Director, Strategic Innovation

Director, Strategic Innovation

Brand: HSBC

Area of Interest: Technology

Location:

London, GB, E14 5HQ

Work style: Hybrid Worker

Date: 25 Oct 2025

Director, Strategic Innovation

If you’re looking to take an exciting new direction with your HSBC career, an internal move can open the door to many opportunities, allowing you to take on a new challenge, and develop your skills. Bring your knowledge of our brand to a new role and grow yourself further.

Group Innovation and Digital Partnerships (IDP) is responsible for leading the group-wide approach to innovation, driving customer-centric growth through strategic forms of digital partnerships, emerging technologies, the enablement of innovation, and strategic pursuits, ensuring the bank stays ahead of disruptors.

Key areas of focus include:

+ Leading partnerships with strategic technology providers, top innovation hubs and universities

+ Delivery of common innovation platforms, capabilities, tools, and best practices.

+ Driving a culture of innovation through talent upskilling, innovation challenges, and external FinTech events.

+ Leading a group-wide patent and technology research strategy and commercialization approach.

+ Identifying strategic pursuits, disruptors and putting in place defensive measures to protect the future of the bank.

Join us in a pivotal role where you'll be at the forefront of innovation and strategic development within the Financial Services Industry (FSI). As a key player, you'll spearhead initiatives in areas ripe for disruption, leveraging HSBC's unique strengths to secure our competitive edge. You'll lead the charge in crafting a comprehensive patent and technology research strategy, driving commercialisation efforts that resonate across the globe.

In this influential position, you'll guide a dynamic team spread across major jurisdictions, fostering collaboration and innovation. Your leadership will be instrumental in shaping HSBC's future, as you engage with stakeholders at all levels of the bank.

This is more than just a role—it's an opportunity to make a global impact and drive strategic change at one of the world's leading financial institutions. If you're ready to lead and innovate on a global stage, this is the opportunity for you.

If you are an internal contractor, please apply using the following link:

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A move across the business allows you to continue to access tailored professional development opportunities, and our fantastic benefits packages.

In this role, you will:

+ Lead Global Academic and Patent Strategies : Develop and manage global strategies for academic research and patents, ensuring alignment with HSBC's priorities and commercialisation goals.

+ Identify and Address Disruptors: Continuously monitor and challenge the organisation on emerging disruptors and opportunities from both traditional and non-traditional competitors.

+ Drive Strategic Pursuits and Innovation: Formulate and execute strategic initiatives in collaboration with key stakeholders, focusing on areas with significant disruption potential in financial services.

+ Foster Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration: Engage diverse stakeholders and facilitate cross-functional collaboration to align innovation efforts with business objectives.

+ Leverage Competitive Intelligence and Market Trends: Utilise insights from competitive analysis and emerging trends to inform strategic decisions and maintain a competitive edge.

+ Cultivate Leadership and Teamwork: Lead the Strategic Innovation team globally, ensuring effective engagement across business and technology to drive results and navigate complex challenges.

To be successful in this role you should have the following skills:

Technical:

+ Strategic Planning and Execution: Ability to define, lead, and execute high-impact strategies, particularly in innovation and disruption within financial services.

+ Competitive Analysis and Market Research: Proficiency in analysing market trends, competitive intelligence, and emerging technologies like AI and blockchain to inform strategic decisions.

+ Intellectual Property Management : Expertise in managing patents and intellectual property portfolios, including commercialization strategies.

+ Innovation Framework Development: Skill in building and implementing value-based frameworks for innovation, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.

+ Academic Research Collaboration : Experience in designing and managing academic research programs, fostering partnerships with universities, and aligning research with industry priorities.

Behavioural Skills:

+ Leadership and Team Management: Strong ability to lead and manage teams globally, fostering collaboration and driving engagement across diverse groups.

+ Stakeholder Engagement: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including customers, regulators, and senior leadership.

+ Entrepreneurial Mindset: Adaptability and creativity to operate in evolving environments, recognizing opportunities for specialization and growth.

+ Problem-Solving and Decision-Making: Competence in navigating complex challenges, making informed decisions, and driving results in alignment with organisational objectives.

+ Collaboration and Networking: Ability to facilitate cross-functional workshops, hackathons, and innovation sprints, promoting teamwork and group-wide impact.

This role is based in London on a hybrid basis.

Being open to different points of view is important for our business and the communities we serve. At HSBC, we’re dedicated to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces - no matter their gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or age. We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring careers at HSBC are inclusive and accessible for everyone to be at their best. We take pride in being a Disability Confident Leader and will offer an interview to people with disabilities, long term conditions or neurodivergent candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

If you have a need that requires accommodations or changes during the recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Helpdesk:

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