Principal Product Owner : Payment Methods Partnerships

• Develop comprehensive partnership strategy for payment methods across our footprint in Africa markets including new and emerging markets as we expand.
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize potential partners including mobile network operators (MTN, Safaricom, Orange, Airtel e.t.c), banks, payment processors, and local fintech companies
• Lead partnership negotiations and structure commercial and service level agreements that drive mutual growth and market expansion
• Create partnership frameworks and templates that can be scaled across multiple markets and use cases

• Oversee end-to-end product integration for new payment partners, ensuring seamless technical implementation and optimal user experience
• Collaborate with engineering teams to establish standardized API frameworks and integration processes for rapid partner onboarding
• Manage product roadmap for partnership-driven features including payment routing optimization, settlement workflows, and reconciliation processes
• Drive product requirements for partner-specific customizations while maintaining platform scalability

• Partner with business development teams to identify market entry opportunities and partnership-driven growth initiatives
• Develop go-to-market strategies for new payment methods introduced through partnerships
• Create joint value propositions and business cases for potential partners to accelerate deal closure
• Establish performance metrics and success criteria for partnership initiatives including transaction volume, conversion rates, and revenue attribution

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key partners including C-level executives, product leaders, and their technical teams.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives involving legal, compliance, finance, and engineering teams
• Present partnership performance and strategic updates to executive leadership as appropriate.
• Manage partner communications including regular business reviews, product updates, and strategic planning sessions

• Conduct comprehensive market research on payment infrastructure, competitive landscape, and partnership opportunities across African markets
• Analyze partnership performance data to identify optimization opportunities and inform strategic decisions.
• Monitor regulatory developments and industry trends that impact partnership strategies
• Gather market feedback from partners to inform product development and competitive positioning.

• 5+ years of product management or business development experience in fintech, payments, or financial services
• 2+ years of experience managing strategic partnerships or business development in African markets
• Proven track record of successfully negotiating and managing complex B2B partnerships
• Experience working with payment service providers, mobile network operators, or financial institutions in Africa.

• Strong negotiation and deal structuring experience with ability to create win-win partnership agreements
• Experience managing partner relationships and driving joint go-to-market initiatives
• Understanding of partnership economics including revenue sharing models, technical integration costs, and mutual value creation
• Demonstrated ability to influence without authority and manage complex stakeholder relationships

• Deep understanding of payment processing, APIs, and financial infrastructure
• Experience with technical partnership integrations and API management
• Knowledge of African payment ecosystems including mobile money, banking rails, and digital payment platforms
• Familiarity with compliance requirements including PCI DSS, KYC/AML, and local regulatory frameworks across Africa.

• Strong analytical skills with experience using data to evaluate partnership performance and opportunities
• Ability to develop business cases and financial models for partnership initiatives
• Experience with market research methodologies and competitive analysis
• Understanding of B2B SaaS business models and growth metrics

• MBA or advanced degree in business, engineering, or related field
• Previous experience at high-growth fintech, payments, or B2B software company
• Direct experience living or working in multiple African markets
• Existing relationships with key players in African fintech and payments ecosystem
• Knowledge of local languages and cultural nuances across target markets and their impact on product experiences.
• Experience with partnership management platforms and CRM systems

• Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to identify and pursue new business opportunities
• Strong relationship-building skills with cultural sensitivity for diverse African markets
• Results-driven approach with focus on measurable partnership outcomes
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for senior-level stakeholder management
• Adaptability and resilience in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
• Strategic thinker with strong execution capabilities

• Number of new payment method partnerships established quarterly.
• Partnership-driven transaction volume and revenue growth.
• Time-to-market for new partner integrations.
• Partner satisfaction scores and relationship health metrics.
• Market share growth in targeted African markets.
• Partnership ROI and contribution to overall business objectives.
• Partnership success rates.

Cellulant