General Manager, Africa

For companies building financial technology and transforming the financial services space the biggest bottleneck to their growth and innovation is often the underlying banks and infrastructure stack they rely on. We have spent our careers founding and scaling companies like Plaid Square Meta Blend and Affirm and have seen this problem firsthand builders and developers needing to partner with traditional banks and creating API and abstraction layers over the patchwork that is the bank its core and many other vendors. All of this results in a complex (and often expensive) banking supply chain involving a user fintech BaaS middleware provider bank core and the Federal Reserve.

At Column we set out to simplify and fix this. We are a bank and a software company built from the ground up offering builders and developers technology-forward banking solutions that cut out the hundreds of vendors middleware providers and abstraction layers. This means a safer more transparent and less costly banking supply chain. Come build with us!

As Columns General Manager for Africa you will serve as the continental leader for one of our most strategic international expansion this role you will be responsible for driving 0-to-1 growth for a new banking product with a particular focus on building and nurturing relationships with prospective partners and customers in select markets on the African continent (with the potential to expand into Middle Eastern and European markets as well). This role combines global expansion strategy business development with hands-on relationship management requiring a general business athlete who thrives on networking and executing complex partnerships. This is a unique opportunity to be on the founding team for a new business line with significant autonomy and direct impact on Columns global expansion strategy.

This position has the flexibility to be based in Dubai or a key African financial hub (location flexible based on candidate and market priorities) with regular travel throughout the continent and quarterly travel to Columns headquarters in San Francisco.

• Lead regional market development: Own the end-to-end process of identifying evaluating and executing on high-value partnerships with banks across a number of African markets (with the potential to expand into Middle Eastern and European markets as well).

• Build and maintain key relationships: Serve as the primary relationship owner for prospective and existing customers conducting regular in-person meetings attending local industry events and managing ongoing partnership development.

• Own partnership execution: Lead complex deal processes from initial outreach through contract signature working collaboratively with Columns Legal Compliance and Product teams.

• Develop market intelligence: Gather and synthesize insights on local market conditions regulatory developments competitive landscape and customer needs to inform Columns regional strategy.

• Market expertise and network: Become an expert on the correspondent banking space in our key African markets and build an extensive network within this space.

• Drive operational excellence: Build scalable processes for onboarding relationship management and ongoing support that can be replicated as we expand.

• 6 years of experience in business operations growth or partnerships in a high-caliber environment; prior experience at a top-tier technology company or management consulting firm preferred

• Track record of successfully managing complex partnerships and high-value deals with executive stakeholders

• Natural networker who thrives on building trust and long-term relationships with senior executives market experts and decision-makers

• Strong strategic thinking - ability to assess market opportunities evaluate potential partners and provide strategic recommendations to senior leadership

• Hyper-organized approach to project management including coordinating efforts across multiple teams; comfort juggling multiple projects and priorities is critical

• Scrappy roll-up-your-sleeves attitude - we thrive because we work harder are more creative and have zero ego when it comes to getting our hands dirty to build a business

• Comprehensive health dental and vision plans including options that are 100% covered by Column for you and 100% covered for your dependents!

• FSA and HSA account options to enable use of pre-tax money for medical and dependent care expenses

• 401k plan including self-directed brokerage options

• Flexible time-off policy - take the time off that you want and need to relax and recharge

• 100% paid parental leave including 16 weeks for birth mothers 12 weeks for primary caregivers and 8 weeks for secondary caregivers

• Up to $4500 in annual reimbursements for backup childcare

• Regular team building events including annual offsite

Column is committed to working with the best and brightest people from the broadest talent pool possible. We value bringing together a team with different perspectives educational backgrounds and life experiences and believe a diversity of ideas is what allows us to develop the best solutions. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation during the application and recruiting process please reach out to

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Required Experience:

Director