Regional Partnerships Manager M/W – East Affrica

About Standard Digital Exchange (SDE)

Standard Digital Exchange (SDE) is an international fintech company specializing in cross-border payments and the digitalization of financial services.

Our mission: to simplify and secure international transactions for businesses and financial insti-tutions through a next-generation technology platform that delivers speed, transparency, and regulatory compliance.

SDE provides innovative solutions that enable companies to pay their partners, suppliers, and employees with competitive rates and a seamless experience.

With a presence in Africa, Europe, and Asia, SDE has established itself as a key player in the de-velopment of Africa's digital and financial economy.

Our ambition: to build a trusted network bridging traditional finance and tomorrow's technolo-gies.

Joining SDE means becoming part of a passionate international team where every member con-tributes to transforming the digital payments landscape for the long term.

Role Purpose

The Regional Partnerships Manager is responsible for developing, expanding, and managing SDE's strategic partnerships across the region.

Based in Nairobi, the role focuses on building strong and sustainable relationships with banks, fintechs, payment institutions, regulators, and large corporate partners.

The ideal candidate combines deep partnership expertise, strong commercial insight, and an ex-cellent understanding of digital financial ecosystems to position SDE as a leading fintech partner in the region.

This role is central to SDE's expansion, as partnerships represent a key growth engine in accelerating adoption of SDE's cross-border payment infrastructure and financial solutions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Partnership Development & Strategic Expansion

• Build and execute the regional partnership strategy aligned with SDE's global growth objectives.

• Identify, prioritize, and engage high-potential partners across the financial, fintech, telco, institutional, and corporate sectors.

• Develop structured partnership pipelines and deliver measurable partnership-driven revenue outcomes.

• Negotiate and secure partnership agreements that support market penetration and product adoption.

• Ensure the long-term sustainability and scalability of major partnerships.

2. Partner Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for strategic partners in the region.

• Establish strong, trust-based relationships with key decision-makers and stakehold-ers.

• Support partners throughout the onboarding process, integration phases, and go-to-market initiatives.

• Conduct regular business reviews with partners and optimize collaboration frame-works.

• Implement partnership governance: reporting, performance monitoring, issue escala-tion.

3. Market Intelligence & Ecosystem Engagement

• Maintain a strong understanding of regional fintech and financial landscapes.

• Identify regulatory, technological, and economic developments that could impact part-nerships.

Monitor competitor strategies and evaluate partnership opportunities accordingly.

• Participate in ecosystem events, forums, and conferences to strengthen SDE's visibility and network.

4. Compliance, Risk & Contractual Oversight

• Ensure all partnerships comply with relevant regulatory requirements (KYC/AML, data protection, financial regulations).

• Collaborate with Legal & Compliance to manage contract reviews and ensure adherence to SDE's policies.

• Identify risks within partnership structures and recommend preventive or corrective actions.

• Ensure partners respect SDE's operational, ethical, and compliance standards.

5. Cross-Functional Leadership & Internal Coordination

• Work closely with Business Development, Product, Operations, Marketing, and Compliance teams to ensure alignment on partnership objectives.

• Coordinate cross-departmental efforts to deliver seamless partner implementation and support.

• Provide strategic feedback from partners to internal teams to improve solutions and service delivery.

• Contribute to regional planning, performance reporting, and strategy alignment with the executive team.

6. Regional Representation & Advocacy

• Represent SDE in strategic discussions with banks, regulators, corporates, and fintech stakeholders.

• Promote SDE's value proposition as a trusted cross-border payment and digital finance partner.

• Elevate SDE's brand visibility by participating in panels, events, and ecosystem engagements.

Profile Required

• Minimum 7 to 10 years of experience in partnership management, business development, or strategic alliances within fintech, banking, payments, telco, or financial ser-vices.

• Proven track record of building and scaling high-impact partnerships.

• Strong network in the regional financial and fintech ecosystem.

• Deep understanding of digital payments, cross-border transactions, FX, and financial infrastructure.

• Experience negotiating complex commercial and institutional agreements.

• Strong stakeholder management skills and ability to influence decision-makers at senior levels.

• Excellent communication skills (written & verbal) in English; additional language based on region is a plus.

• High strategic thinking, business acumen, and operational discipline.

Key Skills

Hard skills

• Partnership strategy design & execution

• Contract negotiation and commercial structuring

• Payment systems, digital finance, and cross-border transaction knowledge

• CRM & pipeline management (HubSpot, Salesforce)

• Data-driven analysis and performance reporting

• Strong understanding of compliance (KYC, AML, regulatory frameworks)

Soft skills

• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management

• Strategic mindset with hands-on operational execution

• Autonomy, resilience, and problem-solving capacity

• Excellent communication and diplomacy

• Agility in multicultural and fast-moving environments

• High ethical standards and integrity

What We Offer

• A high-responsibility position within an international, impact-driven fintech.

• An innovative, agile, and dynamic work environment.

• Opportunities for growth and international mobility.

• Competitive compensation package (fixed + variable).

• Rapid career advancement based on performance.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Join Standard Digital Exchange — shaping the future of cross-border finance in Africa.