Description

1.0 Role Purpose

• Shape and execute the Enterprise applications/product vision and strategy to accelerate Equity Group's digital transformation agenda in alignment with the Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP).
• Lead the end-to-end lifecycle of innovative, scalable, and inclusive products.
• Empower customers, enhance operational efficiency, and drive sustainable growth across Equity Group's markets.

2.0 Key Responsibilities

Product Strategy and Management:

• Define and execute the product roadmap for innovative solutions across the Group.
• Manage product backlog, sprint planning, and release cycles in an Agile environment.
• Develop clear product requirements and user stories that communicate customer needs and business value.
• Prioritize features and initiatives based on customer impact, business goals, and technical constraints.
• Track and analyze product metrics to measure success and drive data-informed decisions.
• Represent the voice of the customer throughout the product development process.
• Establish governance to ensure adherence to compliance, security, and risk management policies.
• Lead change management efforts including defining training programs and product documentation.
• Implement continuous feedback loops to refine and enhance product performance.
• Collaborate with risk and compliance teams to meet regulatory requirements and implement best practices in data security, governance, and process automation.
• Ensure cost optimization while maintaining high product reliability.
• Present product strategies and progress to executive leadership and stakeholders.
• Stay current with industry trends, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies.

Collaboration with Stakeholders:

• Work closely with business stakeholders to understand their needs and develop aligned solutions.
• Communicate product vision and updates to internal teams, ensuring alignment with project goals and timelines.
• Coordinate with development and IT teams for product configurations and feature enhancements.

Documentation and Reporting:

• Document product specifications, user stories, and features for clarity across teams.
• Prepare reports on project progress, product performance, and user feedback for stakeholders and management.

Continuous Improvement:

• Identify areas for product improvements based on user feedback and data analysis.
• Evaluate and implement new features and enhancements to improve user experience and operational efficiency.

Other Responsibilities:

• Lead execution of the product strategy by defining and prioritizing features and requirements.
• Conduct market research and gather customer feedback to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including design, development, and business teams.
• Participate throughout the entire product development lifecycle: discovery, ideation, documentation, validation, and launch.
• Create product documentation including user stories, requirements, and specifications.
• Engage with external partners and vendors, overseeing integration and collaboration efforts.

3.0 Core Accountabilities and Deliverables

• Define and maintain a clear product vision and roadmap for internal enterprise applications.
• Act as the primary liaison between business units, IT, and development teams.
• Document user stories, functional specifications, and acceptance criteria.
• Stakeholder alignment reports and feedback logs.
• Conduct regular stakeholder engagement sessions and satisfaction surveys.
• Lead end-to-end delivery of internal application features and enhancements.

4.0 Key Decisions Made by the Position-Holder

• Product Feature Prioritization: Decide which features, enhancements, or fixes are prioritized in the backlog.
• Roadmap Definition and Adjustments: Define and update the product roadmap for internal applications.
• Release Scope and Timing: Finalize the scope of each release and approve go/no-go decisions for deployment.

5.0 Complexity Expected in the Role

• Ensure internal applications are scalable, localized, and compliant with country-specific requirements (e.g., tax, HR policies, procurement rules).
• Ensure compliance with data protection laws (e.g., GDPR equivalents), internal policies, and cybersecurity standards.

6.0 Critical Relationships/Stakeholders/Contacts

• Internal: Business Unit Heads (HR, Finance, Procurement, Risk, Compliance, Operations), IT & Infrastructure Teams, Project Management Office (PMO)
• External: Technology Vendors / SaaS Providers, Implementation Partners / Consultants

Qualifications

7.0 Key Technical and Leadership Competencies

• Proficiency in managing the full product lifecycle: discovery, design, development, testing, deployment, and iteration.
• Ability to analyze and redesign internal workflows for efficiency, scalability, and compliance.
• Hands-on experience with Agile frameworks, backlog grooming, sprint planning, and iterative delivery.
• Ability to collaborate with designers and developers to ensure intuitive, user-friendly internal tools.
• Understanding of how internal applications integrate with other systems via APIs or middleware.
• Experience in leading cross-functional teams, mentoring junior staff, and fostering a culture of innovation and accountability.

8.0 Experience Requirements

• 6 years of experience in Product Management; 8 years overall industry experience.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams through the full product lifecycle.
• Strong analytical skills to translate data into actionable insights.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Experience in banking, financial services, or enterprise-grade IT environments.
• Hands-on experience with Agile (Scrum, SAFe) methodologies.

9.0 Academic Qualifications and Certifications

• Bachelor's/Master's degree in Business, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Certifications in Product Management, Change Management, Agile methodologies (Scrum/SAFe) is a plus.