Products Lead, SOLV Kenya at Standard Chartered Bank Kenya

The Role Responsibilities

Support all the Commercial Leads to plan, manage, lead and direct the business focus of the various product offerings on Solv Kenya. Develop the customer segment by positioning the brand via structured marketing campaigns and creatively packaging the product set to stimulate relationship growth and market share. Maximize efficiencies in the business to better deliver products and services to customers, at a profitable cost and deliver the above within the annual marketing budget.

Business and Strategy:

• Size market segments and identify customer needs and opportunities
• Define Product roadmap and strategy for a B2B commerce platform.
• Support product strategy and vision through data and analysis and create buy-in for the vision both internally and with key external parties.
• Stich together the commerce Business Services and financial services offerings on the platform.
• Establish Proposition and Product Strategy Map for Standard Chartered Ventures which align with SOLV Kenya’s Strategy.
• Benchmark competitive experiences across the customer value chain, and assess voice of customers to identify business opportunities and define required customer experience
• Understand the market dynamics and technological advancements in the Banking & Finance and B2B industry and build strategies around the same.
• Responsible for designing all initiatives including rewards & performance management system for Business Associates/Channel Partners
• Monitoring and reporting on performance against agreed sales targets, including monitoring the performance of other staff.
• Undertake market research for all new products introduced to ensure product features match customer needs
• Develop and implement an effective product marketing mix
• Repackage existing product range in line with changing customer needs
• Identify suitable products/services for target customers and develop them for introduction.
• Actively review and monitor competitor product offerings with a view to ensuring Solv Kenya products have a competitive edge.
• Track and analyse performance of products against targets on a monthly and annual basis and propose remedial action on shortfalls.
• Liaise with advertising and research agencies to complement marketing effort together with the Brand and Marketing Team.
• Track and report marketing expenditure against budget.
• Work with other Divisions of the Solv Kenya to provide marketing support to the SOLV products portfolio.

Processes

• To develop, maintain and embed effective processes/DOIs (including training, advice and support) to address the Products in relation to the venture business aligning with relevant policies and regulatory requirements where relevant.
• Provide governance and oversight over the implementation of Products and related changes, policies and procedures relevant to the Solv business model
• Periodically review Product Specifications and PPG’s to be consistent with Business Strategy.  Recommend any changes required to meet target customer segments’ expectations and ensure compliance with Bank policies and guidelines.
• Develop MIS to support business performance and marketing effectiveness
• Support the regional and global development of SOLV B2B products through team play and information exchange.

People and Talent

• Lead through example and build the appropriate culture and values. Set appropriate tone and expectations from a Products Perspective for SOLV Kenya to the Team and work in collaboration with the rest of the Senior Management Team.
• Promote and embed a culture of openness, trust and risk awareness, where ethical, legal, regulatory and policy compliant conduct is the norm.
• Stimulate an environment where forward planning, prioritisation, deadline management, target achievement, creating good customer relations and loyalty and streamlined workflows and collaborative, inclusive yet effective and efficient work practices are the norm.
• Set and monitor job descriptions and objectives for the Commercial Leads and provide feedback and rewards in line with their performance against those responsibilities and objectives.
• Ensure the provision of ongoing training and development in order that Commercial Leads and the rest of the team are competent, suitably skilled and qualified for their roles, ensuring that they have effective supervision in place to mitigate any risks.
• Provide feedback at business, function, country and individual level as appropriate, on Products Performance which should have a bearing on remuneration pools or individual bonuses (for senior staff).
• Ensure regular and documented management meetings with the senior management team on the performance of the Products on SOLV Kenya.

Risk Management

• In accordance with the Ventures Enterprise Risk Management Framework, act as first line Risk Owner for all SOLV Products together with the Services Lead to address appropriate and relevant Venture processes.
• Collaborate with the Risk and Compliance Team Members to anticipate horizon risks that may have a significant impact on the Ventures Products and develop effective strategies to mitigate such horizon risks including global standards for conduct of business.
• Collaborate with Risk and Compliance Team and senior managers to support a programme for conduct, financial crime and compliance monitoring, surveillance and/or assurance for the Solv business in Kenya
• In the event of serious Product regulatory breaches, or where risk tolerances have been breached, working with Risk and Governance, Commercial Leads, ensure senior management in the Venture and relevant regulators are informed and that actions are taken quickly to remediate and/or activities are ceased.
• Working with the Risk and Compliance Officer and Commercial Leads ensure proactive and timely identification, assessment, advice and dissemination of evolving regulatory changes/practices and associated risks, and proactive engagement in regulatory reform relating to Technology.
• Liaise with the internal audit function to ensure that any weakness identified by the internal audit function relating to the SOLV Products in Kenya are appropriately followed up and closed in a timely manner.
• Together with the Risk Team, Commercial Leads, assess risks arising from products / segments / geographies / customers / transactions related to Solv business.
• Ensure any Product related global standards are understood and implemented across the area of responsibility, with any identified exceptions, or need for more/less stringent standards escalated when appropriate.

Governance

• Attend relevant leadership meetings, and provide relevant reports to senior management and governance/risk committees for the area of responsibility.
• Working with the Risk Team, Commercial Leads, Identify and escalate potential risks and issues to senior management through appropriate governance channels and the Quality Assurance framework.
• Ensure appropriate Product governance measures are in place so that product approval documents reflect all relevant requirements.
• Propose control effectiveness and efficiency improvements and simplifications where appropriate.

Regulatory & Business Conduct

• Display exemplary conduct and live by the Group’s Values and Code of Conduct.
• Take personal responsibility for embedding the highest standards of ethics, including regulatory and business conduct, across Standard Chartered Bank. This includes understanding and ensuring compliance with, in letter and spirit, all applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and the Group Code of Conduct.
• Lead the SOLV Products Mandate set out in the Bank’s Conduct Principles
• Effectively and collaboratively identify, escalate, mitigate and resolve risk, conduct and compliance matters.
• Exercise authorities delegated by the Board of Directors and act in accordance with Articles of Association

Key Stakeholders

• Venture Lead, SOLV Kenya
• Commercial Leads, SOLV Kenya
• Risk and Compliance SOLV Kenya
• CTO, SOLV Kenya
• CFO, SOLV Kenya

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• University Graduate with at least 8 years’ managerial experience in commercial/consumer financial services.