Head of Research and Development

Role Overview

This position sits within the banking product development function, where you will own the full lifecycle of financial products from early concept through regulatory and internal approvals to market launch. Your day-to-day work involves translating market gaps and customer needs into viable product structures, building business cases, and continuously monitoring post-launch performance to refine pricing and portfolio strategies. The role matters because the products you deliver directly impact the bank's revenue mix, credit quality, and competitive position in the marketplace.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end development of new banking products, including business case modeling, pricing strategy, and go-to-market planning.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify unmet customer needs and emerging trends in credit and deposit products.
• Partner with risk, compliance, legal, and technology teams to ensure new offerings meet regulatory requirements and internal risk appetite.
• Develop and maintain portfolio analytics that track product performance against profitability, growth, and risk targets.
• Prepare and present product proposals and launch recommendations to senior leadership and internal governance committees.
• Monitor post-launch metrics and recommend adjustments to product features, pricing, or eligibility criteria to optimize performance.
• Collaborate with sales, branch, and digital distribution channels to support effective rollout and customer adoption.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Statistics, Marketing, or a related discipline.
• Five to eight years of experience in product development, research, credit, or strategy roles within the banking sector.
• A proven track record of shepherding financial products from concept through approval to successful launch, with a focus on sustained post-launch performance.
• Strong quantitative skills in market and portfolio analysis, including the ability to interpret performance data and recommend strategy shifts.
• Demonstrated expertise in product pricing and business case modeling, including constructing revenue forecasts, break-even analysis, and sensitivity scenarios.