Manager, Products & Projects (Head Office) at First Community Bank

Job Summary:

To translate new ideas and opportunities into new products and to improve existing products. This role involves market research, development of product papers, implementation of approved products, coordinating user tests and working with marketing team to launch products and services. In addition, it entails project management, product maintenance, product performance monitoring and vendor coordination. The purpose is to create Bank’s products that are suitable to evolving customer needs and ultimately ensuring return on investment i.e. profitability.

Key responsibilities:

• Conceptualizing and crystalizing new product ideas into concrete business cases and proposals. The approved businesses cases culminate into new products;
• Planning and implementing all elements of new products/up-grading and rolling them out in conjunction with Manager Marketing;
• Coordinating with various support services, as required, for product features implementation and user acceptance testing;
• Customer, competitor and market monitoring to identify new/upgraded product needs and opportunities(environment scanning and comparison);
• Negotiating with and closing deals with third party vendors, service providers and other external dependencies as required for the product;
• MIS generation and analysis by preparing manuals and procedures, preparing product approval papers and arranging sign-offs; and
• Product maintenance for certain products which involves trouble shooting for technical hitches and breakdowns including coordination with external vendors as necessary

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Marketing, Strategic Management or its equivalent from a recognized institution will be an added advantage; and
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems, Strategic Management, Marketing or its equivalent from a recognized institution
• Chartered Institute of Marketing diploma or its equivalent; and
• Member of Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) or equivalent professional body.
• At least 5 years relevant experience in a similar role.
• Ability to write complex letters, comprehensive reports and to perform complex calculations

Competencies and Attributes

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Strong people management skills;
• Strong innovative and creative thinking skills;
• Excellent problem solving and decision making skills;
• Excellent project management skills; and
• Should demonstrate knowledge of banking applications