Executive: Business Development and Product Commercialization (Home loans) at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• Transform the business by driving the portfolio to deliver value innovation in chosen markets and strategic partnership outcomes that position the business as a Product Category leader in the industry whilst making competitors irrelevant in new markets. This includes integrating products and services in a manner that will simplify monetisation of Absa customer and entrenching new to bank customers in the broader franchise (i.e., Bancassurance, Everyday Banking & Private Bank Wealth etc.).

Job Description

Accountability: Segment and Product Strategy:

• Drive the development of segment and product strategy informed by deep insights into changing segment needs and consumer behavior.
• Understand the product performance metrics and identify where shifts need to be made for sustainable profitable growth through the cycle.

Accountability: Product Management, Value Innovation & Execution:

• Provide innovative solutions & products to solve for customer needs and identify customer opportunities that can be solved through ‘Value Innovation’.
• Create appropriate plans to achieve product objectives and establish key metrics and data points to ensure effective monitoring of the product & segment strategy execution and performance.
• Drive development and management of internal processes to ensure the effective delivery of products & services including optimal and frictionless integration across Retail Bank considering customer journeys and Design Thinking

Accountability: Partnership Mapping, Strategy & Execution:

• Identify strategic partner opportunities to support business growth, enhance the business’s competitive advantage product offerings, and customer experience
• Lead the formulation & execution of a comprehensive partnership strategy to align to the business unit and Retail Bank objectives. Cascade and communicate the strategy and drive implementation plans and programmes inclusive of prioritization and resourcing.
• Deliver a compelling partner strategy informed by market insights and value to be gained
• Propose commercial business cases and partnership approaches that will enable the business to gain competitive advantage in the market.
• Lead the end-to-end process of partnership design, including market research, opportunity assessment, partner identification, engagement, execution plan and go to market strategy (in collaboration with/ supported by BU Strategy, Marketing & Product teams)
• Develop and implement targeted expansion plans on new and existing partnerships.

Accountability: Leading Talent & People Management

• Lead the team to deliver on Business Development & Product Commercialisation Strategy and Plans
• Coach, mentor, and manage team members toward driving business objectives and ensuring colleague development.
• Drive colleague experience and create a culture of continuous improvement, excellence, and collaboration in line with Absa values.

Accountability: Stakeholder Engagement

• Create and maintain strategic relationships with key Partners (Includes FinTech PropTech, Industry bodies, Service Providers, (e.g., consultants), Suppliers, and other key stakeholders and other Absa entities.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships through networking with industry leaders, associations, regulators, and policy makers as well as business partners that are key in the development of new ventures/ partnerships & product value propositions.
• Manage internal and external strategic relationships by facilitating stakeholder feedback, communication interventions, problem solving, dispute resolution.

Core Capabilities:

• Product Category Management/ Product Management
• Consumer Segment & Product Category Strategy Management & Execution
• Strategic Partnership Development
• Commercialisation of opportunities
• Value Innovation
• Business Integration
• Digital Transformation

Mental and Environmental Work Requirements:

• Must be able to handle pressures and setbacks and high levels of stress
• Additional hours maybe required
• Open Plan working environment (In Office)
• Remote Work (From Home)
• Depending on work demand, overtime might be required from time to time

Preferred Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree 
• At least 8 years -10 years minimum experience in Senior Role leading Product or Business Development (Industry: Banking or Retail any other industry)

Preferred Experience:

• Conceptualisation and management of products & services across markets/segments
• Conceptualisation and execution of strategic partner opportunities with a strong commercial agenda
• Driving and delivering value innovation
• Delivering customer digital transformation products & services
• Driving complex business integration to enable products and services to be delivered seamlessly for customer

Advantage:

• Business and financial acumen
• Management of Products across markets
• Product category strategy management and execution
• Ability to keep abreast of shifts locally & globally
• Understanding of FinTech/Digital Landscape
• Commercialisation of organic and inorganic opportunities with strong commercial outcomes
• Understanding consumer behaviour and Design thinking
• Understanding impact of marketing strategies on products and services

Education

• Bachelor's Degree: Business, Commerce and Management Studies