Digital Product Owner

Job Purpose

The Digital Product Owner SME Self-Service & Sales will lead the development and roll-out of a new digital self-service and sales platform for the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) segment. This segment currently lacks a dedicated digital self-service channel, and the role will focus on designing and delivering a best-in-class SME digital experience. The platform will initially support self-service capabilities and evolve into a full digital sales and merchant onboarding channel.

Operating within a centralized development model, the Digital Product Owner will work closely with central engineering teams to build platform capabilities, while Operating Countries will drive product marketing and adoption strategies, guided by the central teams. This role requires strong digital product management expertise, stakeholder engagement, and a deep understanding of SME customer needs to ensure high adoption and business impact.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Strategy & Roadmap Development

• Define the vision, strategy, and roadmap for the SME self-service and sales digital platform.
• Understand the 14 Sub Saharan market dynamics, customer behaviours, development and growth operating models
• Prioritize features based on business value, user needs, and technical feasibility.
• Ensure alignment with central engineering teams on development priorities while enabling OpCos to drive local market adoption.

End-to-End Digital Experience & Platform Development

• Own the digital customer journey from onboarding to ongoing self-service and eventual digital sales.
• Lead feature development, including account management, billing, support, and transaction capabilities.
• Develop the foundation for future merchant onboarding and sales enablement.
• Work closely with UX/UI teams to ensure a seamless and intuitive SME experience.

Stakeholder & Cross-Team Collaboration

• Act as the bridge between centralized development teams and local OpCo business units.
• Ensure OpCos are equipped with go-to-market strategies, training, and adoption frameworks.
• Collaborate with engineering, marketing, and customer service teams to ensure a smooth roll-out.

Platform Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and monitor KPIs for digital self-service adoption, customer satisfaction, and sales conversions.
• Use data-driven insights to optimize platform features and drive continuous improvement.
• Gather feedback from OpCos and SME customers to inform product iterations.

Digital Sales & Merchant Onboarding (Future Scope)

• Develop a roadmap for integrating merchant onboarding and self-service features.
• Enable digital channels for SMEs to purchase services, manage subscriptions, and access financial products.

Qualifications & Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in digital product management, preferably in self-service platforms, fintech, or B2B digital solutions.
• Proven experience delivering customer-facing digital platforms at scale.
• Strong understanding of SME customer needs and behaviors.
• Experience in working within a centralized development model with local execution.
• Knowledge of agile methodologies, backlog management, and sprint planning.
• Familiarity with MarTech, customer lifecycle tools, and digital adoption frameworks.

Educational Qualifications & Functional / Technical Skills

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science
• Master of Business Administration

Relevant Experience

• Digital product ownership & roadmap execution
• Customer journey design & self-service experience optimization
• Stakeholder management across central & local teams
• Agile product development & backlog prioritization
• Data-driven decision-making & performance tracking
• Understanding of digital sales, SME fintech solutions & merchant onboarding