South Africa Country Head

Johannesburg - South Africa

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: 19 hours ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Department:

Business Operations

Job Summary

About Wahed:

The global financial system wasnt built for everyone. For millions of people its reliance on interest (riba) creates a barrier to managing money and building wealth without compromising their values.

At Wahed were changing that. We are a global fintech company on a mission to build a new financial systemone that is ethical accessible and entirely interest-free. From our offices across the globe our team is building products that were once deemed impossible from pioneering Shariah-compliant equity ETFs creating riba-free alternatives to high yield savings accounts to creating no-leverage real estate investments for truly interest-free income producing assets. If youre driven to solve complex problems and believe finance should empower not exclude join us in building a more equitable financial future.

Job Brief:

Wahed is entering one of the most strategically important and socially impactful markets in our global expansion journey: South Africa - a nation with deep financial inequality a sophisticated financial ecosystem and a growing appetite for values-based ethical financial solutions.

We are seeking a mission-driven commercially astute Country Head to build launch and scale Wahed South Africa from the ground up. This is a defining leadership opportunity to pioneer Islamic and ethical digital finance in a market where it can create outsized socioeconomic impact.

As the South Africa Country Head you will be the principal architect of Waheds presence in the region. You will shape the country strategy build foundational regulatory and industry relationships and orchestrate a high-stakes multi-workstream market launch. This includes leading the localization of our product offering building our operational footprint and establishing Wahed as a trusted compliant and high-integrity financial provider in the is a role for someone who thrives in emerging markets understands the nuance of regulated financial ecosystems and is energized by the challenge of shaping a market from zero to scale. Reporting directly to the CEO you will be accountable for delivering a successful market entry ensuring operational resilience and driving sustainable customer growth in South Africa.

Job Description:

Strategic Leadership & Mission Alignment

Develop and execute a purpose-driven country strategy that positions Wahed as South Africas leading provider of Shariah-compliant and ethical financial solutions.
Partner with the CEO and global leadership to shape long-term country-level priorities investment decisions and growth pathways.

Market & Launch Execution

Oversee the launch of our products and features in South Africa working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure successful implementation and localisation.
Coordinate cross-functional workstreams (product operations technology marketing legal risk) to deliver a seamless high-integrity market entry.
Establish robust governance compliance and risk frameworks aligned with South African regulations and Waheds global standards.

Stakeholder Regulator & Partner Engagement

Build influential relationships with regulators financial institutions potential partners community leaders and Shariah governance stakeholders.
Position Wahed as a trusted values-aligned entrant that enhances financial inclusion and aligns with South Africas socioeconomic priorities.
Identify and negotiate strategic partnerships that strengthen product reach credibility and local impact.

Growth Performance & Market Insight

Drive customer acquisition retention and market penetration through data-driven insights continuous improvement and localised value propositions.
Identify emerging opportunities unique to the South African context such as community-based financial inclusion initiatives or culturally relevant financial products.
Provide regular reports to the c-suite on the progress of the South Africa launch and the performance of the countrys operations including key milestones financial metrics customer acquisition and product usage.

Team Leadership & Capability Building

Build develop and lead a high-performing South Africa team anchored in Waheds mission and culture.
Foster an environment of accountability innovation and values-based decision-making.
Strengthen cross-border collaboration to ensure South Africa is fully integrated into Waheds global operating model.

Job Specification:

Experience & Track Record

Bachelors degree in business finance or a related field; MBA or other advanced degree preferred.
1015 years in capital markets banking investments or fintech with measurable commercial and operational achievements.
Experience launching or scaling new market operations ideally within South Africas financial services ecosystem.
Proven and verifiable track record of successfully launching and scaling operations in new markets with direct experience in South Africa being a significant advantage.

Skills & Competencies

Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritise execute and drive multiple launch-related initiatives simultaneously.
Strong stakeholder and regulator engagement experience; credible with senior decision-makers.
Analytical and insight-driven mindset with the ability to tailor global offerings to local customer needs.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across cultures and stakeholder groups.
Deep understanding of South African regulatory frameworks is highly advantageous.

Qualifications & Values Fit

Understanding of Shariah-compliant investing or Islamic finance (or willingness to learn deeply).
Passion for ethical finance financial access and building mission-led organizations.

Why This Role Matter

This role is central to Waheds global expansion and purpose. As South Africa Country Head you will not simply lead a market you will shape a movement driving financial dignity inclusion and values-based investing for millions across the region. If you are a strategic mission-driven leader who thrives in high-growth environments and believes finance should serve people not the other way around we invite you to help build Waheds future in South Africa.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process such as reviewing applications analyzing resumes or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed please contact us.

About Wahed:The global financial system wasnt built for everyone. For millions of people its reliance on interest (riba) creates a barrier to managing money and building wealth without compromising their values.At Wahed were changing that. We are a global fintech company on a mission to build a new ...