Marketing Specialist
Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
Full Time
Experienced
Job Summary
As a Marketing Specialist, you will shape and execute go-to-market strategies and integrated campaigns that drive adoption of our lending and savings products in Umba. You’ll act as the “voice of the customer,” combining market insights, messaging, and multi-channel tactics to fuel growth and deepen market leadership.
About Umba
Umba is a pan-African digital bank serving customers in both Kenya and Nigeria. Our mission entails providing accessible and cost-effective financial services across Africa, enabling our customers to take charge of their financial well-being. We are committed to seizing a unique opportunity to transform the financial landscape in Africa by harnessing the power of machine learning to develop intelligent, affordable financial products tailored for emerging markets. Our machine learning models are continuously improving, and we leverage AI and automation to deliver banking solutions at the lowest possible cost to our expanding customer base.
Umba is headquartered in Nairobi Kenya. Our primary focus is to offer a comprehensive range of digital banking products through Android, iOS and Web Apps, and we take pride in our culture of consistently surpassing customer expectations, which has fueled our rapid expansion.
Umba acquired a deposit taking microfinance bank in Kenya in 2023, which has now been named Umba Microfinance Bank. The bank has achieved fast growth since launch with an average monthly growth rate of 19% and 6x revenue growth in 2024.
We are actively seeking outstanding individuals who not only possess exceptional talent but also share our vision, determination, and sense of purpose. Join us in our endeavor to establish the best digital bank in Africa.
Responsibilities
As a Marketing Specialist, you will shape and execute go-to-market strategies and integrated campaigns that drive adoption of our lending and savings products in Umba. You’ll act as the “voice of the customer,” combining market insights, messaging, and multi-channel tactics to fuel growth and deepen market leadership.
About Umba
Umba is a pan-African digital bank serving customers in both Kenya and Nigeria. Our mission entails providing accessible and cost-effective financial services across Africa, enabling our customers to take charge of their financial well-being. We are committed to seizing a unique opportunity to transform the financial landscape in Africa by harnessing the power of machine learning to develop intelligent, affordable financial products tailored for emerging markets. Our machine learning models are continuously improving, and we leverage AI and automation to deliver banking solutions at the lowest possible cost to our expanding customer base.
Umba is headquartered in Nairobi Kenya. Our primary focus is to offer a comprehensive range of digital banking products through Android, iOS and Web Apps, and we take pride in our culture of consistently surpassing customer expectations, which has fueled our rapid expansion.
Umba acquired a deposit taking microfinance bank in Kenya in 2023, which has now been named Umba Microfinance Bank. The bank has achieved fast growth since launch with an average monthly growth rate of 19% and 6x revenue growth in 2024.
We are actively seeking outstanding individuals who not only possess exceptional talent but also share our vision, determination, and sense of purpose. Join us in our endeavor to establish the best digital bank in Africa.
Responsibilities
- Strategic Marketing & Branding
- Develop, implement, and monitor integrated marketing and communication strategies aligned with organizational goals.
- Build and maintain a consistent brand identity across all platforms and campaigns.
- Conduct market research and competitor analysis to guide brand positioning and strategy.
- Digital Marketing & Content Creation
- Manage social media platforms, content calendars, and community engagement to grow brand visibility.
- Oversee the creation, curation, and deployment of compelling digital and traditional content.
- Lead paid media buying on social platforms, websites, and traditional outlets to optimize ROI.
- Implement quality control measures to ensure all client and company materials meet brand standards.
- Communications & Public Relations
- Develop press releases, internal newsletters, and external communications.
- Manage media relations and coordinate with PR agencies, influencers, and partners to enhance reputation.
- Organize and support events such as product launches, CSR initiatives, and stakeholder forums.
- Project & Stakeholder Management
- Oversee end-to-end project management including conceptualization, implementation, and impact evaluation.
- Liaise with entrepreneurs, SMEs, and business stakeholders to deliver marketing and communication goals.
- Coordinate with external vendors and service providers for seamless delivery of campaigns and events.
- Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, mentor, and motivate cross-functional teams including creatives, client service, and digital marketing specialists.
- Provide training, coaching, and knowledge-sharing to enhance team capacity.
- Foster collaboration between departments (PR, creative, HR, finance) for effective execution of strategies.
- Performance Management & Reporting
- Track and evaluate marketing and communications performance against KPIs.
- Prepare regular reports for leadership and stakeholders on campaign outcomes and ROI.
- Manage marketing and communications budgets, ensuring cost-effectiveness and accountability.
Role Breakdown
80% Marketing Responsibilities: You’ll lead and execute marketing campaigns—covering digital (Google/Facebook ads, SEO, email, social media) and traditional channels—focused on driving acquisition, engagement, and growth.
20% Product Responsibilities: You’ll collaborate with other teams—conducting market research, supporting go-to-market strategy, and helping refine product positioning and messaging.
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or related field.
- 5+ years of digital marketing experience—preferably in fintech, banking, or financial services.
- Proven success building and optimizing multi-channel performance campaigns (Google Ads, Facebook, email, SEO/SEM).
- Strong analytics skills—familiarity with Google Analytics, BI tools, tracking metrics like CAC, LTV, ROI.
- Excellent copywriting, content strategy, and storytelling skills—able to simplify complex financial products.
- Experience with market research, segmentation, and launching region-specific campaigns, ideally in Kenya or Nigeria.
- Ability to work cross-functionally, manage agency partners, and execute under tight deadlines.
- Familiarity with traditional and community marketing methods in mobile-first markets.
- Knowledge of regulated financial products and compliance considerations is a plus (e.g., Microfinance Act, Prudential guidelines and Data Protection Act).
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