Innovation Lead

Position Overview At PNC, our people are our greatest differentiator and competitive advantage in the markets we serve. We are all united in delivering the best experience for our customers. We work together each day to foster an inclusive workplace culture where all of our employees feel respected, valued and have an opportunity to contribute to the company’s success. As an Innovation Lead within PNC's Experience Integration & Strategy Team, you will be based in Pittsburgh, PA, Strongsville, OH, Dallas, TX, Birmingham, AL or Denver, CO. The mission of the Experience Integration & Strategy Team is to unlock the possible; to imagine how financial services can improve everyday life of people and organizations. PNC believes that innovation is at the forefront of technology and has a profound impact on the customer experience. This team’s enterprise-wide view and expertise in design thinking, technology, software engineering, digital products and business design, help to identify and create strategic advantages for PNC. Our services include advisory, incubation, emerging technology labs, design thinking training, and experiential learning and programs. We are seeking a strategic and innovative professional to lead end-to-end process reimagination and transformation initiatives across the organization. In this role, you will analyze existing business processes through a systems-thinking lens, identifying opportunities for simplification, optimization, and automation. By applying human-centered design principles, you will ensure solutions are grounded in user needs and deliver measurable improvements to both stakeholder experience and operational performance. You will collaborate closely with business leaders, technology teams, and data experts to integrate digital tools, automation, AI, and emerging technologies into scalable, future-ready process designs. You will lead cross-functional initiatives, translating complex process and performance metrics into clear, actionable insights that drive informed decision-making. This role requires the ability to develop repeatable frameworks, methodologies, and toolkits that enable consistent process transformation across the enterprise. Success will be measured through defined metrics and continuous improvement cycles, with an emphasis on adaptability—rapidly iterating and pivoting solutions in response to feedback, evolving priorities, and business needs. The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in engineering, business, design, or a related field, with demonstrated expertise in human-centered design, systems thinking, and business process management. You should be comfortable working with digital transformation concepts including automation, data analytics, AI applications, and systems integration. Experience with process engineering, customer journey mapping, Lean Six Sigma, Agile methodologies, and business architecture is highly valued, as are strong communication and facilitation skills that enable effective collaboration across diverse teams. Certifications such as Lean Six Sigma, Design Thinking, or Agile are a plus. PNC is an in-office company that fosters a supportive culture where employees can thrive and achieve balance. We encourage candidates to connect with their recruiter and hiring manager to understand workplace expectations and ensure the role aligns with their goals. PNC will not provide sponsorship for employment visas or participate in STEM OPT for this position. Job Description Manages innovation activities to meet organizational needs and to capitalize on potential new product opportunities. Develops, manages and implements a portfolio of innovation projects. Advises senior management and internal clients to understand the results and implications of innovation initiatives. Implements and executes the defined innovation strategy. Partners with internal and external resources to meet organizational needs and to capitalize on potential new product opportunities. PNC Employees take pride in our reputation and to continue building upon that we expect our employees to be: Customer Focused - Knowledgeable of the values and practices that align customer needs and satisfaction as primary considerations in all business decisions and able to leverage that information in creating customized customer solutions. Managing Risk - Assessing and effectively managing all of the risks associated with their business objectives and activities to ensure they adhere to and support PNC's Enterprise Risk Management Framework. Qualifications Successful candidates must demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills, and abilities for a role. Listed below are skills, competencies, work experience, education, and required certifications/licensures needed to be successful in this position. Preferred Skills Branding, Change Management, Design, Digital Marketing, Ideation, Machine Learning (ML), Web Development Competencies Accuracy and Attention to Detail, Business Analytics, Business Case Justification, Design Thinking, Industry Knowledge, Innovation, Interpersonal Relationships, Planning: Tactical, Strategic, Product Design and Development, Qualitative Research Work Experience Roles at this level typically require a university / college degree, with 5+ years of industry-relevant experience. Specific certifications are often required. In lieu of a degree, a comparable combination of education, job specific certification(s), and experience (including military service) may be considered. Education Bachelors Certifications No Required Certification(s) Licenses No Required License(s) Pay Transparency Base Salary: $91,000.00 – $185,900.00 Salaries may vary based on geographic location, market data and on individual skills, experience, and education. This role is incentive eligible with the payment based upon company, business and/or individual performance. Application Window Generally, this opening is expected to be posted for two business days from 06/22/2026, although it may be longer with business discretion. Benefits PNC offers a comprehensive range of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time employees include: medical/prescription drug coverage (with a Health Savings Account feature), dental and vision options; employee and spouse/child life insurance; short and long-term disability protection; 401(k) with PNC match, pension and stock purchase plans; dependent care reimbursement account; back-up child/elder care; adoption, surrogacy, and doula reimbursement; educational assistance, including select programs fully paid; a robust wellness program with financial incentives. In addition, PNC generally provides the following paid time off, depending on your eligibility: maternity and/or parental leave; up to 11 paid holidays each year; 9 occasional absence days each year, unless otherwise required by law; between 15 to 25 vacation days each year, depending on career level; and years of service. To learn more about these and other programs, including benefits for full time and part-time employees, visit pncthrive.com. Disability Accommodations Statement If an accommodation is required to participate in the application process, please contact us via email at View email address on click.appcast.io. Please include “accommodation request” in the subject line title and be sure to include your name, the job ID, and your preferred method of contact in the body of the email. Emails not related to accommodation requests will not receive responses. Applicants may also call View phone number on click.appcast.io and say "Workday" for accommodation assistance. All information provided will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations. At PNC we foster an inclusive and accessible workplace. We provide reasonable accommodations to employment applicants and qualified individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to perform the essential functions of their positions. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) PNC provides equal employment opportunity to qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or other categories protected by law. This position is subject to the requirements of Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) and, for any registered role, the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (SAFE Act) and/or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which prohibit the hiring of individuals with certain criminal history. California Residents Refer to the California Consumer Privacy Act Privacy Notice to gain understanding of how PNC may use or disclose your personal information in our hiring practices. For nearly 160 years, PNC has strived to make a meaningful impact for our employees, customers, communities, and shareholders. We believe our success and positive reputation are built on open and honest dialogue, an unwavering focus on smart risk management, relationship-based customer service and community investments. Our inclusive workplace allows our employees to be heard, valued, and developed to do their best work. Being a great place to work means we are making a lasting difference for everyone we serve. Check out the top reasons to join PNC. PNC’s total rewards package includes things like time off, benefits, learning and career development, wellness programs, recognition and much more. The benefits and programs highlighted below are just a sampling of what PNC offers its employees. To learn more, visit our Total Rewards page. If you're not ready to apply yet, or you'd like to learn more about PNC, join the Talent Community to receive regular updates on what's happening at PNC and available career opportunities. Click to join!