Cards Product Manager (Sub-Saharan Africa)

Citi; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services firm in Johannesburg is seeking a Senior Product Manager for Cards to drive strategic growth and P&L performance. The ideal candidate will have relevant experience in product management and the ability to manage end-to-end product lifecycle. The role also involves market insight and client engagement. This full-time position offers an opportunity to significantly contribute to the Cards portfolio in key growth markets.

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in product management within cards or electronic banking.
• Proven experience in end-to-end product lifecycle management.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive the strategic direction and P&L performance for the Cards business.
• Oversee the development and rollout of new product capabilities.
• Actively monitor market trends and competitive landscape.

Skills

Product management

P&L ownership

Communication skills

Market analysis

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

Overview

Senior Product Manager, Cards - South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa

As a Senior Product Manager for Cards, you will be instrumental in driving the strategic growth and P&L performance of our Cards business, primarily in South Africa, with extended responsibility across key Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) markets, notably Kenya, and occasional involvement in broader MEA initiatives.

This role requires a dynamic professional with a deep understanding of card products, market dynamics, and a proven ability to lead end-to-end product lifecycle management from strategy and development to commercialization and risk oversight. You will leverage your expertise to identify new opportunities, enhance existing offerings, and ensure robust governance, contributing significantly to the overall success and expansion of our cards portfolio in a critical growth region.

Key Responsibilities

• Product Strategy & P&L Ownership:
  • Drive the strategic direction and P&L performance for the South Africa Cards business, extending to other SSA markets, particularly Kenya, and contributing to broader MEA Cards initiatives
  • Lead the end-to-end product management lifecycle, including product governance and commercialization of new capabilities
  • Partner with Relationship Managers (RMs) and sales teams to drive origination, pipeline growth, and ramp-up of existing deals
  • Collaborate with global and regional product teams to develop and refine product strategies, go-to-market approaches, and delivery models
• Product Development & Delivery:
  • Oversee the development and rollout of new product capabilities and functionalities, ensuring timely, cost-effective, and high-quality delivery
  • Work closely with Technology, Operations, and Coverage teams to execute product solutions and coordinate launch activities
  • Partner with Finance to evaluate product development investments, monitor billing/revenue, control expenditure, and track benefits realization
• Market Insight & Client Engagement:
  • Actively monitor market trends, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies to identify growth opportunities and inform product roadmap decisions
  • Gather Voice of the Client (VOC) feedback, develop action plans to address insights, and partner with cross-functional and coverage teams for execution
  • Understand the demands of White-Label clients and ensure their needs are integrated into product solutions
• Risk Management & Governance:
  • Ensure strict adherence to all relevant product documentation (e.g., product approval programs) and processes, embedding them into the management fabric of the product business
  • Appropriately assess and mitigate risks in business decisions, safeguarding the firm's reputation and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations
  • Demonstrate sound ethical judgment, manage, and report control issues with transparency

Experience

• Relevant experience in product management within the cards or electronic banking channels, with a strong understanding of corporate banking practices.
• Proven experience in end-to-end product lifecycle management, P&L ownership, and driving business growth
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute product strategies, including new product development and commercialization
• Strong understanding of business analysis, data analysis, and system analysis
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and diplomacy skills, with the ability to influence and guide diverse stakeholders, including internal colleagues and external customers
• Highly organized, self-directed, and capable of managing multiple priorities and delivering high-quality work consistently in a fast-paced environment.
• A recognized technical authority in a relevant area, with strong commercial awareness
• Ability to appropriately assess risk and drive compliance in a highly regulated financial environment

Education

• Bachelor’s/University degree required; Master’s degree preferred

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Job Family Group: Product Management and Development

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Job Family: Market Segments and Services

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Time Type: Full time

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Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

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Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

Accessibility at Citi

View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.

Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.