Principal Product Owner, Payment Methods Partnerships at Cellulant

Role Summary

• We are seeking a strategic Product Owner to lead payment methods partnerships across African markets.
• This role will focus on building, managing, and optimizing strategic partnerships with mobile network operators, banks, payment processors, and fintech providers to expand our payment ecosystem and drive market penetration across the continent.

Key Responsibilities
Partnership Strategy & Development:

• Develop comprehensive partnership strategy for payment methods across our footprint in Africa markets including new and emerging markets as we expand.
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize potential partners including mobile network operators (MTN, Safaricom, Orange, Airtel e.t.c), banks, payment processors, and local fintech companies
• Lead partnership negotiations and structure commercial and service level agreements that drive mutual growth and market expansion
• Create partnership frameworks and templates that can be scaled across multiple markets and use cases

Product Integration & Management:

• Oversee end-to-end product integration for new payment partners, ensuring seamless technical implementation and optimal user experience
• Collaborate with engineering teams to establish standardized API frameworks and integration processes for rapid partner onboarding
• Manage product roadmap for partnership-driven features including payment routing optimization, settlement workflows, and reconciliation processes
• Drive product requirements for partner-specific customizations while maintaining platform scalability

Business Development & Growth:

• Partner with business development teams to identify market entry opportunities and partnership-driven growth initiatives
• Develop go-to-market strategies for new payment methods introduced through partnerships
• Create joint value propositions and business cases for potential partners to accelerate deal closure
• Establish performance metrics and success criteria for partnership initiatives including transaction volume, conversion rates, and revenue attribution

Stakeholder Management:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key partners including C-level executives, product leaders, and their technical teams.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives involving legal, compliance, finance, and engineering teams
• Present partnership performance and strategic updates to executive leadership as appropriate.
• Manage partner communications including regular business reviews, product updates, and strategic planning sessions

Market Intelligence & Analysis:

• Conduct comprehensive market research on payment infrastructure, competitive landscape, and partnership opportunities across African markets
• Analyze partnership performance data to identify optimization opportunities and inform strategic decisions.
• Monitor regulatory developments and industry trends that impact partnership strategies
• Gather market feedback from partners to inform product development and competitive positioning.

Key Performance Indicators

• Number of new payment method partnerships established quarterly.
• Partnership-driven transaction volume and revenue growth.
• Time-to-market for new partner integrations.
• Partner satisfaction scores and relationship health metrics.
• Market share growth in targeted African markets.
• Partnership ROI and contribution to overall business objectives.
• Partnership success rates.

Experience and Qualifications
Experience & Background

• 5+ years of product management or business development experience in fintech, payments, or financial services
• 2+ years of experience managing strategic partnerships or business development in African markets
• Proven track record of successfully negotiating and managing complex B2B partnerships
• Experience working with payment service providers, mobile network operators, or financial institutions in Africa.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA or Advanced Degree in Business, Engineering, or related field
• Previous experience at high-growth fintech, payments, or B2B software company
• Direct experience living or working in multiple African markets
• Existing relationships with key players in African fintech and payments ecosystem
• Knowledge of local languages and cultural nuances across target markets and their impact on product experiences.
• Experience with partnership management platforms and CRM systems

Partnership & Business Skills:

• Strong negotiation and deal structuring experience with ability to create win-win partnership agreements
• Experience managing partner relationships and driving joint go-to-market initiatives
• Understanding of partnership economics including revenue sharing models, technical integration costs, and mutual value creation
• Demonstrated ability to influence without authority and manage complex stakeholder relationships

Technical & Product Skills:

• Deep understanding of payment processing, APIs, and financial infrastructure
• Experience with technical partnership integrations and API management
• Knowledge of African payment ecosystems including mobile money, banking rails, and digital payment platforms
• Familiarity with compliance requirements including PCI DSS, KYC/AML, and local regulatory frameworks across Africa.

Strategic & Analytical Skills:

• Strong analytical skills with experience using data to evaluate partnership performance and opportunities
• Ability to develop business cases and financial models for partnership initiatives
• Experience with market research methodologies and competitive analysis
• Understanding of B2B SaaS business models and growth metrics

Personal Attributes:

• Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to identify and pursue new business opportunities
• Strong relationship-building skills with cultural sensitivity for diverse African markets
• Results-driven approach with focus on measurable partnership outcomes
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for senior-level stakeholder management
• Adaptability and resilience in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
• Strategic thinker with strong execution capabilities