Job Summary:
We are seeking a Senior Product Manager to lead product strategy and execution across our full product portfolio, which includes Lending, Savings & Deposits, FX, and the soon-to-launch Trade Finance offering. Reporting to the Product Lead, you will collaborate closely with the CEO to drive product vision. This is a unique role that goes beyond conventional product management. At Rumba, we operate in an AI-first environment, leveraging tools like Claude Code, Claude Design, Codex, and others to define, prototype, and deploy products. The Senior PM will be responsible for crafting product and technical specifications that AI agents can implement, overseeing end-to-end delivery, and shipping small pull requests directly when it accelerates progress. You will also coordinate key stakeholders to translate products into scalable business solutions and be accountable for the outcomes delivered. Expect a pace 10x faster than traditional roles—without compromising quality.
Responsibilities:
The position encompasses expertise across two distinct fields, blending specialized knowledge and cross-functional skills to deliver comprehensive solutions. This dual-domain approach requires a versatile professional capable of integrating insights from each area to drive innovation and efficiency. Candidates must possess a robust understanding of both domains, ensuring seamless collaboration and alignment with organizational objectives. The role demands adaptability, as the successful incumbent will navigate complex challenges and leverage diverse perspectives to achieve strategic goals.
We are seeking a seasoned professional to lead our Strategy & Discovery initiatives, focusing on identifying new business opportunities, analyzing market trends, and shaping innovative solutions. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, a deep understanding of industry dynamics, and the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights. Key responsibilities include conducting thorough market research, evaluating competitive landscapes, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop strategic frameworks. Additionally, the role requires a proven track record in driving growth strategies, leveraging data-driven decision-making, and fostering a culture of continuous innovation.
Drive the strategic roadmap for lending (Logbook, Asset Finance, and Embassy Loans), Savings & Fixed Deposits, FX (including Exchange, Virtual Account Numbers, and international payouts), as well as the forthcoming Trade Finance line of business.
Conduct direct customer discovery engagements with key target segments, including freelancers, SME exporters and importers, as well as individual borrowers and savers.
Analyze growth prospects, assess sales pipelines, and rigorously test hypotheses using live production data without relying on an analyst’s input.
Balance competing priorities across diverse product portfolios—such as credit policy adjustments, foreign exchange corridor modifications, and deposit campaigns—through data-driven justifications.
Monitor developments among key African fintech players such as Ever send, Wave, Flutterwave, and Kuda, and leverage those insights to inform strategic product decisions.
Oversee the implementation and fulfillment of projects, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of results in alignment with established objectives and client expectations.
Prepare detailed product and technical specifications clearly understandable and actionable for engineers as well as AI coding agents to execute seamlessly.
Crafting precise, unambiguous, and verifiable requirements is essential. These specifications must be clearly defined to ensure they can be effectively tested.
Develop prototypes within the Claude Design environment to assess concept viability prior to allocating engineering resources.
Code and deliver small pull requests independently using Claude Code whenever it proves more efficient than delegating tasks. At Rumba, product managers are actively engaged in the codebase.
Deliver the entire delivery process autonomously, assuming full responsibility for scope, timeline, and quality standards.
Run delivery in Linear, our next-gen product and project management surface.
Facilitate consistent coordination with Engineering through structured activities such as daily standups, sprint reviews, issue resolution, bug triage sessions, and critical decision-making discussions when project timelines face challenges.
Coordinate with various stakeholders, including the CEO, Engineering, Data, Credit, Operations, Risk, Compliance, and Marketing teams, to ensure alignment and effective collaboration across all departments.
Align objectives, delivery timelines, and compromise points across diverse teams with varying priorities and motivations.
Own outcomes rather than merely delivering output, ensuring every initiative directly supports a revenue, growth, or risk-related metric. Measure performance after launch and refine strategies continuously until the desired metric shows measurable improvement.
Evaluate AI-generated implementations, prototypes, and analyses to ensure accuracy, identify edge cases, and assess alignment with business objectives.
Establish and optimize feedback mechanisms by collecting and analyzing customer input, specifications, AI-supported development, performance metrics, and subsequent specifications to streamline the iterative process.
Responsible for overseeing and executing launch communications and internal enablement initiatives.
Seeking a candidate with a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and at least three years of experience in a similar role, preferably in a high-volume environment. Strong analytical skills and proficiency in data analysis tools are essential. Excellent communication abilities, both written and verbal, are required to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. Must demonstrate a proven track record of managing multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining high attention to detail. Familiarity with industry-specific software and the ability to adapt to evolving technologies are highly desirable. A commitment to continuous learning and professional development is a must.
Experienced product managers with a minimum of five years of professional tenure in the field are sought.
Fintech, banking, or lending professionals with practical experience in the commercialization of consumer or small-to-medium business products will be prioritized.
You consistently drive results and take full accountability for outcomes, evaluating your success based on tangible metrics such as revenue growth or user engagement.
Analyze performance metrics such as default rates and deposit growth rather than relying on projected or actual shipment figures.
You excel at aligning stakeholders across various cross-functional teams while maintaining a clear focus on your objectives.
You possess exceptional written communication skills, enabling you to craft specifications so clear and comprehensive that senior engineers can fully understand and execute them without requiring additional clarification.
Proficient in independently interpreting production data, with strong SQL skills or a commitment to developing those skills within the first week.
Proven expertise in integrating AI tools into daily workflows, including but not limited to Claude Code, Claude Design, and Codex, with a track record of successfully deploying these tools in production environments rather than merely exploring their capabilities.
Proficient in reading and writing code to the extent of successfully contributing a small pull request using Claude Code.
You thrive in a high-agency environment, independently progressing from identifying challenges to validating solutions and delivering finished products without requiring constant direction.
Proficient in interpreting CBK/CBN regulatory guidelines to derive actionable product specifications and ensure compliance with established standards.
Highly Preferred
Professionals should possess hands-on experience in credit product lifecycle management, including origination, credit scoring, and collections, as well as deposit product expertise encompassing rate strategy formulation, treasury operations, and funding optimization.
Experience with foreign exchange (FX), international payment systems, stablecoins, or virtual account infrastructure is required.
Proficiency in collaborating with engineering teams that integrate AI coding agents into their production workflows is required.
Experience in emerging markets, with a particular focus on fintech sectors in Africa, Southeast Asia, or Latin America, is required.
Bonus
Seasoned with foundational startup expertise or a proven track record in launching products from the ground up.
Proficient in utilizing trade finance instruments, including invoice factoring, letter of purchase order (LPO) financing, and purchase order financing.
Application Requirements
Salary expectations are presented in Kenyan Shillings, aligning with the specified compensation structure for this role.
Compose a concise overview detailing a project you developed from conception to completion using artificial intelligence. Elaborate on the project’s purpose, the AI methodologies and tools employed in its creation, and the final deliverables that were produced.
Authorized to work in Kenya or possess valid work authorization.
We are seeking a motivated professional to join our team as an in-office employee in Nairobi, where you will have the opportunity to contribute to our dynamic work environment. This role requires a commitment to working on-site, enabling you to collaborate directly with colleagues and engage in hands-on tasks. Nairobi, as the hub of our operations, offers a vibrant setting for career growth and professional development.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
Experience Required
5 years