Manager, Data and Product Design

Aceli Africa is a market catalyst that aims to mobilise $2 billion in private-sector lending for agricultural SMEs and improve livelihoods for 5 million farmers and workers by 2030. To achieve this goal, Aceli provides financial incentives to increase the risk appetite of 50 financial institutions and to enable them to make loans ranging from USD $10K to $1.5 million to high-impact agricultural SMEs. Complementary technical assistance builds capacity for lenders and SMEs while data and learning drive engagement with partners to strengthen the policy and regulatory environment.

Since launching in 2020, Aceli has mobilised $400M in lending to SMEs, providing market access for 2M smallholder farmers across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. To date, Aceli Africa has secured US$115M+ in funding from leading bilateral and philanthropic donors, including the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gates Foundation, Global Affairs Canada, IKEA Foundation, Norad, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Aceli is completing an initial five-year phase (2020-25) and positioning for ambitious growth and influence in Phase Two (2026-30). With a donor-funded model and complex multi-country operations, Aceli Africa manages several mechanisms to achieve this objective, including performance-based incentive payments and innovative capital mobilisation strategies.

The Data and Product Design Manager will lead the day-to-day analysis and coordination that inform the design and continuous improvement of Aceli’s financial incentive products. Working at the intersection of strategy, data, and implementation, the role translates strategic direction from the Senior Manager into actionable analyses, insights, and recommendations, while managing deliverables and supervising a small team of associates through guidance, coaching, and quality assurance.

The role has responsibilities across the following areas:

Product Design, Data & Analytics

• Support the end-to-end design and ongoing refinement of Aceli’s financial incentives aligning the product design with Aceli’s long-term vision and impact objectives.

• Identify opportunities to improve or evolve products based on data insights, partner feedback, and implementation experience. 

• Support the development and application of analytical frameworks and dashboards to assess lender performance, portfolio quality, and impact outcomes.

• Manage the design and delivery of Aceli’s annual financial benchmarking exercise, including evolution of methodologies over time.

• Translate analytical findings into clear insights for internal decision-making and external engagement with partners.

Annual planning and risk management

• Lead the preparation of Aceli’s annual financial incentive budget, including multi-year financial projections, scenario analysis, and sensitivity testing to support strategic decision-making.

• Ensure the incentive budgeting process is data-driven, realistic, and aligned with organisational priorities, funding constraints, and risk appetite.

• Lead the annual loan audit and verification process, ensuring loans submitted by partner lenders comply with Aceli’s eligibility criteria and impact guidelines.

Stakeholder engagement

• Collaborate closely with lending partners to gather market feedback, explain product mechanics, and ensure a clear and consistent understanding of Aceli’s financial incentives and requirements.

• Work cross-functionally with internal teams (including Operations, Impact, and Leadership) to ensure product developments align with Aceli’s strategic priorities and implementation realities.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Manage, supervise, and mentor a team of junior team members working on product design, analytics, and benchmarking.

• Provide clear direction, prioritisation, and quality control across team deliverables.

• Coach team members on analytical rigor, structured thinking, and effective communication.

• Support professional development through regular feedback, performance management, and on-the-job learning.

• Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture with strong ownership and accountability.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., finance or business) preferred.

• Experience: 7 years of relevant experience in product design, financial services, development finance, consulting, or a related field.

• People Management: Demonstrated experience managing and developing junior team members.

• Analytical Expertise: Strong experience working with complex datasets and designing practical analytical frameworks and dashboards.

• Financial Sector Knowledge: Solid understanding of financial institutions, lending products, and portfolio performance metrics.

• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to diverse audiences.

• Organisational Skills: Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams, priorities, and deadlines in a dynamic environment.

• Values alignment: Demonstrated collaborative approach to working across functions and beyond formal reporting lines; growth mindset with an interest in operating at the frontier of industry practice; and strong commitment to Aceli’s mission and values.

Aceli is an equal opportunity employer.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. Interested candidates should submit a one-page cover letter expressing their interest and qualifications for the role, along with an updated CV by February 27th, 2026. Please note that applications without a Cover Letter will not be considered. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.