Senior Manager – Operations And Projects, East And Southern Africa (Fintech)

Overview

Location :

Hybrid / Remote within East and Southern Africa (preferred base : Nairobi, Johannesburg, or Lusaka).

Frequent regional travel required (up to 25%).

Position Type :

Full-time | Senior Management

Reports To :

Regional Director, Africa

Senior Manager : Operations and Projects

will lead the operational strategy, project delivery, and business execution across East and Southern Africa for a fast-scaling fintech organization.

This role is pivotal in driving operational excellence, optimizing regional performance, and ensuring alignment between local market activities and the company's global growth objectives.

The incumbent will oversee cross-functional teams, manage strategic partnerships, and coordinate multiple country operations and fintech projects to enhance financial inclusion and digital transformation in the region.

Key Responsibilities

Regional Operations Leadership

Oversee all operational activities across East and Southern Africa, ensuring efficient delivery of fintech products and services.

Develop, implement, and continuously improve operational policies, processes, and systems to enhance scalability, compliance, and profitability.

Lead and mentor in-country operations and project managers to deliver on KPIs, ensuring strong performance and accountability.

Manage budgets, forecasts, and operational expenditure in alignment with corporate and regional financial plans.

Project Management & Delivery

Plan, execute, and oversee multiple concurrent projects, ensuring on-time, within-budget, and high-quality delivery.

Utilize structured project management methodologies (Agile, PMP, or PRINCE2 frameworks) to manage project life cycles, from inception through closure.

Coordinate cross-border initiatives including product rollouts, system integrations, and partnership launches.

Establish project performance dashboards and metrics to monitor progress, identify risks, and drive corrective action.

Strategic Planning & Execution

Support regional and corporate leadership in defining and executing the strategic roadmap for East and Southern Africa.

Translate strategic goals into operational plans, aligning execution with the organization's mission and business priorities.

Identify new market opportunities, operational partnerships, and digital ecosystem collaborations.

Contribute to business model innovation and regional go-to-market strategies for fintech solutions.

Stakeholder & Partnership Management

Serve as a key liaison between internal teams, regulators, financial institutions, telecom partners, and regional stakeholders.

Build and sustain relationships with development partners, investors, and government agencies supporting fintech growth.

Negotiate and manage service-level agreements (SLAs) and vendor contracts to ensure performance and compliance.

Compliance, Risk, and Governance

Ensure operational adherence to local regulations, data protection laws, and financial compliance requirements.

Partner with Legal, Risk, and Compliance functions to maintain strong governance and internal controls.

Oversee risk identification, mitigation strategies, and contingency planning across all regional operations and projects.

People & Culture Leadership

Foster a high-performance culture across multi-country teams, emphasizing collaboration, agility, and innovation.

Coach and develop regional managers and team leads to strengthen leadership capacity within the region.

Promote diversity, inclusion, and continuous learning across all country offices and project teams.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Project Management, Engineering, or related field.

Master's degree (MBA, MSc in Finance / Operations / Technology Management) preferred.

Professional certification (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, or Agile) is a strong advantage.

Experience : Minimum

Minimum years of progressive experience in operations, project management, or business strategy.

At least 5 years in a senior leadership role within the Fintech, Financial Services, or Digital Payments sector.

Demonstrated experience managing multi-country operations or projects across Africa.

Proven track record of implementing scalable operational frameworks and delivering large, cross-functional initiatives.

Technical Skills

Strong understanding of fintech ecosystems, digital payment infrastructures, and regulatory environments in Africa.

Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, MS Project) and data analytics platforms.

Financial acumen with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and P&L oversight.

Familiarity with digital transformation, API integrations, and agile methodologies.

Soft Skills

Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Resilient, adaptable, and capable of operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Strong interpersonal skills and cultural intelligence to work across diverse teams and geographies.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Operational efficiency and cost optimization metrics

Successful delivery of regional projects (on-time, on-budget)

Market growth and customer adoption rates

Compliance and risk management adherence

Employee engagement and team performance

Stakeholder satisfaction and partnership growth

Why This Role Matters

This is a high-impact role designed for a results-oriented leader passionate about transforming financial access and digital innovation in Africa.

The Senior Manager will shape how fintech solutions scale sustainably across one of the continent's most dynamic and rapidly evolving regions.

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