Old Mutual is committed to driving Africa’s growth story by building strong financial solutions and empowering communities across the continent. As part of this commitment, the organization continues to invest in people and digital solutions that redefine how customers experience financial services. The firm’s strength lies not only in its deep understanding of markets but also in its ability to innovate in line with rapidly evolving customer needs.
The financial services industry is experiencing a significant shift toward digitalization. Customers expect banking services to be fast, convenient, and secure, while institutions must deliver these solutions in a way that is competitive and sustainable. Against this backdrop, Old Mutual is seeking to recruit a Product and Ideation Manager – Transactional Banking and Digital Sales, who will be based in Nairobi.
This role is critical in spearheading the bank’s digital product development, ensuring that customers access cutting-edge services such as payments, lending, collections, and onboarding through seamless digital channels. The position will also involve working closely with cross-functional teams, partners, and business units to ensure the bank remains ahead of the curve in digital transformation.
The following sections outline the detailed responsibilities, tasks, and competencies expected of the role.
Job Summary
The Product and Ideation Manager – Transactional Banking and Digital Sales is responsible for developing, implementing, and optimizing digital banking solutions that cut across payments, digital lending, collections, and customer onboarding. The role requires strong leadership in managing the product lifecycle, from ideation to rollout, while ensuring solutions align with business strategy and customer expectations.
The job holder will lead cross-functional teams, manage agile product development cycles, and ensure market competitiveness. With a strategic focus, the individual will also play a central role in shaping business planning, driving sales, managing costs, and ensuring compliance with regulatory and organizational standards.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
1. Product Development and Ideation – 50%
The core function of the role lies in driving the product lifecycle for key digital offerings such as payments, lending, collections, and onboarding. Responsibilities include:
- Scoping, approving, and developing digital products within defined timelines and budgets.
- Acting as the digital lead during regular product reviews to ensure offerings remain competitive in the dynamic banking environment.
- Leading cross-functional teams in product design, prototyping, testing, and release, including go-to-market strategies.
- Translating customer insights and market research into actionable product features.
- Overseeing agile product development cycles, ensuring timely milestone delivery.
- Collaborating with UX/UI designers, engineers, and stakeholders to refine product vision and execution.
- Working with business units such as MSME, SME, Retail Banking, and Business Banking teams to fully embed transaction banking and digital product solutions.
- Championing product and sales activities to drive growth in customer adoption.
- Leveraging resources efficiently to ensure product competitiveness and compliance with industry standards.
2. Business Planning and Strategy – 25%
Strategic alignment is crucial for the success of digital products. The role entails:
- Developing and preparing standard product proposals and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
- Collaborating with developers and external partners to design and promote competitive digital products.
- Serving as a point of reference for clients and internal teams regarding digital product initiatives.
- Implementing e-banking and transaction banking solutions tailored to different client segments.
- Assessing and recommending pricing guidelines to maintain competitiveness while ensuring revenue growth.
3. Service Management – 15%
Ensuring service delivery excellence is another critical aspect of this role. Responsibilities include:
- Implementing electronic banking and transaction solutions for clients of varying size and complexity.
- Leading and motivating team members to deliver efficiently.
- Proactively identifying ways to reduce project implementation cycle times.
- Coordinating the resolution of digital and transaction banking-related issues within agreed turnaround times.
- Acting as a reference point for clients and colleagues on transactional banking matters.
- Providing management information reports on progress, issues, and product adoption for decision-making.
4. Cost Containment – 10%
Sustainable product delivery requires careful cost management. The role will involve:
- Ensuring that Return on Equity targets are achieved for digital and transaction products.
- Driving efforts to secure a significant share of wallet across products.
- Ensuring prudent use of organizational resources during product delivery and client engagements.
Key Responsibilities
- Meeting quarterly product targets in line with the bank’s digital strategy.
- Participating in innovation forums with vendors, IT teams, and management to ensure competitiveness.
- Ensuring full compliance with bank policies and procedures.
- Submitting reports to risk and audit teams as required.
- Regularly reviewing digital and transaction strategies to align with market trends.
- Conducting ongoing staff training on digital solutions.
- Supporting the sales team with value propositions and materials for client presentations.
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Compliance Expectations
The role carries significant compliance responsibilities, particularly in ensuring adherence to AML and sanctions-related policies. Specific duties include:
- Implementing compliance, AML, and sanctions policies across the product lifecycle.
- Executing customer due diligence and KYC processes.
- Conducting ongoing and enhanced due diligence for digital customers.
- Maintaining data quality and accuracy in all product initiatives.
- Identifying and escalating suspicious or unusual activities to the Risk and Compliance Office.
Skills, Knowledge, and Competencies
The role requires a combination of technical, strategic, and interpersonal skills. Key competencies include:
- Strong understanding of digital and cash management products, including internet banking, mobile banking, card business, and host-to-host integration.
- Ability to analyze customer and market data to guide product development.
- Strong leadership and collaboration skills to manage cross-functional teams.
- Effective problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications for documentation and reporting.
- Strong oral and written communication skills to articulate product vision and progress.
- Financial acumen to evaluate pricing, budgeting, and revenue opportunities.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines.
- Competency in planning, aligning resources, and driving results.
- Familiarity with operational compliance requirements in a financial services environment.
Additional Duties and Administrative Support
Beyond core product responsibilities, the role will also involve:
- Producing and updating documentation and reports to support management decisions.
- Scheduling meetings, organizing travel, and supporting business events.
- Drafting and reviewing correspondence, minutes, and internal communications.
- Collecting and analyzing data for reporting purposes.
- Supporting budgeting processes through accurate monitoring and analysis.
- Undertaking simple procurement tasks to support product initiatives.
- Participating in training and development opportunities to build personal capability.
Competencies
The following behavioral competencies are essential for success in this position:
- Directing work and leading teams effectively.
- Driving results in a competitive environment.
- Ensuring accountability in product delivery.
- Managing complexity in product development cycles.
- Optimizing workflows to achieve efficiency.
- Demonstrating a high degree of technological savviness.
- Planning and aligning activities with strategic objectives.
Education
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or related field.
Closing Date
Applications will be accepted until 30 October 2025 at 23:59.
Application
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online.
