The Director – Private Stakeholder Engagement is a senior leadership role responsible for driving adoption, integration, and strategic partnerships with Ethiopia’s private sector stakeholders, including banks, MFIs, fintechs, PSPs, merchants, corporates, and other market participants.

The role focuses on onboarding institutions, coordinating pilot programs, promoting innovative payment solutions (e.g., IPS, RTP “Alias”, e-Mandate, interoperable QR payments, bulk payments, PISP APIs), executing Go-to-Market strategies, and gathering market feedback to enhance EthSwitch’s offerings. By fostering commercial engagement and collaboration, the Director ensures widespread usage of EthSwitch platforms, strengthens the digital payment ecosystem, and supports the modernization of Ethiopia’s financial services sector.

Key Duties & Responsibilities 

The Director – Private Stakeholder Engagement shall:

• Go-to-Market Strategy & Execution: Plan and execute Go-to-Market initiatives for new payment solutions, including pilots, workshops, campaigns, and onboarding; drive adoption among banks, MFIs, fintechs, PSPs, merchants, and corporates, and monitor uptake to optimize engagement;

• Private Sector Engagement Strategy: Develop and execute engagement plans for all private sector stakeholders, including banks, MFIs, fintechs, PSPs, merchants, and corporates, to maximize adoption of EthSwitch services;

• Onboarding & Integration: Facilitate service integration, technical support, and training for private stakeholders, ensuring smooth implementation and adoption of EthSwitch platforms;

• Pilot Programs & Innovation: Coordinate proof-of-concept initiatives and pilots for new payment solutions, addressing challenges and ensuring alignment with stakeholder needs;

• Market Awareness & Advocacy: Lead workshops, campaigns, and initiatives to promote participation across all private market segments, emphasizing cost-efficiency, innovation, and network benefits;

• Relationship Management: Build and maintain trust-based, long-term partnerships with private stakeholders, using insights to optimize service offerings and stakeholder satisfaction;

• Monitoring & Feedback: Track adoption metrics, monitor service performance, and implement targeted strategies for underutilized services;

• Internal Collaboration: Work closely with Product, Operations, and Marketing teams to ensure stakeholders receive seamless support and that market insights inform service development; and

• Strategic Insights & Reporting: Provide leadership with market intelligence, adoption trends, and recommendations for private sector growth, guiding EthSwitch’s commercial strategy.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or related field; and

• Master’s degree preferred; professional training in stakeholder management, public relations, or project management is a plus.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of progressive professional experience, with 5–7 years directly relevant to private stakeholder engagement, financial institutions, fintechs, PSPs, or market adoption programs.

• Minimum 3 years in managerial or leadership role, leading teams and engagement initiatives.

• Proven experience in Go-to-Market execution, onboarding, and adoption of digital payment solutions.

• Strong knowledge of Ethiopia’s financial ecosystem, including banks, MFIs, fintechs, PSPs, merchants, and corporates.

• Demonstrated ability to manage stakeholder relationships and coordinate operational programs.

How To Apply

Qualified candidates are invited to submit their application with non-returnable CV, educational qualifications and work experience to hr@ethswitch.com, stating the title of the position clearly on the subject line. Qualified female applicants are highly encouraged.  

*Please be aware that it is mandatory to attach your credentials (educational qualifications and work experience) along with your CV. Submitting only your CV is not sufficient. 

*Please be advised that all applicants’ Educational Credentials will be verified with the respective higher institutions.