Senior Product Manager – Digital Banking

Absa Bank Kenya PLC is a banking and financial services company founded in 1916, operating in Nairobi, Kenya.

Reporting to the Head of Digital Banking, the Senior Product Manager will be responsible for the development, management, and enhancement of the bank's digital products. This includes creating, improving, delivering, and overseeing digital offerings, as well as managing and refining the product roadmap based on customer and business requirements. The role is crucial for shaping the bank's digital product portfolio, fostering innovation, delivering customer value, achieving business goals, and maintaining a competitive advantage in the market.

1. Develop product visions to drive successful strategies and tactics in the fintech consumer space and platform models.
2. Define an innovation strategy encompassing core, adjacent, and disruptive innovations.
3. Manage products throughout their entire lifecycle, from development to decline, applying appropriate strategic focus at each stage.
4. Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for each product to ensure alignment with business goals and strategy.
5. Conduct continuous reviews of product strategies, considering competition, product performance, market trends, and bank capabilities.
6. Evaluate potential strategic partnership opportunities, assess their scope, and review commercial and technical feasibility for investment.
7. Take ownership of and drive the overall product roadmap, ensuring alignment with business needs and overseeing implementation within budget and commercial targets.
8. Define product strategy and align digital solutions to achieve revenue objectives.
9. Design and implement the unit’s product management architecture.
10. Establish best practices for product management processes, including product vision, strategy formulation, and roadmap development.
11. Serve as the liaison between commercial and technology teams to ensure optimal product development for commercial value and alignment with go-to-market strategies.
12. Ensure effective governance of the unit’s practices in accordance with Group policies and service standards.
13. Create and build scalable solutions for distribution through digital and alternative channels.
14. Maintain operational excellence to comply with the Group's Audit and Enterprise risk framework.
15. Build and develop high-capability product teams, demonstrating expertise in hiring, coaching, and enabling product managers in B2C, B2B, and ecosystem environments.
16. Lead a team of product managers and designers, collaborating with technology, vendors, partners, commercial, financial, legal, compliance, marketing, and finance teams to ensure solutions meet defined criteria.

1. Hold a Bachelor’s degree from a reputable institution.
2. Possess at least 8 years of work experience, including a minimum of 3 years in a similar senior product management role with a proven track record.
3. Have 5 years of dedicated Product Management experience, specifically in creating strategic product roadmaps from conception to launch and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
4. Demonstrate experience in driving product vision, developing go-to-market strategies, and leading design discussions.
5. Exhibit knowledge across multiple functional areas such as Product Management, Engineering, and UX/UI.
6. Possess an in-depth understanding of various mobile banking platforms.
7. Have an in-depth understanding of Financial Technology (Fintech).
8. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of competitor activities and local market trends.
9. Be proficient in financial concepts and terminology, capable of applying them in problem-solving and decision-making.
10. Be able to anticipate internal and external business challenges or regulatory issues and lead improvements in processes, products, or services.
11. Be capable of forming a clear product vision that aligns digital business goals with overall company objectives, ensuring product strategies and tactics are consistent with these visions and goals.