Expansion & Market Development Manager at M-KOPA

About the job

• We are looking for an Expansion & Market Development Manager to join our Business and Operations department as we scale up and drive digital and financial inclusion across our markets.
• This is a hybrid role, you would be working from our offices in Nigeria, partnering with a diverse group of employees from our different markets and locations across the UK, Europe and Africa. You will be reporting to the Head of Business Management.

Why This Role Is Different

• Most expansion manager roles focus either on strategy (which can seem out of touch) or on operations (constantly managing crises). This position combines both: you'll oversee the entire market journey - from evaluating new state entry, setting up operations, to driving growth and maximizing commercial potential. During launches and intense development, expect to spend 60–80% of your time in the field, not just in meetings. You'll create new processes, represent M-KOPA with regulators, agencies, partners, and drive key commercial partnerships essential for long-term market success.

In short, you’re not just planning market entry - you’re actively making it happen at every stage.

What You'll Do

• New market expansion will occupy about half your time. You'll conduct thorough market assessments to identify genuine opportunities, build strong feasibility cases with robust unit economics, design state-specific launch playbooks, and engage regulators and stakeholders. You will also lead on-the-ground execution, set up temporary hubs,
• Market development involves identifying underserved segments, expanding into new LGAs and rural regions, tracking key performance metrics like activation and repayment to detect issues early, building partnerships with retail chains and telcos, and implementing growth-driving commercial initiatives. You also monitor competitors and turn their actions into strategic insights
• Coordinate with Sales, Operations, Finance, Logistics, and Marketing to ensure readiness at every stage. You are responsible for key metrics, including launch timelines, acquisition targets, portfolio health, channel expansion, and revenue growth.

What You'll Need

• 5+ years in market expansion, business development, or commercial operations—ideally in fintech, mobility, or technology environments. You have a proven track record launching or scaling operations across multiple Nigerian states, building from scratch in ambiguous environments.
• Experience in market research and financial modelling. You're strong with stakeholder management, particularly government and regulatory relationships. You're entrepreneurial, field-oriented, and genuinely willing to travel extensively during launch phases.
• Beyond credentials: you're a self-starter with high ownership mentality. You solve problems resourcefully. You communicate clearly with leadership. You build teams. You thrive in ambiguity.