The position involves overseeing daily operations to ensure seamless workflow, with a focus on maintaining high standards of efficiency and productivity. Key responsibilities include managing team performance, coordinating cross-functional projects, and implementing process improvements to enhance overall output. The ideal candidate must possess strong leadership skills, exceptional organizational abilities, and a proven track record of achieving measurable results in a fast-paced environment. Additionally, proficiency in relevant software and tools, along with effective communication and problem-solving capabilities, is required to support team objectives and drive organizational success.
We seek an experienced Senior Product Manager to lead product strategy and execution across our full product ecosystem, including Lending, Savings & Deposits, FX, and the soon-to-launch Trade Finance offering. Reporting to the Product Lead and collaborating closely with the CEO, this role transcends conventional product management boundaries. Within Umba’s AI-native framework, you will harness tools such as Claude Code, Claude Design, Codex, and similar platforms to define, prototype, and deploy solutions. Your responsibilities will encompass crafting precise product and technical specifications interpretable by AI agents, overseeing end-to-end delivery, and contributing directly via small pull requests when expedient—rather than delegating. Additionally, you will align stakeholders to transform product concepts into scalable business ventures and be accountable for the measurable impact of these initiatives. Expect an environment where velocity accelerates tenfold without compromising excellence in execution.
Oversee and execute a diverse range of duties encompassing project management, team leadership, and strategic planning to drive organizational objectives. Ensure seamless coordination across departments to meet deadlines and maintain high standards of efficiency and quality. Develop and implement policies, procedures, and best practices to enhance operational performance and employee productivity. Monitor progress through regular assessments, providing constructive feedback and guidance to team members as needed. Collaborate with stakeholders to align goals, address challenges, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. Maintain compliance with industry regulations and internal policies while upholding ethical standards and accountability.
The position encompasses two distinct areas of expertise:
We focus on strategic planning and exploratory research to drive informed decision-making and uncover valuable insights. This role involves analyzing market trends, competitive landscapes, and customer behaviors to identify opportunities and mitigate risks. Responsibilities include conducting thorough research, synthesizing complex data into actionable recommendations, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to align business objectives with innovative solutions. A strong analytical mindset, proficiency in data interpretation, and excellent communication skills are essential to translate findings into clear, impactful strategies that guide organizational growth.
Drive the strategic roadmap for lending (including Logbook, Asset Finance, and Embassy Loans), Savings & Fixed Deposits, FX (covering Exchange, Virtual Account Numbers, and international payouts), and the soon-to-launch Trade Finance initiative.
Conduct in-depth customer discovery sessions specifically tailored to key segments, including freelancers, SME exporters and importers, as well as individual borrowers and savers.
Analyze growth prospects, assess sales pipelines, and confirm hypotheses with real-time production data without relying on an analyst’s input.
Evaluate and prioritize initiatives spanning diverse product categories—such as adjustments to credit policies, adjustments to FX corridors, or deposit campaigns—while substantiating decisions with quantitative evidence.
Monitor and analyze the strategic initiatives of key African fintech competitors, including Ever send, Wave, Flutter wave, and Kuda, to inform and shape product development decisions.
Ensures the precise execution and timely delivery of all assigned tasks and projects, maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency throughout each phase of the process.
Develop comprehensive product and technical specifications that enable engineers and AI coding agents to execute implementations seamlessly.
Tight, unambiguous, testable.
Design prototypes using Claude to assess concepts prior to allocating engineering resources, ensuring feasibility and alignment with project goals.
Code and deploy small pull requests independently using Claude Code whenever it proves more efficient than assigning tasks. At Rumba, product managers are deeply involved in the codebase.
Deliver the entire delivery process from start to finish, assuming full ownership of the scope, timeline, and quality standards.
Manage operations within Linear, our cutting-edge solution for product and project management.
Oversee the operational rhythm with Engineering by leading daily standups, sprint reviews, and issue resolution, while actively participating in bug triage sessions and trade-off discussions to address any delays or challenges.
Collaborate with key stakeholders, including the CEO, Engineering, Data, Credit, Operations, Risk, Compliance, and Marketing teams, to ensure alignment and effective communication.
Align cross-functional priorities, reconcile conflicting objectives, and coordinate competing deadlines to ensure cohesive execution across teams with divergent incentives.
Achieve outcomes rather than merely producing by aligning every initiative with measurable revenue, growth, or risk-related metrics. Continuously monitor performance after launch and refine strategies until the desired metric shows measurable improvement.
Evaluate AI-generated implementations, prototypes, and analyses to ensure accuracy, identify edge cases, and assess their alignment with business objectives.
Develop feedback mechanisms to capture customer insights, refine specifications, utilize AI-assisted development, measure performance, and iterate on specifications—enhancing efficiency by shortening the entire cycle.
Spearhead the development and execution of launch communications while driving internal enablement initiatives.
Seeking a candidate with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, supplemented by at least three years of hands-on experience in software development, system design, or a comparable role. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or C++ is essential, along with expertise in database management, cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), and DevOps practices. Strong problem-solving abilities, excellent communication skills, and a track record of delivering scalable solutions in fast-paced environments are required. Familiarity with agile methodologies, version control systems (e.g., Git), and security best practices is highly preferred. The ideal applicant will demonstrate leadership in driving technical innovation and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to achieve project objectives efficiently.
Experienced product management professionals should possess a minimum of five years of relevant expertise in the field.
Proficiency in shipping consumer or SME products within fintech, banking, or lending environments is a prerequisite.
With a demonstrated ability to drive results, you are accountable for the outcomes you deliver. Success is defined by the metrics that have shifted—be it revenue growth, user engagement, or other key performance indicators—demonstrating your direct impact on business growth.
Monitoring is based on actual performance metrics—such as default rates and deposit growth—rather than planned or projected figures.
You excel at managing stakeholder relationships, ensuring seamless alignment across diverse cross-functional teams while maintaining a clear, focused vision.
Exceptional written communication skills are essential; you possess the ability to draft a specification so clear and comprehensive that a senior engineer can execute it without requiring additional clarification.
Proficient in independently interpreting production data, with strong SQL skills—or a commitment to achieving them within the first week.
You possess a proven track record of effectively integrating AI tools into your daily work processes, including but not limited to Claude Code, Claude Design, Codex, and comparable solutions. Beyond theoretical familiarity, you have successfully delivered tangible projects using these tools, demonstrating hands-on expertise rather than mere experimentation.
Proficient in reading and writing code with the capability to successfully submit a small pull request using Claude Code.
High-level agency requires the ability to independently progress from identifying a problem to delivering a validated solution and deploying a finished product without requiring constant direction.
Capable of interpreting CBK/CBN guidelines and converting them into detailed product specifications.
Highly Preferred
Candidates should possess a strong background in credit products, including origination, scoring, and collections, as well as deposit products, with expertise in rate strategy, treasury, and funding.
Proficiency in foreign exchange (FX) operations, international payment systems, stablecoins, or virtual account infrastructure is required.
Professional experience collaborating with engineering teams that leverage AI coding agents within production workflows is required.
Seasoned professionals with hands-on experience in the fintech sector across burgeoning markets, specifically within Africa, Southeast Asia, or Latin America, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Bonus
Experienced in establishing new products from the ground up or driving initiatives from inception to market introduction, with a proven track record of building scalable solutions from scratch.
Possesses a solid understanding of various trade finance instruments, including invoice factoring, letter of purchase order financing, and purchase order financing.
Candidates must possess a minimum of five years of relevant experience in a comparable role, along with a proven track record of leadership and strategic planning. A bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, or a related field is required, while an advanced degree is preferred. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential, along with the ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams. Proficiency in industry-standard software and tools is mandatory, and familiarity with compliance regulations is highly advantageous. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational abilities are critical to success in this position.
Salary expectations are expressed in Kenyan Shillings (KES).
I’d like to highlight a project I developed from start to finish using AI technologies. I’ll outline the project’s purpose, detail how AI tools and techniques were integrated into the development process, and summarize the final deliverables that were successfully launched.
Holders of Kenyan work authorization are encouraged to apply.
A full-time role based in Nairobi is available, requiring on-site presence.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
Experience Required
5 years
