Business Development Manager - Partnerships (Consumer) at Kuda Bank

Kuda is a full service, app-based digital bank. Our mission is to be the go-to bank not just for those living on the African continent, but also for the African diaspora wherever they might live, anywhere in the world. Kuda is free of ridiculous banking charges and great at helping customers budget, spend smartly and save more. We raised the largest seed round ever seen in Africa, and completed a Series A funding round in February 2021, led by some of the world's smartest venture capital investors. With offices in London (our HQ), Lagos and Cape Town, and further offices opening across Africa during 2021, Kuda is fast becoming recognised as the leading 'Neobank' for Africans.

To help us grow into the company that can bring meaningful change to the way people across Africa get access to great financial products and services in order to take control of their personal finances, we are actively looking for bright, talented, driven people who are excited by our mission. If this sounds like a great way to spend your valuable time, then please get in touch with us.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Business Development Manager - Partnerships (Consumer)

Location: Lagos
Job Type: Full time

Role Overview

• We are looking for a skilled Business Development Manager - Partnerships (Consumer) to drive the growth of Kuda Premium by negotiating and closing high-impact, mutually beneficial partnerships. 
• This role is critical in expanding our network of merchant partners and delivering exclusive value to our premium customers.
• The ideal candidate will be a strategic dealmaker with a proven ability to identify, negotiate, and execute partnerships that enhance customer engagement and revenue growth. 
• They will be responsible for sourcing and structuring partnerships, optimizing incentive-driven programs such as cashback and rewards, and ensuring seamless integrations that maximize value for both Kuda and its partners.
• Success in this role requires a strong commercial mindset, deep experience in strategic partnerships, and the ability to navigate complex negotiations to secure long-term, profitable collaborations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic partnership initiatives to drive business growth, with a primary focus on securing and managing merchant partnerships in the retail, entertainment, and lifestyle sectors.
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize new partnership opportunities by leveraging market research, industry trends, competitive analysis, and customer insights.
• Lead negotiations and structure commercially viable deals with both new and existing partners, ensuring the creation of mutually beneficial co-branding, cashback, and incentive-driven initiatives to enhance customer engagement and loyalty.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams, including product, marketing, technology, legal, and finance, to ensure smooth execution and integration of partnerships.
• Build and maintain relationships with key decision-makers within partner organizations to foster long-term strategic alliances and ensure seamless ongoing operations.
• Monitor and analyze the competitive landscape, using insights to refine partnership strategies and drive continuous business growth.
• Oversee the design and execution of contracts, service-level agreements (SLAs), and performance metrics to ensure partnerships deliver maximum value.
• Track and report on partnership performance, providing data-driven recommendations to optimize results and scale initiatives effectively.
• Lead and scale the partnership function by recruiting, mentoring, and managing a team of business development and account management professionals to support the teams expansion efforts.

Requirements

• Minimum of 8 years in strategic partnerships, with at least 3 years in a managerial role, focusing on high-value deals in retail, entertainment, and lifestyle sectors.
• Proven ability to negotiate and execute commercially viable partnerships, including co-branding, cashback, and incentive-driven programs.
• Skilled in tracking partnership performance, leveraging key metrics, market research, and industry trends to optimise strategies and enhance customer engagement.
• Strong capability to lead, mentor, and scale business development and account management teams, driving the expansion of Kuda Premium’s partnerships.
• Prior experience in Tech, Fintech, Financial Services, Entertainment, Lifestyle on Retail industry.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.