Head, Market Development at NCBA Group

Job Purpose Statement

LOOP DFS is anchored on platform strategy that aims to scale throughout Africa and be a mobile-based payment and financial services platform connecting consumers and merchants, with ambitions to be in six (6) new countries by 2026.

The platform offers a variety of services, such as credit, marketplace, mobile money transfers, bill payments, P2P lending, and digital wallets for merchants to receive payments.

The platform leverages the growing use of mobile phones and the increasing demand for financial services in Africa to attract and retain customers. To further scale the platform, LOOP DFS will partner with established financial institutions, mobile network operators, and other relevant companies to offer a comprehensive suite of financial services.

Additionally, the platform will use data analytics to better understand customer needs and tailor its offerings to meet those needs. By building a strong network of consumers and merchants, the platform will also provide valuable insights into spending patterns and purchasing behavior, allowing merchants to make informed decisions about their businesses.

The Head of Market Development is responsible for driving LOOP’s strategic growth across Africa through the identification, planning, and execution of new market and product expansion initiatives. Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer, the role leads a dedicated Market Launch Team and collaborates cross-functionally to bring LOOP’s fintech offerings to new geographies.

The Head of Market Development will be accountable for conducting market assessments, aligning on regulatory readiness, shaping localization strategies, and developing strong public and private sector partnerships that enable rapid and sustainable growth. The successful candidate will combine strategic acumen with operational execution, and act as the orchestrator of market readiness across product, legal, compliance, distribution, and customer support. The role holder will develop business cases and implement expansion initiatives that align with the company’s long-term vision, ensuring sustainable growth and competitive positioning.

This senior position plays a crucial role in ensuring that growth objectives match the company’s strategic direction, leading initiatives from ideation through execution to maximize market penetration, customer acquisition, and partner engagement across all key markets. It is central to LOOP’s ambition of becoming a leading pan-African fintech platform, enabling financial inclusion and innovation at scale through direct and partner-led market pathways.

Key Accountabilities (Duties and Responsibilities)

Strategy & Financial – 30%

• Revenue Growth: Drive revenue growth via new markets and streams
• Profitability: Ensure sustainable growth with positive margins
• Market Expansion: Lead geographic/product expansion; identify B2C, B2B, and PaaS opportunities aligned to LOOP goals.
• Market Launch Leadership: Lead cross-functional teams for market readiness and execution.
• ROI: Ensure initiatives deliver ROI using metrics balance short- and long-term value.
• Market Share Growth: Grow share using competitive insights and customer data to strengthen positioning.
• Regulatory & Stakeholder Engagement: Build relationships with regulators and stakeholders for compliant entry.
• Partnership Development: Develop partnerships with banks, telcos, and platforms to accelerate growth.
• Platform Distribution: Support API strategy and partner onboarding under PaaS models.
• Budgeting & Resource Allocation: Manage budgets, track spend vs. ROI, and align resources across phases.

Internal Business Processes 30%

• Expansion Governance: Standardize expansion frameworks and operating models.
• Process Optimization: Streamline processes for scalability and efficiency.
• Risk Management: Implement frameworks covering regulatory, operational, and integration risks.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Align teams to deliver growth objectives.
• Performance Measurement: Track KPIs like acquisition, revenue, and share.
• Reporting & Documentation: Maintain dashboards and document expansion progress.
• Knowledge Management: Build playbooks, capture lessons, and promote learning.

Customer 20%

• Customer Insight: Understand needs across segments using research.
• Product-Market Fit: Localize offerings; validate MVP success metrics.
• Onboarding & Adoption: Drive activation and early usage strategies.
• Customer Satisfaction: Improve offerings using feedback.
• Customer Insights: Use data to guide strategy and decisions.
• Strategic Partnerships: Build partnerships for growth and innovation.

Learning & Growth 20%

• Continuous Learning: Stay updated on trends and best practices.
• Talent Development: Train, mentor, and grow team capabilities.
• Innovation: Encourage creativity and experimentation.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Use data insights for strategy and improvement.

Job Specifications

Desired personal attribute:

Relentless in your pursuit of growth and want to disrupt the FinTech industry

Academic:

• A bachelor’s degree in computer science or business-related fields.
• MBA or a master’s degree in a business field is desirable.

Work Experience:

• 10+ years in fintech, digital financial services, or digital platforms with at least 5 years in an expansion, business development, or GTM leadership role across multiple African markets.
• Proven track record launching B2C, B2B, or PaaS financial services platforms in emerging markets — experience with payments acquiring, mobile money, credit, or savings platforms is an advantage.
• Exposure to API-driven product ecosystems or PaaS business models.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong cross-functional leadership and ability to mobilize teams without direct authority.
• Commercial acumen and partnership negotiation skills.
• Deep understanding of African regulatory environments, especially in payments, lending, and platform business models.
• Strong market analysis, opportunity sizing, and go-to-market execution capability.
• Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, regulators, and external partners.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, high adaptability, and bias for action.