Job Summary:
We are seeking an experienced Senior Product Manager to define and execute our product strategy across our full suite of offerings, including Lending, Savings & Deposits, FX, and the soon-to-launch Trade Finance vertical. Reporting to the Product Lead and collaborating closely with the CEO, this role transcends conventional product management responsibilities. At Rumba, we function within an AI-first ecosystem, leveraging cutting-edge tools such as Claude Code, Claude Design, Codex, and similar platforms to conceptualize, prototype, and deploy solutions. The ideal candidate will draft precise product and technical specifications executable by AI agents, oversee end-to-end delivery, and personally contribute small PRs when expedient, while also aligning stakeholders to transform product concepts into scalable business ventures. Additionally, this role demands ownership of the outcomes generated by these products, all while maintaining an extraordinary pace—delivering 10x faster without compromising quality.
Oversee a comprehensive range of duties encompassing the planning, coordination, and execution of key operational initiatives to ensure alignment with organizational objectives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality. Monitor performance metrics, analyze trends, and implement corrective actions as necessary to drive continuous improvement. Serve as a liaison between departments to facilitate seamless communication and resolve interdepartmental challenges. Ensure compliance with industry regulations, company policies, and ethical standards while maintaining a customer-centric approach. Lead and mentor team members to foster professional growth and enhance overall productivity.
The position encompasses responsibilities across two distinct areas:
We conduct strategic assessments and exploratory research to identify key insights and opportunities, ensuring informed decision-making and innovative solutions that align with organizational objectives. This role requires a keen analytical mindset, proficiency in data interpretation, and the ability to synthesize complex information into actionable recommendations. Responsibilities include collaborating with cross-functional teams to gather market intelligence, evaluating industry trends, and developing frameworks to guide future initiatives. Strong communication skills are essential to articulate findings and influence stakeholders at all levels.
Drive the strategic direction and execution of the product roadmap for key financial services, including lending (Logbook, Asset Finance, Embassy Loans), Savings & Fixed Deposits, FX (Exchange, Virtual Account Numbers, international payouts), and the upcoming Trade Finance offering.
Conduct direct customer discovery sessions with key target segments, including freelancers, small and medium-sized exporters and importers, as well as individual borrowers and savers.
Analyze opportunities, evaluate sales pipelines, and confirm hypotheses using live production data—without relying on analyst support.
Make judgment calls to prioritize initiatives spanning diverse product areas—ranging from adjustments to credit policies and adjustments to foreign exchange corridors to deposit campaigns—and substantiate these decisions with quantitative analysis.
Monitor and analyze the strategic initiatives of key competitors in Africa’s fintech sector—including Ever send, Wave, Flutter wave, and Kuda—and leverage these insights to inform critical product decisions.
Delivers exceptional execution and ensures timely completion of projects, consistently meeting established deadlines and quality standards.
Prepare comprehensive product and technical specifications that enable engineers and AI coding agents to execute implementations seamlessly.
Thoroughly defined, precise, and verifiable.
Develop prototypes using Claude Design to assess concepts, ensuring engineering resources are allocated only after validation.
Code and deliver small pull requests independently using Claude Code whenever it proves more efficient than assigning tasks to others. At Rumba, product managers actively engage directly within the codebase.
Deliver the full scope of the project from start to finish, taking full ownership of the scope, timeline, and quality standards.
Manage operations within Linear, our cutting-edge platform for product and project management.
Execute the engineering schedule with precision, including daily stand-ups, sprint evaluations, issue resolution, defect prioritization, and critical trade-off discussions when deadlines are at risk.
Collaborate with key stakeholders, including the CEO, Engineering, Data, Credit, Operations, Risk, Compliance, and Marketing teams, to ensure alignment and effective communication across all relevant departments.
Align and reconcile competing priorities, timelines, and compromises across diverse teams with varying objectives.
Drive results, not just activity—align every project with measurable revenue, growth, or risk-related KPIs. Continuously monitor performance after implementation, refining strategies until the desired metric shows meaningful improvement.
Examine AI-generated implementations, prototypes, and analyses to verify their accuracy, evaluate edge cases, and assess their alignment with business objectives.
Establish and maintain robust feedback loops by integrating customer insights, specifications, AI-supported development, performance metrics, and subsequent specification refinements. Aim to streamline and accelerate this iterative process for continuous improvement.
Develop and execute the launch communications strategy while ensuring internal teams are thoroughly prepared and aligned.
Seeking candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent professional experience. Demonstrated proficiency in [specific skills or tools] is essential. Prior experience in [industry/role] is highly desirable, along with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Ideal applicants should exhibit excellent communication skills and the capacity to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environment. Familiarity with [specific software, methodologies, or regulations] is preferred.
Experienced product management professionals with a minimum of five years of hands-on involvement in the field are sought after for this role.
Proficiency in shipping consumer or SME products within fintech, banking, or lending environments is required.
You consistently achieve and take ownership of measurable results, evaluating your success based on key performance indicators such as revenue growth or user engagement metrics.
The performance is evaluated based on actual metrics such as default rates and deposit growth, rather than on planned targets or shipment volumes.
Accomplished stakeholder coordination is essential, as you will spearhead alignment across diverse cross-functional teams while maintaining a clear and consistent focus on objectives.
Proficient written communication skills are essential, as you will craft specifications so clear and comprehensive that a senior engineer can execute them without requiring additional clarification.
Proficient in independently interpreting production data and possessing strong SQL skills, or demonstrating a commitment to achieving proficiency within the first week.
Proven expertise in leveraging AI tools within your regular workflow is essential, including but not limited to Claude Code, Claude Design, Codex, and comparable platforms. You must have practical experience deploying these tools to deliver tangible results, rather than merely exploring their capabilities.
Proficient in reading and writing code, with the ability to independently deliver a small pull request using Claude Code.
You thrive in a high-agency environment, independently progressing from identifying challenges to validating solutions and ultimately delivering tangible products without requiring constant direction.
Capable of interpreting CBK/CBN regulatory directives and converting them into actionable product specifications.
Highly Preferred
Professionals with a proven track record in credit products—including origination, scoring, and collections—as well as deposit products, such as rate strategy, treasury, and funding operations, are encouraged to apply. Strong familiarity with both credit and deposit product ecosystems is essential for this role.
Experienced with foreign exchange transactions, international payment systems, digital assets such as stablecoins, or virtual account frameworks.
Experienced in collaborating with engineering teams that integrate AI coding agents into their production workflows.
Experience in emerging markets, with a particular emphasis on fintech sectors in Africa, Southeast Asia, or Latin America, is required.
Bonus
Seeking an individual with a proven track record in launching or developing products from inception to market leadership, demonstrating a strong ability to build from the ground up.
Possesses a comprehensive understanding of trade finance instruments, including invoice factoring, letter of purchase order (LPO) financing, and purchase order financing.
We seek applicants who meet the following criteria: a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, at least three years of professional experience in a similar role, and proficiency in industry-standard software tools. Strong analytical skills, excellent communication abilities, and a track record of delivering high-quality results are essential. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate adaptability, problem-solving capabilities, and a commitment to continuous professional development. Familiarity with regulatory compliance and project management methodologies will be advantageous.
Salary expectations in Kenyan Shillings should be clearly stated to ensure alignment between employer and candidate expectations.
Craft a concise overview highlighting a project you developed from inception to completion using artificial intelligence. Detail the project’s scope, the role of AI in its development, and the final deliverables that were successfully deployed.
Eligibility to work legally in Kenya is required.
Dedicated to fostering a collaborative work environment, this role requires on-site presence in Nairobi.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
Experience Required
5 years
