Head of Market Development

LOOP DFS is anchored on a platform strategy that aims to scale throughout Africa, connecting consumers and merchants with mobile-based payment and financial services. The platform offers a variety of services, such as credit, marketplace, mobile money transfers, bill payments, P2P lending, and digital wallets for merchants to receive payments. It leverages the growing use of mobile phones and increasing demand for financial services in Africa.

The Head of Market Development will be accountable for conducting market assessments, aligning on regulatory readiness, shaping localization strategies, and developing strong public and private sector partnerships that enable rapid and sustainable growth. The successful candidate will combine strategic acumen with operational execution, and act as the orchestrator of market readiness across product, legal, compliance, distribution, and customer support. The role holder will develop business cases and implement expansion initiatives that align with the company’s long-term vision, ensuring sustainable growth and competitive positioning. This senior position plays a crucial role in ensuring that growth objectives match the company’s strategic direction, leading initiatives from ideation through execution to maximize market penetration, customer acquisition, and partner engagement across all key markets. It is central to LOOP’s ambition of becoming a leading pan-African fintech platform, enabling financial inclusion and innovation at scale through direct and partner-led market pathways.

1. Drive revenue growth via new markets and streams.
2. Ensure sustainable growth with positive margins.
3. Lead geographic/product expansion; identify B2C, B2B, and PaaS opportunities aligned to LOOP goals.
4. Lead cross-functional teams for market readiness and execution.
5. Ensure initiatives deliver ROI using metrics balance short- and long-term value.
6. Grow share using competitive insights and customer data to strengthen positioning.
7. Build relationships with regulators and stakeholders for compliant entry.
8. Develop partnerships with banks, telcos, and platforms to accelerate growth.
9. Support API strategy and partner onboarding under PaaS models.
10. Manage budgets, track spend vs. ROI, and align resources across phases.
11. Standardize expansion frameworks and operating models.
12. Streamline processes for scalability and efficiency.
13. Implement frameworks covering regulatory, operational, and integration risks.
14. Align teams to deliver growth objectives.
15. Track KPIs like acquisition, revenue, and share.
16. Maintain dashboards and document expansion progress.
17. Build playbooks, capture lessons, and promote learning.
18. Understand needs across segments using research.
19. Localize offerings; validate MVP success metrics.
20. Drive activation and early usage strategies.
21. Improve offerings using feedback.
22. Use data to guide strategy and decisions.
23. Build partnerships for growth and innovation.
24. Stay updated on trends and best practices.
25. Train, mentor, and grow team capabilities.
26. Encourage creativity and experimentation.
27. Use data insights for strategy and improvement.

1. Relentless in your pursuit of growth and want to disrupt the FinTech industry.
2. A bachelor’s degree in computer science or business-related fields.
3. MBA or a master’s degree in a business field is desirable.
4. 10+ years in fintech, digital financial services, or digital platforms with at least 5 years in an expansion, business development, or GTM leadership role across multiple African markets.
5. Proven track record launching B2C, B2B, or PaaS financial services platforms in emerging markets — experience with payments acquiring, mobile money, credit, or savings platforms is an advantage.
6. Exposure to API-driven product ecosystems or PaaS business models.
7. Strong cross-functional leadership and ability to mobilize teams without direct authority.
8. Commercial acumen and partnership negotiation skills.
9. Deep understanding of African regulatory environments, especially in payments, lending, and platform business models.
10. Strong market analysis, opportunity sizing, and go-to-market execution capability.
11. Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, regulators, and external partners.
12. Entrepreneurial mindset, high adaptability, and bias for action.