**About The Role**:
Description
Entain seeks a talented Innovation Lead to join the Italian team.
This is an exciting opportunity that blends an individual's passion for gaming, e-commerce and innovation, while supporting one of the fastest growing businesses in Entain across all the Italian digital brands (Bwin, Eurobet, and Gioco Digitale)
This role will support Entain Chief Innovation Officer and the Regional Managing Director and will work closely with several internal customers, including IT, Product and Marketing, at all levels of the organization.
Your Activities will include
- Identifying industry challenges and customers opportunities, and partnering with Entain teams to develop and prioritize solutions that will advance our customer's technology journey
- Work closely with Entain's Global Innovation and product teams to build repeatable assets and best practices to position against defined customer problem spaces
- Ownership of the innovation delivery process, ensuring all projects are delivered on time, within budget and receive the appropriate level of support from the core business.
- Development of the innovation ecosystem within the group, in close collaboration with the Chief Innovation Officer of Entain.
- Development of the Open Innovation ecosystem, Call4Ideas and development of Proof of Concept at the Entain Lab, seeking investment opportunities in line with Entain's strategy in Italy
- Analysis of technological trends with respect to Entain's markets, through market analysis, participation in trade fairs and conferences to develop partnership programs.
- Updating and educating the management team on how emerging trends and technologies could impact the Italian business, whether as a threat or opportunity.
- Development of innovation culture across the Italian business, ensuring all employees feel encouraged, empowered and incentivised to look for innovation opportunities and submit ideas.
- Support in the implementation of investment strategies that envisage the creation of CVC vehicles with potentially interested market operators
- Support to start-ups in the portfolio for the definition of a commercial offer in which there are product / service solutions in line with Entain's needs and market demands, in close collaboration with Entain's product teams
- Management of ecosystem programmes (eg.
accelerator) aimed at attracting startups, including working with any relevant 3rd parties where required.
Desired skills and experience
The right person will have a strong mix of technical, analytical and commercial experience, including:
- Leading proposition development process from raw ideas through to market-ready products;
- Practitioner-level knowledge of concept development methodologies (eg.
Design Thinking, 5-day sprints etc) and conducting brainstorming sessions;
- Experience of leading/managing agile product team(s);
- Experience in managing open innovation activities and working with/supporting multiple startups.
- Gravitas and confidence to work with (and, when necessary, constructively challenge) senior stakeholders;
- Experience working within the entertainment or technology industry is highly desired.
- Experience working with business leaders to define and solve real industry or customer challenges.
- Experience communicating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders across multiple teams
- Strong verbal, presentation and written communications skills are a must, as well as leadership skills
- Operational excellence mind-set and experience.
Data driven.
Excellent problem-solving skills.
Adept at simplifying complexity and developing scalable propositions
- Proven track record of taking ownership and driving results.
Ability to effectively lead and work with a variety of organizations, management levels, cultures, and personalities
- 10+ years' experience in customer-facing digital innovation or equivalent consultative-selling role
- 10+ years of business development, consulting, program/product management, or IT solutions development experience
- Education - BA or above required, MBA or equivalent preferred
**About The Company**:
We're Entain.
Powered by our very own technology and building products that push boundaries, Entain is home to a global family of more than 25 well-known brands and over 24,000 people, but we all play for the same team.
When we win, we win together.
Our vision is to be the world leader in betting, gaming and interactive entertainment by bringing moments of excitement into people's lives.
We will achieve this through our focus on sustainability and growth, driving change in the fast-paced world of entertainment.
**Diversity and inclusion at Entain**
As a global employer, Entain is committed to providing a safe, fun, and inclusive culture where our people feel like they truly belong.
We are a multicultural business that values, celebrates and respects individual differences, so whatever your sexuality, gender, gender identity,