Job Description

.When it comes to putting people first, we're number 1.The number 1 Top Employer in South Africa.
Certified by the Top Employer Institute 2024.Role purpose:Vodacom Financial and Digital Services is on a journey to become the South Africa's leading fin-tech company.The deployment of world leading technology platforms is key in achieving this goal. To this end, Vodacom has numerous strategic partnerships including those with the likes of Ant Financial services to create South Africa's first Super App.Along with the Super App, Vodacom Financial & Digital Services has a Payments, Lending , Insurance and Digital Lifestyle Services Business. All of the businesses have a Consumer as well as a merchant strategy.The Managing Executive of VFS Lending fulfils a role that encompasses different portfolios, namely,:

• Business Lending;
• Consumer Lending;
• Telco Lending (Airtime Advance);

The role encompasses the three product portfolios and includes full Profit and Loss accountability for the portfolio. Within the product portfolios full accountability will be assumed for all functions in order to successfully run the lending business. This includes, but not limited to, marketing, sales , product development and management as well as operations.The role will work closely with the IT to ensure the successful delivery of the Vodacom Financial Services Strategy. As part of the broader Vodacom Financial Services strategy, the incumbent will need to manage a team, set the vision and control the roadmap to develop, scale and manage a portfolio of lending products , taking them through the stages of the product life cycle as well as:

• Keep pace with the latest in industry & technology developments as well as the broader regulatory environment;
• Improve the overall revenue contribution and performance of lending products in Vodacom Financial Services;
• Have an indepth knowledge of the entire Vodacom Financial Services Business;
• Form part of a cross-functional team, developing products that improve the overall value proposition across market segments;
• Form and retain close relationships with relevant partners, internal and external, to enhance the overall lending value proposition;
• Form and retain close relationships with funding partners to drive down cost of funding to our partners and our customers;
• Collaborate closely with internal and external partners to drive customer acquisition targets.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Manage the full P&L for lending including the full Capex budget and responsibility for the spend thereof;
• The products include Airtime Advance , Cash Advance, Voucher Advance, Personal Loans, Vodalend Compare, Business Term Advance, Business Cash Advance and Supply Chain Finance;
• Lead the Product team in conceptualisation and development of new products that deliver valuable and unique customer propositions
• Develop and implement the overall lending strategy for Vodacom Financial Services for consumers as well as Business Customers;
• Responsible for establishing and managing teams of senior product executives and specialists to build and manage products across the lending portfolio
• Responsible for the international expansion and performance of lending products, such as Airtime Advance and Supply Chain Finance
• Responsible for negotiations and contracting across the lending portfolio
• Responsible for the product roadmap and the prioritisation thereof across the lending portfolio
• Responsible for the operations of the lending business
• Responsible for all distribution of lending products with the support of the digital marketing and CVM team;
• On-going innovation and product development based on consumer and market trends as well as historical data and performance that extends beyond that of a traditional telco product proposition
• Provide insights to the broader team around innovations and developments within the Lending and Fintech industry, keeping track of competitor launches and taking measures to mitigate risks
• Ensure that the team regularly reviews launched products to ensure the performance is in line with initial assumptions and implement corrective measures if needed and also look at how to improve/enhance products
• Contribute as a member of the Vodacom Financial and Digital Services Exco
• On-going management of performance of team members

Leadership and teamwork

• Provide inspirational leadership and coaching across the Lending team as well as VFS
• Create a high level of employee engagement to deliver best in class digital lending solutions
• Develop individuals within the team with real-time coaching, feedback and timely career and succession planning, ensuring that each individual has a documented personal development plan
• Lead the multiple lending product portfolios as well as the Group Commercial team seamlessly.

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

• 3/4 year Business-related Degree. Post-graduate management qualification (i.e.; MBA) is desirable
• Minimum of 10 years of experience
• Leadership/Management/Supervisory experience (essential)
• Creating strategic plans to win market share from competitors

Essential

• Prior experience in leading a lending division or business is essential
• Product Development experience essential
• A detailed knowledge and understanding of a the fast paced fintech industry is essential
• Understanding of regulatory requirements essential;
• Resource planning and management skills
• Capable of working across complex organisations and ability to build strong relationships and credibility with multiple levels both internally and externally.
• Commercial focused with a clear understanding of technical ramifications of execution.
• Commercial skills including; negotiation, modelling, complex problem resolution, and business improvement optimisation essential

Closing date for Applications: 02 August 2024.The base location for this role is, Vodacom Midrand Campus.The company's approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.
Vodacom is committed to an organisational culture that recognises, appreciates and values diversity & inclusion.Commitment from VodacomVodacom is committed to attracting, developing and retaining the very best people by offering a flexible, motivating and inclusive workplace in which talent is truly recognized, developed and rewarded. We believe that diversity plays an important role in the success of our business and we are committed to creating an inclusive work environment which respects, values, celebrates and makes the most of peoples individual differences - we are not only multinational but multicultural too. At Vodacom you will have access to our excellent flexible benefits programme that you would expect from any global company.

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