Chief Product Officer

About the job

• Kolomoni Microfinance Bank is seeking an experienced, innovative and commercially driven Chief Product Officer (CPO) to lead the Bank's product strategy, innovation, development and performance.
• The CPO will be responsible for building and scaling competitive financial products across digital banking, savings, lending, payments and other financial services, ensuring alignment with the Bank's strategic objectives, customer needs, regulatory requirements and financial inclusion goals.
• The successful candidate will lead the end-to-end product lifecycle, drive product adoption and profitability, enhance customer experience and identify opportunities for sustainable revenue growth.
• We are looking for a strategic product leader with a strong understanding of the Nigerian banking and fintech ecosystem, proven experience developing successful financial products and the ability to translate customer insights into scalable, commercially viable solutions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Product Strategy & Innovation

• Develop and execute the Bank's overall product vision, strategy and roadmap in alignment with business objectives.
• Lead product innovation across digital banking, savings, deposits, lending, payments and other financial services.
• Identify opportunities for new products, product enhancements and market expansion.
• Oversee the end-to-end product lifecycle, from ideation and market research to development, launch, optimisation and retirement.
• Conduct market research, competitor analysis and customer segmentation to identify emerging opportunities.
• Ensure products are competitive, customer-centric, scalable and commercially viable.

Product Development & Management

• Lead the design, development and enhancement of banking products across digital and traditional channels.
• Collaborate with Technology, Engineering, Operations, Risk, Compliance and other stakeholders to deliver seamless product experiences.
• Develop product requirements, business cases, roadmaps and go-to-market strategies.
• Drive continuous improvement of mobile banking, digital onboarding, account services, lending journeys and payment solutions.
• Ensure effective product testing, launch readiness, performance monitoring and post-launch optimisation.
• Champion the adoption of AI, automation and data analytics to improve product delivery, personalisation and customer experience.

Commercial Growth & Product Profitability

• Drive product adoption, customer acquisition, activation, engagement and retention.
• Develop product pricing, monetisation and profitability strategies.
• Monitor product revenue, transaction volumes, customer usage, margins and overall financial performance.
• Identify opportunities to increase deposits, grow the loan portfolio, improve transaction activity and strengthen customer lifetime value.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing and Business Development teams to execute effective product go-to-market strategies.
• Ensure product investments deliver measurable commercial value and sustainable business growth.

Digital Banking & Customer Experience

• Lead the development of intuitive, accessible and secure digital banking experiences.
• Improve customer journeys across onboarding, savings, transfers, payments, lending and account management.
• Use customer feedback, behavioural insights and product analytics to identify and resolve customer pain points.
• Drive initiatives to improve customer satisfaction, digital adoption and service accessibility.
• Identify opportunities to expand financial inclusion through innovative products for individuals, SMEs and underserved customer segments.

Product Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure product development and management align with applicable CBN regulations, consumer protection requirements and internal policies.
• Collaborate with Risk, Compliance, Legal and Information Security teams to assess product risks and implement appropriate controls.
• Ensure new products and material product changes undergo appropriate risk assessments, approvals and testing before launch.
• Maintain appropriate product documentation, governance frameworks and approval processes.
• Monitor product-related operational, financial, regulatory and customer risks.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Build, lead and develop a high-performing product management team.
• Establish clear product performance metrics, accountability frameworks and reporting standards.
• Collaborate with executive management to align product priorities with the Bank's strategic and financial objectives.
• Drive effective collaboration across Technology, Operations, Finance, Risk, Compliance, Marketing and Business Development.
• Present product strategies, business cases, performance reports and investment recommendations to executive management.
• Foster a culture of innovation, customer-centricity, accountability and continuous improvement.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Computer Science, Engineering, Economics, Finance or a related discipline.
• MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 10–12 years of progressive experience in product management, digital banking, fintech or financial services, with at least 4–5 years in senior product leadership roles.
• Proven experience as a Chief Product Officer, Head of Product, Product Director, VP of Product or equivalent position within a bank, microfinance bank or fintech organisation.
• Strong experience developing, launching and scaling financial products, particularly in digital banking, savings, deposits, lending and payments.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Nigerian banking ecosystem, customer behaviour and financial inclusion opportunities.
• Proven track record of driving product adoption, revenue growth, customer engagement and profitability.
• Strong understanding of product pricing, unit economics, product analytics and commercial performance.
• Experience working with digital banking platforms, core banking systems, APIs and payment infrastructure.
• Familiarity with CBN regulatory requirements, product governance, consumer protection and financial services risk management.
• Strong understanding of agile product development, product discovery, UX/UI principles and digital customer journeys.
• Excellent strategic thinking, analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence executive-level decisions.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Banking Product Strategy & Innovation
• Digital Banking & Financial Inclusion
• Savings, Lending & Payment Products
• Product Lifecycle Management
• Product-Led Growth & Monetisation
• Customer Experience & Digital Adoption
• Product Analytics & Data-Driven Decision-Making
• Product Pricing & Profitability
• AI, Automation & Digital Transformation
• Banking Technology & API Integration
• Product Governance & Regulatory Compliance
• Commercial & Financial Acumen
• Strategic Leadership & Stakeholder Management
• Team Leadership & Talent Development

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• We are looking for a commercially astute and execution-focused product leader with a proven record of developing and scaling successful banking or fintech products.
• The ideal candidate will understand the dynamics of Nigeria's retail banking, microfinance and digital financial services markets, with the ability to develop products that attract customers, drive deposits, support responsible lending, increase transaction activity and deliver sustainable profitability.
• Experience leading product innovation in a digital-first microfinance bank, commercial bank, neobank or established fintech organisation will be a significant advantage.