Senior Innovation Manager

Title: Senior Innovation Manager

Location: Austin, TX / Morristown, NJ

Reports To: Chief of Staff

Hippo was built on a promise: make home ownership effortless. Nearly a decade later, that mission still drives us. We use technology and data to help our customers stay ahead of problems and protect what matters most.

Today, that same tech-native approach powers our work beyond homeowners. Hippo operates as a diversified carrier platform, partnering with MGAs to deliver tailored program solutions that help them grow and deliver better customer experiences. Behind that work is a team that values ownership, curiosity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

If you're energized by building what's next, we'd love to meet you.

You are a curious, well-connected Insur Tech generalist who lives at the intersection of insurance, technology, and data. You don't wait for innovation to come to you — you're constantly scanning the market for what's next: emerging vendors, new data sources, AI/automation tools, Insur Tech startups, MGA and program partners, and shifts in underwriting, claims, and distribution technology. You know how to turn a wide, noisy landscape into a short list of things worth a leadership conversation.

You're comfortable operating independently as an individual contributor at a senior level — you don't need a team under you to have impact. You can hold your own in a room with executives, translate a vendor pitch into a business case, and know the difference between a shiny object and something that actually moves the needle for Hippo. You're equally comfortable running a competitive landscape analysis, evaluating a new data partner, and briefing the C-suite on where the industry is headed.

• Own Hippo's ongoing view of the Insur Tech and adjacent-industry landscape — tracking emerging vendors, technologies, data sources, and startups relevant to underwriting, claims, distribution, and customer experience
• Build and maintain a structured pipeline of innovation opportunities (vendors, partnerships, data providers, tools) with clear evaluation criteria and business relevance
• Proactively source and vet new vendors and partners; run initial diligence (capabilities, data quality, pricing, integration complexity, competitive differentiation) before looping in stakeholders
• Partner directly with leadership and department heads (Underwriting, Claims, Product, Data Science, Distribution) to understand their priorities and surface innovations that address real business needs
• Translate market scans and vendor research into clear, decision-ready recommendations — memos, briefings, and comparison frameworks that leadership can act on quickly
• Monitor industry data sources, research reports, conferences, and competitor moves to maintain Hippo's awareness of where the market is heading
• Manage relationships with a network of vendors, Insur Tech scouts, VCs, and industry contacts to maintain early visibility into emerging opportunities
• Track and report on the innovation pipeline — what's been evaluated, what's in progress, what's been piloted, and outcomes — to keep leadership informed on ROI and progress
• Represent Hippo at relevant industry events, conferences, and vendor briefings as the eyes and ears of the organization on emerging trends
• Partner closely with the Chief of Staff and, as needed, the CEO's office to keep executive leadership current on the innovation landscape and to align scouting priorities with company-wide strategic initiatives

• 5+ years of experience in insurance, Insur Tech, or a related technology/data industry, with meaningful exposure to underwriting, claims, or insurance operations
• Demonstrated experience evaluating vendors, technologies, or data partnerships and translating findings into business recommendations
• Strong analytical skills; comfortable digging into vendor capabilities, data quality, and competitive positioning without needing a research team to do it for you
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to brief senior leadership clearly and concisely
• A demonstrated network or track record of staying plugged into industry…