Manager, Product Development

Mwanga Hakika Bank Limited (MHB) is a fully fledged commercial bank 100% owned by local Tanzanians. We have an exciting opportunity for enthusiastic and committed individuals to join our dynamic and growing team in the following open vacancy.

Purpose of the Role

The Manager, Product Development is responsible for steering the creation and evolution of innovative products and services. This role bridges the gap between business strategy and technical execution by translating business requirements into actionable technical specifications, documenting customer journeys, and ensuring that process flows and UI/UX designs align with the banks branding. Additionally, the role leads Research & Development initiatives and employs design thinking methodologies, including Gemba walks and as-is/to-be process documentation, to continuously improve product offerings and customer experiences.

Summary of Key Duties and Responsibilities

Business-to-Technical Translation:

• Collaborate with business stakeholders to convert strategic requirements into detailed technical specifications.
• Oversee and document comprehensive customer journeys to ensure all product and service interactions are clearly defined.

Process Documentation and Improvement:

• Design, draw, and maintain comprehensive process flows and workflows for product and service development.
• Conduct gemba walks to observe operations on the ground, identify process gaps, and capture real-time insights.
• Document as-is processes and develop to-be process maps to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.

UI/UX and Design Oversight:

• Lead the creation of UI/UX elements, including wireframes and prototypes, ensuring alignment with the banks overall branding and customer experience standards.
• Apply design thinking principles to ideate, prototype, and refine innovative product concepts.
• Facilitate design thinking workshops to integrate cross-functional insights and iterative user feedback.

Product Lifecycle Management:

• Manage the full product development lifecycle from ideation and design to launch and post-launch performance analysis.
• Collaborate with in-house software development teams to ensure technical feasibility and timely execution.

Research & Development:

• Lead R&D initiatives to explore emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices that inform product innovation.
• Conduct market research and feasibility studies to validate new product ideas and pilot innovative concepts.
• Establish strategic partnerships with external stakeholders, academic institutions, or technology vendors to foster collaborative innovation.
• Develop proof-of-concept projects and iterate on new ideas to ensure continuous product improvement and competitive differentiation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Act as a liaison among product development, project management, and software development teams to ensure cohesive project execution.
• Facilitate effective communication between technical and non-technical stakeholders, incorporating feedback to adjust product strategies as needed.

Data-Driven Decision Making:

• Define, track, and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess product success and guide iterative improvements.
• Leverage insights from market research, user feedback, and operational data to drive informed product innovation.

Leadership and Team Management:

• Mentor and develop a high-performing team of product developers, designers, and analysts.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative environment that embraces agile methodologies, design thinking, and continuous learning.

Regulatory and Quality Compliance:

• Ensure all products and services comply with industry regulations and internal quality standards.
• Oversee risk management and quality assurance processes throughout the product development lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Design, or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years in product development or a related field, with a proven track record in translating business needs into technical solutions.
• Demonstrated experience in managing full product lifecycles, leading R&D initiatives, and applying design thinking methodologies, preferably within the banking or technology sectors.

Knowledge and Skills

• Proficiency in UI/UX design tools (e.g., Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD).
• Strong understanding of process mapping, documentation tools, and agile methodologies.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making abilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a capacity to collaborate effectively across diverse teams.
• Proven leadership skills with a commitment to mentoring and team development.

Interested candidates are requested to submit their applications to - Mwanga Hakika Bank | Career Page (careers-page.com). The deadline for application is 11th March 2025. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.