Chief Product Officer

Mobile Money Rwanda Limited is focused on attracting, recruiting, developing, and retaining professionals that contribute meaningfully to our mission of making our customers’ lives a whole lot BRIGHTER.

We are an equal employment employer with a strong culture that is forward looking and encourages creative thinking and innovation while remaining at the forefront of the latest technology and trends.

Mobile Money Rwanda Limited is therefore Internally and Externally recruiting a highly competent and self-motivated individual for the position below.

The Chief Product Officer leads the Strategy formulation, monitors execution and is the primary role responsible for operationalizing the key products & services verticals across the OpCo:

• Payments and E-Commerce
• InsureTech
• Remittance & Digital Services
• BankTech

The role entails working under the guidance of Group Product Executives, and maintains regular liaison with Group FinCo product teams, in order to be able to build product roadmap against the Group strategy for the specific OpCo and monitors the following activities of the product lifecycle-

• Product design & development (local instances)
• Product roll-out & implementation
• Product QoS and Performance Management

The Chief Product Officer reports to MMRL CEO and is supported by a team of Senior Managers and Managers

Fintech is entering a new phase where operational and commercial excellence has become critical for success. A separate Company has been set up to drive financial products and services to expand the reach and speed of operations. There is an increased focus in the commercial areas, new products and services and scaling up of Digital capabilities. The incumbent must therefore ensure the successful delivery in context of:

• An expertise-based multicultural Fintech organisation
• A dynamic and evolving field of Fintech/Financial Services Industry
• Revolutionary workforce practices which are bringing together global labour markets
• Convergence in markets and exploration of non-traditional revenue streams requiring complex interpretation and structuring
• Evolving industry sector constantly presenting new challenges and opportunities to the core businesses
• Agile ways of working.

Key Performance Areas:

Key Deliverables
The Chief Product Officer will be accountable to achieve the following objectives:
Strategy Development and Implementation

• Lead the creation of the functional strategy in line with the overarching business goals and in line with group mandate
• Ensure effective implementation of the functional strategy by means of developing and providing direction, structure, frameworks, models, plans and roadmaps
• Lead regular review of the functional strategy and roadmap to ensure its alignment with the changing dynamics of the internal and external ecosystem

Staff Leadership and Management

• Build and manage a high performing team by providing leadership, role clarity, training and career development
• Source, induct and manage talent in accordance with legislative guidelines
• Continually develop a culture of strong collaboration and effective team working
• Ensure open communication channels with staff and implement change management interventions where necessary
• Provide definition of roles, responsibilities, individual goals and performance objectives for the team
• Set KPIs and provide regular performance feedback through a well-defined and implemented performance review program
• Develop and implement a training plan in order to build and develop skills within the team
• Encourage knowledge transfer through the implementation of a knowledge transfer plan and drive continuous improvement philosophy through the knowledge transfer plan
• Performance manage resources in accordance with HR policy and legislation where necessary
• Actively participate in leadership team and develop skills of own team
• Promote a ‘Fintech centric’ and ‘partnership approach’ to develop strong relationships with other working groups and ensure adherence to Group governance.

Governance

Strategic Meetings

• Hold strategic meetings, ensuring relevant participation from subordinates and provide guidance and input in the various discussions
• Lead OpCo wide transformation initiatives, elicit inputs from relevant parties
• Lead implementation of adequate risk mitigation and controls
• Oversee evaluation baseline of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and KPIs
• Approve new initiatives and where outside of DoA, drive approval from CEO / Group
• Review proposal on change initiatives SLA, policies and procedures and oversee
• Provide relevant budget for internal projects

execution of the same Escalations

• Escalate issues that will result in severe time, scope, productivity, and cost or resource impact to CEO / Group team
• Manage and provide solutions to escalations that have multiple processes / functions impact on critical path of service delivery

Function Tactical

• Review all projects initiated in the function
• Review and finalise objectives, targets and budgets for the function
• Review key risks, issues and dependencies and set mitigation actions
• Develop and manage budgets
• Sign-off / make decisions regarding tactical changes
• Chair tactical meetings

Performance

• Monitor performance and alignment with OpCo as well as group strategy
• SLA approval and exception performance review

Reporting

• Report on a monthly basis to the CEO relating to progress made within the function and in accordance with the measurement metrics set by the organisation
• Report on an ad hoc basis on specific projects, as required

Budgets

• Manage functions budgets in line with business objectives
• Manage project initiative budgets in line with business objectives
• Ensure that the cost of operations is reduced, in line with a least cost operating strategy stemming from the business drivers

Operational Delivery
Functional Leadership:
As the functional leader of the Product & Services vertical, the role is accountable to:

• Monitor and align the direction, strategy and results of the Products & Services Vertical, collectively and as individual work areas in the OpCo, ensuring that the Group guidelines are duly complied with
• Lead and drive an integrated solution development and problem-solving philosophy across the product verticals
• Provide feedback to Executive Fintech Commercial Operations on current process’ effectiveness and efficiency
• Hold meetings with other OpCo Chief Product Officers and Group Product Executives to suggest internal process/work stream improvement techniques
• Monitor true-value metrics to measure the impact and benefit of the function to OpCo and in turn, Group FinCo. Drive continuous improvement across all product verticals
• Generate visibility for the true-value contributions of the function within Group FinCo and Opco to drive greater service acceptance and adoption
• Local owner of partnerships and alliances for the different product verticals
• Generate visibility for the true-value contributions of the function within Group FinCo and Opco to drive greater service acceptance and adoption
• Local owner of partnerships and alliances for the different product verticals Delivery Leadership:

product verticals Delivery Leadership:
As the delivery leader of the Products & Services vertical, the role is accountable for the following work area outcomes:

Strategy & Analytics, Budgeting, Data and Reporting

• Cascade the Group products and services strategy to implement the products and services relevant to the demand and demography of the OpCo
• Guide definition of a collection of products and services and provide inputs into a timeline-based roadmap for development and rollout of the shortlisted portfolio
• Lead, control and establish governance to manage the consolidated OpCo Product & Services strategy, budgets and financials, in conjunction with OpCo CEO
• Custodian of strategic P&S performance to ensure P&S across the OpCo is standardized, accountable and empowered to operate as a high performing result-oriented function
• Cascade the Group Fintech budget, analytics and reporting framework in the Function
• Deliver results under the guidance of the Group Product Executives, abiding by all the set directives and regularly reporting compliance

Product Life cycle Management

• Provide guidelines/policy direction to achieve departmental goals and ensure proper documentation of policies and procedures on P&S life cycle
• Custodian of all product & services blueprints, wireframes and documents in the OpCo
• Oversee the development of business cases for localization in product design, pricing & offerings, sign off recommendations
• Lead and drive Group P&S Executive alignment to the localizations made in product design, pricing & offerings
• Develop alliances/partnerships with business and MFSs in the development of new P&S for business growth & performance
• Oversee & guide adequate risk mitigation and controls in the function
• Provide specialist commercial advice, as and when required
• Ensure all business-critical decisions are backed by data &
• Monitor product & service performance and take regular updates on performance issues. Provide resolutions to escalated
• Monitor feedback from customers on product performance and liaise with OpCo Product team on possible modifications / configurations. Suggest the modifications / configurations to Group FinCo
• Coordinate with Group FinCo on new product launches / rollouts and regularly update MMRL CEO and Group Executives on performance against targets
• Establish and ensure that appropriate control systems required for the effective operations of the department are in place

Managerial / Supervisory Responsibilities

• Accountable for morale, performance, and development of the function of human capital
• Approving work structure process before adoption by the team
• Coach and mentor direct reports
• Enforce team members’ compliance with standard working processes and procedures
• Ensure adequate succession planning and that succession plans that are in place are achieved
• Ensure the assigned team is led, motivated, and rewarded to achieve KPA’s
• Ensure that coaching / mentoring programs and personal development plans are in place for all staff members
• Ensure effective management of diversity among personnel in the function
• Identify staff training and development needs and implement necessary actions
• Motivate and manage individuals to perform at the highest level, especially in terms of delivery and meeting target deadlines
• Possess the authority, presence, and integrity to command respect from colleagues and from external contacts
• Provide career development for direct reports (counselling, coaching, identifying key performance areas, career planning, and goal setting)
• Provide guidance and leadership ensuring future focus and current efficiency
• Recruit and build a world class information management team
• Set goals and objectives for direct reports, monitor progress and maintain motivation
• Set overall direction for the function

All interested candidates are requested to apply through the MTN website and submit their updated curriculum vitae with copies of notified academic credentials no later than 10th June 2025. MTN Website portal:  https://www.mtn.co.rw/careers/

We encourage applicants from women and / or individuals living with disabilities.

Note: Should you not hear from us within 14 (fourteen) days from the closing date of this advertisement, you may consider your application unsuccessful. If you encounter any issues when completing the application, reach out to Alozius.Mutamba@mtn.com (+250 788319965)

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