M-Pesa Africa - Executive Head of International Money Transfer (IMT) & Cross Border Payments at Safaricom Kenya

DESCRIPTION
At M-Pesa Africa, we are at the forefront of the financial technology revolution, driven by innovation and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We are looking for an Executive Head of IMT & Cross Border Payments who will pay a pivotal role in leading and shaping these services. 

M-Pesa is a pioneering fintech business and global market leader in mobile money. From starting in 2007 as a convenient means by which the unbanked and underbanked can make digital payments, M-Pesa has now grown to offer >50 million active customers financial services, enterprise, merchant and retail solutions. We are proud of our work in enabling the digital economy in our markets, and in driving financial inclusion. 

The Commercial Team works with M-Pesa leadership across our 7 Operating Countries to co-create the product strategy, drive thought leadership, design new products and features, set commercial priorities with the engineering teams and lead business development for strategic multi-country partnership opportunities. 

Reporting to M-Pesa Africa's Chief Commercial Officer, the Executive Head of IMT & Cross Border Payments will be responsible for:

•  Developing and implementing the overall strategy and vision for IMT within Commercial in alignment with MPA’s goals and objectives;
• Utilizing data-driven insights to assess the performance of IMT and Cross Border Payments services. This includes analyzing trends, identify areas for improvement, and implement initiatives to optimize operations and increase efficiency;
• Collaborating with key stakeholders, including senior management and product development teams to provide opportunities for service enhancements and new product offerings;
• Implementing strategic initiatives to drive business development, manage vendor relationships, and liaise with the legal team to negotiate contracts;
• Developing and executing a comprehensive partnership strategy to identify, prioritize and establish relevant collaborations;
• Prioritizing customer satisfaction and continuously improve the end-to-end customer journey for international payments, ensuring a seamless and convenient experience for users;
• Offering strategic support on the IMT & CBP strategy, negotiations and business case development to ensure optimal performance and cost-effectiveness;
• Co-developing and launching go-to- market plans with local product managers to drive uptake and engagement
• Driving commercial rationalization of the IMT roadmaps balancing requirements from multiple markets

Skills and competencies required for the role:

• Strong knowledge of Remittances, Forex management, Digital product management and agile ways of working;
• Refined and impactful communicator with the ability to interface with individuals across at all levels including CEOs in the Operating Countries that we support;
• Experience driving IMT & CBP roadmaps and supporting customers in negotiations and strategic decisions;
• Experience driving IMT & CBP roadmaps of new services and development of new customer touchpoints.

 
QUALIFICATIONS
Apply if you have:

• A Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance or related field, A Master's degree is preferred 
• At least 10 years of experience, 5 of which should be in Remittances at a bank, Fintech or Digital business
• Strong knowledge of Mobile Money, Fintech and Financial Services 
• Experience with emerging market consumers, and multicultural sensitivity 
• Strong understanding of international payment systems, regulations, and compliance requirements
• Knowledge of emerging payment technologies and industry trends

What you can expect from us

• We believe in a fair and robust interview process
• We have a robust flexible total reward scheme
• Dedicated support and mentoring/coaching
• Opportunity to develop and progress – plus a solid dedication to work-life integration. It all means you’ll have everything you need to advance your career and achieve your full potential.