as well as participates in the charge for the development of innovations from early stage research through commercialization as a strategic problem solver and innovation expert with design fluency. Works closely with external designers to develop higher fidelity prototypes for beta and in-market testing and validation.
Requires the ability to manage multiple innovation projects across the organization with varying degrees of oversight and guidance. Must possess a great deal of autonomy in decision-making and communications, know when to manage up, and identify key areas of decision-making oversight.
Identifies challenges and develops plans for solution development in order to catalyze the development and creation of ideas with varying levels of complexity and feasibility. Needs to be able to clearly identify the criteria upon which decisions about ideas should be made and helps to steer teams in the direction of making autonomous decisions that will move their solutions forward. Strong coordination, communication, storytelling, and low-fidelity design and prototyping skills are required.
Position involves engaging with stakeholders in a consulting capacity in order to develop their solutions into market-ready innovations. Level of engagement will require strong communication, listening, information synthesis, and storytelling skills. Regularly interacts with members of the leadership team, as well as innovation project teams in a consulting and informative capacity. Will have a direct impact on AARP’s success in developing innovative solutions today and in the future. Develops clear and actionable solutions and helps teams move their solutions through the innovation pipeline by identifying key experiments and areas for refinement. Is perceived as the authority on solution development and refinement in moving solutions through the innovation pipeline.
- Participates in teams, utilizing human-centered design processes and developing innovations that move ideas forward, leading to tangible solutions.
- Develops the right stories and visual elements to conceptualize team ideas in communicating them to stakeholders and potential customers.
- Extracts the essence of stakeholder problems and ideas to clearly identify challenge statements and ideas that are aligned with strategic and organizational goals.
- Develops early prototypes (e.g., basic wire framing) or 2-D renderings of products in order to better conceptualize solutions.
- Designs and implements initial experiments to test and validate solutions for refinement.
- Devises clear solution development plans that propel solutions through experimentation, testing, and refinement based on learnings.
- Participates in the solution development process for incremental, breakthrough, and radical innovations and work alongside appropriate colleagues to develop and design solutions.
- Drives innovation teams to prototype and prepare the case of action for approval and execution.
- Empathizes with stakeholders and consumers as they move through the innovation journey and helps them understand how to navigate divergent and convergent phases of development.
- Possesses mastery of innovation behaviors and has a true understanding of how to build on ideas, be open in one’s thinking, and identify concepts in a real, tangible way.
- Finds ways to inspire and motivate teams (without direct oversight) in a manner that propels their solutions forward as an acute listener and people person.
- Coordinates and tracks a budget for solution development activities, such as design, prototyping, and research.
- Directs, reviews, and assigns work to internal colleagues and external consultants on an occasional basis.
- A minimum of 8+ years of product development experience required; or equivalent experience required.
- Must possess a high level of mastery of project leadership, coordination, idea evaluation, and experiment design.
- Moderate level of fluency in product design, prototyping, and sketching required.
- Demonstrated thought leadership in the practice and application of innovation and agile learning methodologies.
- Proven track record of developing solution plans and running idea pilots for results-oriented validation.
- Must have superb verbal and visual communication skills in order to help teams understand how to describe and conceptualize their solutions in ways that further development.
- Must be a clear and creative thinker, combined with acute listening skills in order to ensure that team needs are met.
- Must understand the highs and lows associated with innovation and be able to help teams maintain focus in times of ambiguity and uncertainty.
AARP offers competitive benefits with a 401K, 100% company funded pension plan, health, dental, vision and life insurance, STD/LTD, paid vacation and sick, and other benefits.