Regional Sales Director, Southern Africa at Onafriq

The Role

We're seeking a dynamic Regional Representative for Southern Africa at Onafriq to elevate our presence in South Africa and neighbouring markets. Your role is pivotal in establishing Onafriq as a key player in the region, focusing on bringing relevance and impact to our operations. You'll collaborate with regional directors, reporting directly to the Regional Managing Director, driving significant growth and establishing Onafriq as a key player in the Southern Africa payments landscape.

This position is for candidates based in Southern Africa. Given our hybrid model, our expectation for new joiners is that during their probation period they come into the office 4 days a week, transitioning to 3 days a week after they successfully complete their probation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Business Strategy and Planning:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive business strategy for launching and scaling enterprise payment solutions, remittance solutions, bank partnerships, and third-party card processing in the Southern Africa region.
• Conduct market research and analysis to identify key opportunities, market trends, and potential challenges in the mobile money, remittance, and card processing space.
• Define short-term and long-term business objectives, including revenue targets, market penetration goals, and expansion strategies for all business lines.

Partnership Development:

• Identify and establish strategic partnerships with enterprises, banks, financial institutions, and other key stakeholders to drive adoption and usage of enterprise payments, remittances, and card processing solutions.
• Lead negotiations and collaboration efforts to secure partnerships that facilitate the integration and distribution of products and services.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with partners to drive mutual business growth and ensure alignment with strategic objectives.

Market Expansion:

• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies to drive adoption of enterprise payments, remittance solutions, bank partnerships, and third-party card processing among consumers, businesses, and other target segments.
• Work closely with other commercial and product stakeholders to develop customized solutions and value propositions for target customers.
• Identify opportunities for product innovation and differentiation to maintain a competitive edge in the market.

Operational Leadership:

• Provide strategic direction and guidance to cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution of business plans and alignment with organizational goals.
• Oversee day-to-day operations related to all business lines, including product development, marketing, sales, and customer support.
• Generally, uphold the values of the Company.

Financial Management:

• Develop and manage budgets, financial forecasts, and performance metrics for all business lines.
• Monitor financial performance and key performance indicators to track progress against business objectives and drive profitability.
• Optimize resource allocation and cost-control measures to maximize operational efficiency and return on investment.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Relevant qualification in Business Management, Communications, Commerce, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience, with at least 4 years in the payments industry.
• Experience working with a dispersed global team.
• Fluent in English; knowledge of local languages is advantageous.
• Strong understanding and experience of payments technology and trends in Southern Africa, with the ability to develop innovative solutions to meet customer needs.
• Pan-African exposure, experience, and expertise are advantageous.

The Ideal candidate will have: 

• Experience navigating various stages of company maturity, from start-ups to established corporates. 
• Extensive connections with payment ecosystem players in Southern Africa, fostering efficient communication and collaboration to advance business objectives. 
• Demonstrated track record in building or launching products from inception to completion. 
• Extensive expertise in payments technology, including a deep understanding of industry trends and innovations.
• Proficiency in translating market opportunities into actionable product requirements, driving successful product development initiatives. 
• Exceptional strategic thinking capabilities, with the ability to develop and execute comprehensive business strategies that align with organizational goals and market demands. 
• A strong track record of bringing relevance and impact to organizations in the Southern Africa markets, with the ability to drive significant growth and establish Onafriq as a key player in the region.