Senior Manager: Product

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time. With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group. Job Summary The Credit Card Product Manager is responsible for the end to end ownership, performance, and evolution of credit card products. This includes defining the product strategy, managing the product lifecycle, driving commercial performance, ensuring regulatory compliance, and delivering compelling customer value propositions aligned to business objectives. The role sits at the intersection of customer needs, commercial outcomes, regulatory requirements, and delivery execution, working closely with cross functional teams. Job Description Product Strategy & Vision Define and maintain the credit card product strategy and roadmap, aligned to overall card portfolio, payments, and retail banking objectives. Articulate a clear value proposition for different customer segments (e.g. mass, affluent, premium). Track market trends, competitor offerings, and emerging payment innovations. Product Lifecycle Management Own the full product lifecycle: ideation → design → build → launch → optimise → retire. Drive prioritisation of features, enhancements, and product changes based on customer, risk, and commercial impact. Ensure product documentation, policies, and terms are current and accurate. Commercial & Financial Performance Own key product economics including: Revenue (interest, interchange, fees) Expense management Portfolio profitability Monitor and drive KPIs such as: Activation Spend Revolving balances Attrition Acquisition and utilisation Build and contribute to business cases for new features, partnerships, or propositions. Customer Experience & Value Management Champion customer experience across the credit card journey (application, onboarding, usage, servicing). Partner with marketing, CX, and analytics teams to: Improve engagement and usage Manage benefits, rewards, and offers Use insights and data to continuously refine the product. Delivery & Stakeholder Management Work closely with technology, delivery, operations, risk, legal, compliance, marketing, and partners. Translate business outcomes into clear requirements and prioritised backlogs. Participate actively in Agile delivery processes where applicable (e.g. squad ceremonies, PI planning). Risk, Compliance & Governance Ensure ongoing compliance with: National Credit Act Card scheme rules (Visa) Consumer protection, AML, and related regulations Partner with Risk and Compliance to: Manage pricing, fees, and credit related changes Review and approve product changes Support audits, reviews, and governance forums. Partnerships & Ecosystem Manage relationships with: Card schemes Rewards and travel partners Vendors and service providers Evaluate and integrate partnerships that enhance customer value and commercial outcomes. Key Skills & Competencies Product & Commercial Skills Strong product management fundamentals Commercial acumen and financial literacy Experience managing revenue generating products Ability to balance customer value, profitability, and risk Analytical & Strategic Thinking Data driven decision making Ability to translate insights into actionable product improvements Comfortable working with performance dashboards and metrics Stakeholder & Communication Skills Strong influencing and collaboration skills Ability to communicate clearly with senior stakeholders, delivery teams, and partners Comfortable navigating complex organisational environments Delivery & Execution Experience working in Agile or hybrid delivery environments Ability to manage multiple priorities and dependencies Outcome focused, with strong ownership and accountability Experience & Qualifications Typical requirements: 5–10+ years experience in product management, cards, payments, or retail banking Direct experience with: Credit cards, unsecured lending, or consumer finance Payments ecosystems and card schemes (preferred) Degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field (MBA advantageous but not mandatory) Education Bacharelato e Diplomas Avançados: Estudos de Negócios, Comércio e Gestão (Required) Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank. Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised At Absa, our story is not a single narrative. It’s thousands of individual journeys unfolding across Africa and beyond. From colleagues serving customers in local communities to teams shaping financial solutions across borders, Absa is built on people who bring their lived experiences, ambitions and perspectives into the workplace every day. Whether you’re starting your career, a seasoned leader or somewhere in between, your contribution is seen, valued and connected to something bigger. Our presence across Africa – which spans personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management, and insurance – exists because of the people who show up in their roles with purpose. Across Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, our colleagues are shaping what Absa becomes in each market. Beyond the continent, teams in global offices and a technology hub support and extend the stories that prove that African talent can lead, influence and innovate on the global stage. At Absa, your story matters because progress is driven by human experience, not hierarchy. When people are enabled to bring their whole selves to work, they don’t just build careers. They help shape the future of Africa’s financial services landscape.