Head of Investment Products at Inkomoko

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.