KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Product Strategy & Innovation: Lead the end-to-end design of financial products and services with a forward-looking (2+ years) perspective. Align product strategy with client needs, financial inclusion goals, and Inkomoko’s portfolio quality and growth targets. Integrate Shariah-compliant principles into relevant product development streams. Maintain a pipeline of innovative product ideas informed by client data, market intelligence, and global best practices. Define and maintain programme segmentation frameworks ensuring products align with client capacity, risk tolerance and growth potential. Product Prototyping, Testing & Iteration: Design and manage pilot programs to test new or revised products, tools, or lending methodologies. Partner with MERL and client service teams to collect and analyze feedback during pilots. Use insights from pilots, portfolio data, and client experience to refine product features and delivery channels. Ensure scalability and operational feasibility before full rollout across country operations. Ensure product design integrates with Inkomoko’s training and advisory services to strengthen repayment outcomes. Product Optimization & Performance Monitoring: Track product performance against adoption, client outcomes, operational efficiency, and client satisfaction metrics. Work with the Credit Risk team to review repayment performance and portfolio health to inform product refinement. Partner with Credit risk and Portfolio Analytics teams to integrate early-warning signals into product iteration. Continuously refine loan origination tools, client onboarding processes, and branch-level productivity measures. Surface insights from field data to inform product improvements and delivery mechanisms. Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with the Head of Credit Risk & Compliance, Credit Operations, and Systems & Digital to ensure risk-aligned, compliant, and technology-enabled product rollouts. Work closely with Country Heads of Investment to ensure products are adapted to local contexts and effectively delivered through branches. Collaborate with Legal and Shariah Compliance Officer to ensure regulatory and religious compliance. Team Leadership & Capacity Building: Supervise and mentor the Shariah Compliance Officer and Product team members. Provide technical coaching and support to branch-based Loan Officers and Support Officers to enhance product delivery. Build team capacity in product design, client-centric approaches, and emerging fintech solutions. Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the Product function. Market Scanning & Competitive Intelligence: Identify opportunities for new lending methodologies, digital tools, and financial inclusion innovations relevant to displacement-affected markets. Continuously monitor financial services, fintech, and microfinance trends across Inkomoko’s markets. Benchmark Inkomoko products against competitors and identify differentiation opportunities. Lead exploration of new technologies (e.g., mobile lending, AI-driven credit scoring) that enhance value for clients. Requirements: Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business, or related field (Master’s preferred). 10+ years of experience in financial product development, financial inclusion, fintech, microfinance, or MSME lending. Proven experience designing or managing financial products for underserved markets. Experience working with cross-functional teams including risk, operations, and technology to launch scalable financial products. Strong understanding of lending methodologies, pricing, and client segmentation.
