Head of Products (Retail)

Location: Kenya

Key Responsibilities:

1. Product Strategy & Lifecycle Management

• Define and execute the Retail product strategy in alignment with overall business objectives.
• Provide oversight of the end-to-end product lifecycle, from ideation to commercialization and retirement.
• Ensure products remain competitive, compliant, and responsive to evolving customer needs.

2. Research, Analysis & Innovation

• Lead market research, competitor analysis, and customer insights to inform product strategy.
• Identify innovation opportunities to reimagine customer engagement and enhance product relevance.
• Pilot new concepts and technologies to validate market potential and scalability.

3. Product Development & Commercialization

• Oversee the design, testing, and launch of new products and enhancements.
• Ensure effective go-to-market strategies, pricing, and positioning to drive adoption.
• Monitor performance of products post-launch and recommend refinements to maximize value.

4. Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Collaborate with internal teams (Digital, Marketing, Operations, Risk, Compliance, Legal) to deliver product initiatives.
• Build external partnerships with fintechs, industry players, and regulators to support product development.
• Promote cross-functional alignment to ensure timely and effective execution.

5. Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure all products adhere to regulatory requirements, internal policies, and risk frameworks.
• Monitor emerging risks across the product portfolio and implement mitigation measures.
• Provide reporting and insights to senior leadership on product performance, risks, and opportunities.

6. Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Product Management team to strengthen execution capability.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and customer focus within the product function.
• Build capacity for continuous improvement and best practice adoption in product management.

 

The Ideal Candidate: Academic, Professional & Experience:

For the above position, the successful applicant should have the following:

• Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university 
• Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent) will be an added advantage
• Professional qualification in Product Management, Banking, Marketing, or Management (e.g., CIM, CMI, CPM, ACIB) will be an added advantage 
•  Project Management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile) will be an added advantage
• 10 years’ minimum experience is required, together with the following essential experience:
  • 6 years’ experience in sales
  • 4 years’ experience in stakeholder management
  • 4 years’ experience in strategic planning
  • 4 years’ experience in team management
  • 4 years’ experience in product development
  • 2 years’ experience in project management

 

About Us

KCB Group is registered as a non-operating holding company which started operations as a licensed banking institution with effect from January 1, 2016. The holding company oversees KCB Kenya – incorporated with effect from January 1, 2016 – and all KCB’s regional units in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and South Sudan. It also owns KCB Insurance Agency, KCB Capital, KCB Foundation, National Bank of Kenya, and all associated companies. The holding company was set up to among other things to enhance the Group’s capacity to access unrestricted capital and also enable investment in new ventures outside banking regulations, achieve operational and strategic autonomy for the Group’s operating entities and enhance corporate governance across the Group and oversight in the management of subsidiaries. Related documentation:  Group Name Change,  Name Change Certificate,  KCB Advise on Non-Operating Holding Company,  KCB Group Structure,  Kenya Gazette Notice.The Head of Products exists as the custodian of the product lifecycle for all Retail Banking products, providing strategic oversight of product analysis, research, innovation, development, and commercialization. The role ensures the delivery of competitive, customer-centric solutions by leading product strategy, piloting innovations, and driving sustainable growth across the Retail portfolio.