Job Title: Head, Market Development
Date Posted: 02/07/2026
Job Type: Full Time
Employer: NCBA Group
Industry: Banking
Salary: Open
Location: Nairobi
Country: Kenya
Deadline: 07/07/2026
Looking for a banking job in Kenya? NCBA Group is recruiting a Head of Market Development for their LOOP digital platform.
The role is based in Nairobi and requires extensive leadership experience in fintech and business expansion.
Job Purpose Statement
LOOP
DFS is anchored on platform strategy that aims to scale throughout Africa and
be a mobile-based payment and financial services platform connecting consumers
and merchants, with ambitions to be in six (6) new countries by 2026.
The
platform offers a variety of services, such as credit, marketplace, mobile
money transfers, bill payments, P2P lending, and digital wallets for merchants
to receive payments.
The
platform leverages the growing use of mobile phones and the increasing demand
for financial services in Africa to attract and retain customers. To further
scale the platform, LOOP DFS will partner with established financial
institutions, mobile network operators, and other relevant companies to offer a
comprehensive suite of financial services.
Additionally,
the platform will use data analytics to better understand customer needs and
tailor its offerings to meet those needs. By building a strong network of
consumers and merchants, the platform will also provide valuable insights into
spending patterns and purchasing behavior, allowing merchants to make informed
decisions about their businesses.
The
Head of Market Development is responsible for driving LOOP’s strategic growth
across Africa through the identification, planning, and execution of new market
and product expansion initiatives. Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer, the
role leads a dedicated Market Launch Team and collaborates cross-functionally
to bring LOOP’s fintech offerings to new geographies.
The
Head of Market Development will be accountable for conducting market
assessments, aligning on regulatory readiness, shaping localization strategies,
and developing strong public and private sector partnerships that enable rapid
and sustainable growth. The successful candidate will combine strategic acumen
with operational execution, and act as the orchestrator of market readiness
across product, legal, compliance, distribution, and customer support. The role
holder will develop business cases and implement expansion initiatives that
align with the company’s long-term vision, ensuring sustainable growth and
competitive positioning.
This
senior position plays a crucial role in ensuring that growth objectives match
the company’s strategic direction, leading initiatives from ideation through
execution to maximize market penetration, customer acquisition, and partner
engagement across all key markets. It is central to LOOP’s ambition of becoming
a leading pan-African fintech platform, enabling financial inclusion and
innovation at scale through direct and partner-led market pathways.
Responsibilities
Strategy
& Financial – 30%
- Revenue Growth: Drive revenue growth via new markets and streams
- Profitability: Ensure sustainable growth with positive margins
- Market Expansion: Lead geographic/product expansion; identify B2C,
B2B, and PaaS opportunities aligned to LOOP goals.
- Market Launch Leadership: Lead cross-functional teams for market
readiness and execution.
- ROI: Ensure initiatives deliver ROI using metrics balance short- and
long-term value.
- Market Share Growth: Grow share using competitive insights and
customer data to strengthen positioning.
- Regulatory & Stakeholder Engagement: Build relationships with
regulators and stakeholders for compliant entry.
- Partnership Development: Develop partnerships with banks, telcos,
and platforms to accelerate growth.
- Platform Distribution: Support API strategy and partner onboarding
under PaaS models.
- Budgeting & Resource Allocation: Manage budgets, track spend vs.
ROI, and align resources across phases.
Internal Business
Processes 30%
- Expansion Governance: Standardize expansion frameworks and operating
models.
- Process Optimization: Streamline processes for scalability and
efficiency.
- Risk Management: Implement frameworks covering regulatory,
operational, and integration risks.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Align teams to deliver growth
objectives.
- Performance Measurement: Track KPIs like acquisition, revenue, and
share.
- Reporting & Documentation: Maintain dashboards and document
expansion progress.
- Knowledge Management: Build playbooks, capture lessons, and promote
learning.
Customer
20%
- Customer Insight: Understand needs across segments using research.
- Product-Market Fit: Localize offerings; validate MVP success
metrics.
- Onboarding & Adoption: Drive activation and early usage
strategies.
- Customer Satisfaction: Improve offerings using feedback.
- Customer Insights: Use data to guide strategy and decisions.
- Strategic Partnerships: Build partnerships for growth and
innovation.
Learning & Growth
20%
- Continuous Learning: Stay updated on trends and best practices.
- Talent Development: Train, mentor, and grow team capabilities.
- Innovation: Encourage creativity and experimentation.
- Data-Driven Decisions: Use data insights for strategy and
improvement.
Job Specifications
Desired
personal attribute:
- Relentless in your pursuit of growth and want to disrupt the FinTech
industry
Academic:
- A bachelor’s degree in computer science or business-related fields.
- MBA or a master’s degree in a business field is desirable.
Work
Experience:
- 10+ years in fintech, digital financial services, or digital
platforms with at least 5 years in an expansion, business development, or
GTM leadership role across multiple African markets.
- Proven track record launching B2C, B2B, or PaaS financial services
platforms in emerging markets — experience with payments acquiring, mobile
money, credit, or savings platforms is an advantage.
- Exposure to API-driven product ecosystems or PaaS business models.
Skills
& Competencies
- Strong cross-functional leadership and ability to mobilize teams
without direct authority.
- Commercial acumen and partnership negotiation skills.
- Deep understanding of African regulatory environments, especially in
payments, lending, and platform business models.
- Strong market analysis, opportunity sizing, and go-to-market
execution capability.
- Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership,
regulators, and external partners.
- Entrepreneurial mindset, high adaptability, and bias for action.
How to Apply
