In this role, you would be responsible for:

Product Lifecycle Management

Product Strategy & Planning

• Developing comprehensive product strategies informed by market research, competitive intelligence, and customer insights
• Creating and maintaining 12-month rolling product roadmaps aligned with business growth objectives
• Defining product positioning strategies that differentiate M-KOPA in increasingly competitive markets
• Leading product portfolio optimization to maximize market share and profitability

Product Development & Launch

• Managing end-to-end product development from concept through launch
• Coordinating product testing, pilots, and market validation activities
• Orchestrating and collaborating with Customer Care, Retail, Marketing, Sales, and Smartphone teams to ensure seamless product implementation
• Developing go-to-market strategies and launch plans for new products and features
• Working with supply chain to engage OEM partners and suppliers to secure optimal product terms and specifications

Post-Launch Performance Management

• Monitoring product performance metrics including adoption, revenue, margin, and customer satisfaction
• Analyzing customer and DSR feedback to identify product improvement opportunities
• Driving continuous product optimization based on competitive dynamics and market trends
• Leading product lifecycle decisions including enhancements, phase-outs, and repositioning

Cross-Functional Product Leadership

• Serving as primary product owner coordinating across Global Product, Marketing, Operations, and Commercial teams
• Ensuring alignment between global product strategy and Kenya market execution
• Advocating for Kenya market needs in global product development discussions
• Facilitating product-related decision-making across organizational boundaries

Market Intelligence & Competitive Strategy

Competitive Intelligence

• Establishing and maintaining systematic competitive monitoring processes across all relevant competitors
• Conducting in-depth competitive analysis covering product offerings, pricing, promotions, and market positioning
• Monitoring competitive threats and opportunities, providing early warning of market shifts
• Developing competitive response strategies to counter threats and exploit competitor weaknesses
• Assessing competitive landscape dynamics and their implications for M-KOPA’s strategy

Market Environment Analysis

• Tracking and analyzing legislative changes, regulatory developments, and policy shifts affecting the business
• Monitoring macroeconomic factors including FX trends, inflation, and their impact on product economics
• Analyzing market trends, consumer behavior shifts, and technology developments
• Identifying emerging opportunities and threats in the broader market ecosystem

Strategic Market Positioning

• Developing proactive market strategies that anticipate competitive moves rather than react to them
• Designing strategic positioning frameworks that create sustainable competitive advantages
• Recommending market entry, expansion, or exit strategies based on comprehensive market analysis
• Evaluating effectiveness of market strategies and adjusting based on performance data

Customer Intelligence & Insights

Customer Research & Profiling

• Developing comprehensive customer profiles, personas, and segmentation frameworks
• Conducting customer needs assessments, behavior analysis, and satisfaction tracking
• Analyzing customer journey maps to identify pain points and opportunity areas
• Researching customer preferences, purchase drivers, and decision-making factors

Advanced Customer Segmentation

• Creating sophisticated customer segmentation models based on behavior, needs, and value
• Developing targeted customer strategies for each segment
• Mapping customer journeys for different segments to optimize touchpoints and experiences
• Recommending segment-specific product, pricing, and marketing approaches

Customer-Centric Product Strategy

• Translating customer insights into product selection and prioritization decisions
• Ensuring product features and specifications align with customer needs and preferences
• Validating market fit for new products through customer research and testing
• Championing the customer perspective in all product and strategic decisions

Your application should demonstrate:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, or a related field
• MBA or Master’s degree in Business, Strategy, or Product Management preferred

Experience

• 6-7 years of progressive experience in product management, strategy, business analysis, or related roles
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in product lifecycle management or product strategy
• Proven track record of driving business performance improvements through data-driven insights
• Experience in competitive intelligence, market analysis, or strategic planning
• Experience in FMCG, consumer electronics, telecommunications, or fintech sectors strongly preferred
• Understanding of consumer product markets in Kenya or East Africa
• Exposure to competitive market environments requiring strategic agility

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in data analysis and business intelligence tools (Excel, SQL, Power BI, Tableau)
• Strong quantitative and analytical capabilities
• Experience with product management frameworks and methodologies
• Proficiency in market research and competitive analysis techniques
• Financial modeling and business case development skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Product management certification
• Experience with brand management or category management in FMCG
• Background in management consulting or strategic roles
• Experience managing OEM or supplier relationships
• Knowledge of pricing strategy and revenue optimization

What Sets You Apart

• You’re a strategic thinker who sees around corners—you anticipate market moves rather than react to them
• You’re equally comfortable in data analysis and in front of senior leadership—you can build the model and present the narrative
• You understand that product strategy is ultimately about customers—you champion the customer perspective even when it’s inconvenient
• You’re a skilled cross-functional collaborator who can align diverse teams without direct authority
• You translate complexity into clarity—whether it’s competitive dynamics, regulatory shifts, or customer behavior patterns
• You have the commercial instincts to connect product decisions to P&L impact and business outcomes
• You’re proactive by default—you bring recommendations, not just analysis
• You’re comfortable with ambiguity and energized by markets that don’t sit still