Head of Products (Retail) at KCB Bank Kenya

Key Responsibilities:

Product Strategy & Lifecycle Management

• Define and execute the Retail product strategy in alignment with overall business objectives.
• Provide oversight of the end-to-end product lifecycle, from ideation to commercialization and retirement.
• Ensure products remain competitive, compliant, and responsive to evolving customer needs.

Research, Analysis & Innovation

• Lead market research, competitor analysis, and customer insights to inform product strategy.
• Identify innovation opportunities to reimagine customer engagement and enhance product relevance.
• Pilot new concepts and technologies to validate market potential and scalability.

Product Development & Commercialization

• Oversee the design, testing, and launch of new products and enhancements.
• Ensure effective go-to-market strategies, pricing, and positioning to drive adoption.
• Monitor performance of products post-launch and recommend refinements to maximize value.

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Collaborate with internal teams (Digital, Marketing, Operations, Risk, Compliance, Legal) to deliver product initiatives.
• Build external partnerships with fintechs, industry players, and regulators to support product development.
• Promote cross-functional alignment to ensure timely and effective execution.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure all products adhere to regulatory requirements, internal policies, and risk frameworks.
• Monitor emerging risks across the product portfolio and implement mitigation measures.
• Provide reporting and insights to senior leadership on product performance, risks, and opportunities.

Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Product Management team to strengthen execution capability.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and customer focus within the product function.
• Build capacity for continuous improvement and best practice adoption in product management.

The Ideal Candidate: Academic, Professional & Experience:

For the above position, the successful applicant should have the following:

• Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university 
• Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent) will be an added advantage
• Professional qualification in Product Management, Banking, Marketing, or Management (e.g., CIM, CMI, CPM, ACIB) will be an added advantage 
•  Project Management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile) will be an added advantage
• 10 years’ minimum experience is required, together with the following essential experience:
  • 6 years’ experience in sales
  • 4 years’ experience in stakeholder management
  • 4 years’ experience in strategic planning  
  • 4 years’ experience in team management            
  • 4 years’ experience in product development         
  • 2 years’ experience in project management