Job Summary:
We are seeking a Senior Product Manager to lead product strategy and execution across our comprehensive product portfolio, which includes Lending, Savings & Deposits, FX, and the soon-to-launch Trade Finance line. Reporting to the Product Lead and collaborating closely with the CEO, this role is distinct from conventional product management positions. At Rumba, we operate within an “AI-native” ecosystem, leveraging tools such as Claude Code, Claude Design, Codex, and others to define, prototype, and deploy solutions. In this capacity, the Senior PM will be responsible for crafting product and technical specifications that AI agents can implement, overseeing end-to-end delivery, and directly contributing small pull requests when expedient, rather than deferring to others. Additionally, you will coordinate with stakeholders to transform product concepts into scalable business ventures and be accountable for the outcomes generated by these products. Expect the pace of progress to accelerate tenfold—without compromising excellence.
Oversee daily operations to ensure alignment with organizational goals, managing workflows and optimizing processes for efficiency. Conduct performance evaluations, provide constructive feedback, and facilitate professional development opportunities for team members. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive project execution, ensuring adherence to timelines and budget constraints. Monitor key performance indicators to assess progress, identify areas for improvement, and implement corrective actions as needed. Maintain compliance with industry regulations and internal policies while fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
The position encompasses elements from two distinct areas, integrating responsibilities and expertise across both fields to deliver comprehensive solutions. This dual-domain structure ensures a holistic approach to the tasks at hand, requiring a versatile skill set and adaptable mindset to navigate the varied demands of each domain effectively.
Develop and execute strategic initiatives by discovering new opportunities, analyzing market trends, and evaluating competitive landscapes to drive sustainable growth and innovation within the organization. Lead comprehensive discovery processes to identify customer needs, pain points, and unmet demands, ensuring insights are translated into actionable strategies. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align objectives, refine business models, and implement data-driven solutions that enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
You will be responsible for driving the strategic roadmap across multiple key verticals, including lending (Logbook, Asset Finance, Embassy Loans), Savings & Fixed Deposits, FX (Exchange, Virtual Account Numbers, international payouts), and the upcoming Trade Finance line.
Conduct in-depth customer discovery sessions with key target segments, including freelancers, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) exporters and importers, as well as individual borrowers and savers.
Analyze growth prospects, evaluate conversion pathways, and confirm assumptions using real-time production data. Proactively assess opportunities without relying on an analyst for validation.
Make informed prioritization decisions across diverse product lines, from credit-policy adjustments to new FX corridor implementations and deposit campaigns, and justify these choices with solid numerical evidence.
Monitor developments from key African fintech competitors, including Ever send, Wave, Flutter wave, and Kuda, and translate these insights into strategic product decisions.
Delivers results and ensures successful completion of assigned tasks and projects, maintaining high standards of performance and accountability throughout the process.
Develop comprehensive product and technical specifications tailored for seamless implementation by engineering teams and AI coding agents.
Ensuring clarity and precision, the position requires meticulously defined, unambiguous, and verifiable criteria.
Develop preliminary prototypes using Claude Design to assess concepts prior to allocating engineering resources.
Deliver small pull requests independently using Claude Code when it streamlines the process compared to delegation. Product managers at Rumba actively engage with and contribute to the codebase.
Deliver the entire delivery process autonomously, assuming full accountability for scope, timeline, and quality standards.
Manage operations within Linear, the cutting-edge platform for product and project management.
Oversee the engineering cadence by facilitating key meetings such as standups, sprint reviews, and trade-off discussions, while also addressing blockers and leading bug triage sessions to maintain project momentum.
Collaborate with key stakeholders, including the CEO, Engineering, Data, Credit, Operations, Risk, Compliance, and Marketing teams, to ensure alignment and effective communication throughout initiatives.
Align priorities, establish timelines, and balance trade-offs among diverse teams, each with distinct objectives and motivations.
Drive outcomes, not just outputs, by aligning every initiative with revenue, growth, or risk-related metrics. Continuously monitor performance after launch, refining efforts until measurable progress is achieved in the designated key indicators.
Examine AI-developed implementations, prototypes, and analytical outputs to verify their accuracy, assess potential edge cases, and ensure alignment with business objectives.
Develop feedback mechanisms that capture customer insights, evolve specifications, leverage AI tools for development, analyze performance metrics, and iterate on specifications—aiming to streamline and expedite the entire cycle.
Develop and execute launch communications strategies while driving internal enablement initiatives to ensure seamless integration and adoption.
Seeking a seasoned professional with a proven track record in the field, complemented by substantial hands-on experience. The ideal candidate must possess relevant academic credentials, specialized training, or certifications pertinent to the role. Demonstrated expertise through prior positions in a comparable industry or function is essential, with a minimum of [X] years of progressive responsibility. Strong problem-solving abilities, keen analytical skills, and the capacity to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams are required. Familiarity with industry-standard tools, methodologies, and best practices is a must, along with the ability to adapt to evolving challenges and priorities. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are necessary to convey complex information clearly and influence stakeholders at all levels. A commitment to continuous learning and professional development is highly valued.
A minimum of five years of hands-on experience in product management is required.
Seasoned professionals with a track record in launching consumer or small-to-medium enterprise (SME) products within the fintech, banking, or lending sectors are encouraged to apply. Demonstrated expertise in end-to-end product development and commercialization in these dynamic industries is a critical requirement for this role.
You must demonstrate a proven ability to drive results and take full ownership of outcomes. Success will be measured by the tangible metrics you influence—such as revenue growth, user engagement, or other key performance indicators—reflecting your direct impact on the organization’s objectives.
Your performance will be evaluated based on actual outcomes—such as default rates and deposit growth—rather than projections or shipment figures.
You excel at coordinating with stakeholders, ensuring alignment across diverse cross-functional teams while maintaining a clear, consistent focus.
You possess exceptional written communication skills, enabling you to craft specifications so clear and detailed that senior engineers can implement them without requiring further clarification.
Proficient in independently interpreting production data and possessing SQL fluency—or the ability to attain it within the first week.
Proven expertise in integrating AI tools into daily workflows, specifically with platforms such as Claude Code, Claude Design, Codex, and comparable solutions. You have delivered tangible results using these technologies, not merely explored their capabilities.
Proficient in reading and writing code to the extent of independently preparing and submitting a small pull request using Claude Code.
You thrive in a high-agency environment where you proactively identify problems, develop validated solutions, and deliver finished products—without needing explicit direction.
Proficient in interpreting CBK or CBN guidelines and converting them into actionable product specifications.
Highly Preferred
Proficiency in credit products, encompassing origination, scoring, and collections, as well as deposit products, including rate strategy, treasury operations, and funding mechanisms, is essential.
Experienced professionals with a background in foreign exchange, international payment systems, stablecoin technologies, or virtual account frameworks are encouraged to apply.
Proficiency in collaborating with engineering teams that deploy AI coding agents within live production workflows is essential.
Experience in emerging markets, with a particular focus on fintech sectors in Africa, Southeast Asia, or Latin America, is required.
Bonus
A proven track record in founding startups or leading early-stage product development from inception to launch is essential.
Demonstrated proficiency in trade finance instruments, including invoice factoring, LPO (letter of purchase order) financing, and purchase order financing.
Candidates must meet the following qualifications: a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, at least three years of professional experience in a similar role, proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management software, and strong communication skills. Additionally, applicants should demonstrate the ability to work independently, prioritize tasks effectively, and collaborate with cross-functional teams. Familiarity with industry-specific regulations and a commitment to continuous learning are also essential. Only those who fulfill all criteria will be considered for further evaluation.
Salary expectations in Kenyan Shillings should be clearly stated or negotiated based on qualifications and industry standards.
Developed and deployed an end-to-end AI solution, detailing the project scope, the AI methodologies employed, and the final deliverables. Provide a concise overview of the product, the AI techniques utilized in its development, and the outcomes achieved upon launch.
You must possess valid authorization to work in Kenya.
A full-time, on-site opportunity is available in Nairobi.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
Experience Required
5 years
