Data And Product Design Manager at Aceli Africa

Job Description

• The Data and Product Design Manager will lead the day-to-day analysis and coordination that inform the design and continuous improvement of Aceli’s financial incentive products.
• Working at the intersection of strategy, data, and implementation, the role translates strategic direction from the Senior Manager into actionable analyses, insights, and recommendations, while managing deliverables and supervising a small team of associates through guidance, coaching, and quality assurance.

The role has responsibilities across the following areas:

Product Design, Data & Analytics

• Support the end-to-end design and ongoing refinement of Aceli’s financial incentives aligning the product design with Aceli’s long-term vision and impact objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve or evolve products based on data insights, partner feedback, and implementation experience.
• Support the development and application of analytical frameworks and dashboards to assess lender performance, portfolio quality, and impact outcomes.
• Manage the design and delivery of Aceli’s annual financial benchmarking exercise, including evolution of methodologies over time.
• Translate analytical findings into clear insights for internal decision-making and external engagement with partners.

Annual planning and risk management

• Lead the preparation of Aceli’s annual financial incentive budget, including multi-year financial projections, scenario analysis, and sensitivity testing to support strategic decision-making.
• Ensure the incentive budgeting process is data-driven, realistic, and aligned with organisational priorities, funding constraints, and risk appetite.
• Lead the annual loan audit and verification process, ensuring loans submitted by partner lenders comply with Aceli’s eligibility criteria and impact guidelines.

Stakeholder engagement

• Collaborate closely with lending partners to gather market feedback, explain product mechanics, and ensure a clear and consistent understanding of Aceli’s financial incentives and requirements.
• Work cross-functionally with internal teams (including Operations, Impact, and Leadership) to ensure product developments align with Aceli’s strategic priorities and implementation realities.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Manage, supervise, and mentor a team of junior team members working on product design, analytics, and benchmarking.
• Provide clear direction, prioritisation, and quality control across team deliverables.
• Coach team members on analytical rigor, structured thinking, and effective communication.
• Support professional development through regular feedback, performance management, and on-the-job learning.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture with strong ownership and accountability.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., finance or business) preferred.
• Experience: 7 years of relevant experience in product design, financial services, development finance, consulting, or a related field.
• People Management: Demonstrated experience managing and developing junior team members.
• Analytical Expertise: Strong experience working with complex datasets and designing practical analytical frameworks and dashboards.
• Financial Sector Knowledge: Solid understanding of financial institutions, lending products, and portfolio performance metrics.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to diverse audiences.
• Organisational Skills: Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams, priorities, and deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Values alignment: Demonstrated collaborative approach to working across functions and beyond formal reporting lines; growth mindset with an interest in operating at the frontier of industry practice; and strong commitment to Aceli’s mission and values.