Head of Product Design

M-KOPA Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Director – Head of Product Design We are looking for a Director-level Head of Product Design to lead and evolve our Product Design function as we scale up and drive digital and financial inclusion across our markets. This role offers the opportunity to reshape how design drives business strategy and customer experience at a crucial growth moment. You'll lead cohesive, high-quality user experiences across all touchpoints for customers across multiple African markets, working with talented cross-functional teams including product managers, engineers, data scientists, and commercial stakeholders. About M‑KOPA: We foster a culture where design excellence is celebrated and design thinking is embedded throughout the organization. Our team values innovation, collaboration, and impact-driven design. Design is central to our mission of creating transformative financial partnerships that often serve as customers' first entry point into formal financial services. Responsibilities Leading the strategic direction and evolution of our Product Design function Collaborating with Product Management and Tech leadership to define overall UX strategy Building and maintaining design systems that ensure visual cohesion while enabling rapid innovation Reviewing design work to ensure quality and cohesion before release Mentoring design team members and fostering a sense of belonging while helping advance their careers Working with marketing teams to ensure visual cohesion across the M‑KOPA brand Translating design metrics into business outcomes that executives understand and value Frequent travel across operational markets; candidate should be based in a market or willing to relocate Qualifications 10+ years experience leading design teams and complex projects in digital products Deep understanding of UX strategy with the ability to balance business goals with user needs Experience building and maintaining design systems across multiple touchpoints Solid leadership and mentoring capabilitiesAbility to work with diverse, cross‑functional teams across multiple countries Strong interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills Experience translating design impact into business metrics Experience in fintech or similar industries Why M‑KOPA? At M‑KOPA, we empower our people to own their careers through diverse development programs, coaching partnerships, and on‑the‑job training. We support individual journeys with family‑friendly policies, prioritize well‑being, and embrace flexibility. Join us in shaping the future of M‑KOPA as we grow together. Explore more at m-kopa.com . Equal Opportunity & Legal Notices M‑KOPA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained staff. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. M‑KOPA explicitly prohibits the use of forced or child labour and respects the rights of its employees to agree to terms and conditions of employment voluntarily, without coercion, and freely terminate their employment on appropriate notice. M-KOPA shall ensure that its employees are of legal working age and shall comply with local laws for youth employment or student work, such as internships or apprenticeships. M‑KOPA does not collect or charge any money as a pre‑employment or post‑employment requirement. This means we never ask for recruitment fees, processing fees, interview fees, or any other kind of money in exchange for offer letters or interviews at any time during the hiring process. Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Shortlisting and interviews will take place at any stage during the recruitment process. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a suitable candidate is selected before the advertised closing date. If your application is successful, M‑KOPA undertakes pre‑employment background checks as part of its recruitment process, including criminal records, identification verification, academic qualifications, employment dates and employer references. #J-18808-Ljbffr