Head, Value Added Services at Unified Payment Services Limited

Job Objectives

• The Head of Value Added Services (VAS) will lead the strategy, development, and execution of all VAS offerings within the fintech ecosystem.
• This includes driving innovation in digital content, airtime/data recharge, bills payment, ticketing, gaming, rewards programs, and other customer-centric services that enhance core financial offerings.
• This role requires a commercially minded leader with a strong background in digital products, partnerships, and customer experience within the financial services or telecoms industry. The successful candidate will be responsible for revenue growth, operational efficiency, and customer engagement across all VAS products.

Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership:

• Define and execute the VAS department’s strategic roadmap in alignment with corporate objectives.
• Identify and evaluate new business opportunities, trends, and technologies within the VAS ecosystem.
• Establish KPIs and success metrics to drive performance and ROI.

Product Development & Management:

• Lead the development and lifecycle management of VAS products including airtime, data, bill payments, utility services, ticketing, insurance micro-services, etc.
• Collaborate with the product, engineering, compliance, and customer experience teams to ensure robust and scalable solutions.
• Continuously optimize user journeys and product performance based on data insights.

Partnerships & Vendor Management:

• Source, negotiate, and manage partnerships with telcos, content providers, service aggregators, and other VAS providers.
• Maintain strong relationships with external vendors to ensure service quality and compliance.
• Ensure SLAs and commercial terms are consistently met

Revenue & Business Growth:

• Drive revenue generation and profitability through effective pricing, bundling, cross-selling, and promotional strategies.
• Monitor market dynamics and adjust go-to-market strategies to stay competitive.
• Prepare regular reports and business reviews for executive leadership.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Manage and mentor a team of VAS professionals including business analysts, product specialists, and support personnel.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and excellence.
• Provide guidance on performance, skills development, and succession planning

Compliance & Risk Management:

• Ensure all VAS offerings comply with regulatory guidelines, internal policies, and risk management standards.
• Collaborate with legal, compliance, and finance teams to ensure proper documentation and audit readiness.

Recruitment:

• Support HR in CV selection and review

Staff Attraction, Motivation and Retention:

• Fill vacant roles within the department in a timely manner and provide opportunities for growth and development.
• Provide training, mentorship, and upskilling programs.
• Recognize and reward individual and team achievements and contribution.
• Encourage open communication and feedback.
• Give employees autonomy and ownership of their work to motivate them.
• Foster a positive work culture that encourages collaboration, innovation, and creativity.
• Regularly engage direct reports to understand their needs and concerns.
• Foster a diverse and inclusive work environment that values different perspectives and backgrounds

Key Performance Indicators

• As agreed from time to time based on business exigencies.

Job Requirements
Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Computer Science, Marketing, or a related field (Master’s degree or MBA is an advantage).

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years progressive experience in VAS, digital product management, or telecoms/fintech services. Post NYSC experience.

Key Competence Requirements
Knowledge/Experience:

• Proven track record of leading VAS initiatives, digital transformation, or customer-focused innovations.
• Strong knowledge of telco integrations, API platforms, digital payment ecosystems, and vendor negotiations.
• Excellent strategic thinking, project management, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and team-building experience.

Preferred Attributes:

• Entrepreneurial mindset and result-oriented approach.
• Deep understanding of Nigerian digital services and consumer behavior.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to turn insights into revenue-generating actions.
• Passion for technology, innovation, and user experience.

Skill/Competencies:

• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written/oral communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Organizational skills.
• Confident negotiator and ability to close the right type of business deals at the highest level.