Head of Operations in South Africa

There are 2B adults worldwide that don’t have a bank account. 2B. That’s ~40% of the world’s adult population.

350M of these live in Sub Saharan Africa.

They are hardworking, young, connected adults that are invisible to the traditional banking system. Fido is changing that. We are building a borderless digital bank so that everyone can access financial products like credit, savings, and payments that make lives easier and better.

Want to be an early employee in a unique consumer brand? Want to do work that has an impact on society? Join us.

We build consumer products that are powered by a magical cocktail of real time mission critical ML models, behavioral psychology and financial engineering.

We promote meritocracy, decide fast and commit, and worship data.

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This is a high-impact leadership role where you’ll be instrumental in setting up and scaling a fintech business and driving financial inclusion in South Africa.

In this interdisciplinary leadership role, you will work in a fast-paced, data-driven, and technology-oriented environment to deliver globally competitive financial technology products. As the Head of Operations, you will play a pivotal role in launching and scaling Fido’s business in the country.

Your work will be a mix of strategy, execution, leadership, and problem-solving as you help establish Fido’s presence and ensure smooth, efficient operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Market Expansion & Leadership  

• Lead Fido’s expansion into South Africa, ensuring smooth market entry and business operations.  
• Develop and execute the operational strategy to establish Fido as a market leader.  
• Act as the primary representative of Fido in South Africa, managing relationships with key stakeholders, including
  
• regulators, partners, and industry bodies.
  
  

2. Team Development & Leadership  

• Build, lead, and manage a high-performing team to support Fido’s growth in South Africa.  
• Foster a high-performance culture that aligns with Fido’s values and mission.  
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration between teams to drive alignment and productivity.
  
  

3. Operations & Business Performance  

• Drive key business metrics, including revenue growth, operational efficiency, and customer acquisition.
• Design and optimize business processes to enhance efficiency, scalability, and compliance with regulatory requirements.  
• Provide data-driven insights and recommendations to optimize business performance.  
• Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring seamless service delivery and an excellent customer experience. 
  
  

4. Compliance & Risk Management  

• Ensure Fido’s operations comply with local regulatory and legal requirements.  
• Work closely with the compliance and risk management teams to implement policies that safeguard the company’s interests.
• Develop risk mitigation and business continuity strategies to support sustainable growth. 
  
  

5. Support for Product Development

• Collaborate with the Product and Technology teams to ensure operational readiness for new product launches.
• Provide real-world feedback from customers and operational teams to enhance product features, usability, and market fit.
• Continuously monitor product performance post-launch and collaborate with teams to refine processes, address challenges, and drive adoption.
  
  

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in operations, general management, or business leadership, in fintech, banking, or financial services.
• Proven experience in launching, scaling, and managing business operations or financial products in emerging markets.
• Strong understanding of South Africa’s regulatory environment for financial services.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams in fast-paced environments.
• Experience in managing P&L, budgeting, and financial performance metrics.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, including working with regulators, partners, and government entities.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and execution capabilities.
• Willingness to travel as needed to support business operations and stakeholder engagement.

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