Business Operations and Partnerships Specialist

Who we are

Kora is a payment infrastructure for Africa. We offer plug-and-play payment solutions for businesses to launch a tailored payment experience for their customers. At the front and center of what we do every day, we are creating a future void of digital financial barriers across Africa. We are committed to delivering secure, reliable, and easy-to-use digital financial solutions to customers with a guarantee that they are improving their lives.

To achieve this mission, we need people like you. We value positive energy and clear communication and are committed to building an inclusive environment for people from every background. We strongly believe in our ability to find Water in the Desert and pick the Sands in the Ocean.

About the role

Kora is seeking a highly driven Business Operations & Partnerships Specialist to support the expansion and optimization of our payment infrastructure across African markets.

This role sits at the intersection of operations, partnerships, and strategy, ensuring efficient internal processes while building and managing key ecosystem relationships with banks, payment providers, and strategic partners.

The ideal candidate is a structured thinker who can analyze complex operational environments, manage high-impact partnerships, and drive execution across multiple markets

Requirements:
What you’ll be doing

Operations & Process Execution

• Drive operational efficiency across payment workflows and internal processes to support scale across African markets.
• Design and implement process improvements that enhance reliability, speed, and operational performance.
• Build and maintain scalable operational frameworks to support new market launches and partner integrations.
• Identify and implement automation opportunities to streamline operational activities.

Strategic Partnerships & Market Development

• Identify, evaluate, and develop strategic partnerships with banks, payment providers, and ecosystem players across African markets.
• Lead commercial discussions and negotiations to establish mutually beneficial partnership agreements.
• Work closely with legal, compliance, and finance teams to structure and execute partnership arrangements.
• Support the expansion of payment rails and infrastructure through new strategic partnerships.

Partner Operations & Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary operational contact for key partners, ensuring smooth integration and ongoing collaboration.
• Monitor partner performance and resolve operational or commercial issues as they arise.
• Identify opportunities to deepen partner relationships and unlock additional transaction growth.

Business Operations & Cross-Functional Execution

• Lead the operational execution of key business initiatives and market expansion efforts.
• Coordinate closely with product, engineering, compliance, and commercial teams to ensure alignment and delivery.
• Support operational planning, performance tracking, and resource coordination across markets.

What you’ll need

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in business operations, partnerships, or a similar role within fintech or financial services.
• Strong problem solving and operational thinking with the ability to improve processes and drive execution.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills with the ability to engage partners and internal stakeholders effectively.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously
• Strong understanding of African payment ecosystems is a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Kora is an equal-opportunity employer dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, and business needs. We strongly encourage applications from underrepresented communities and diverse ethnic groups to apply.

Please feel free to inform us if you need any accommodations to facilitate your participation in the recruitment process. Any details you share will be used solely to ensure we can support and accommodate your needs appropriately.
If you require more information on our HR Data Privacy, please visit here

Benefits:
• Sponsored and tailored training
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time-off
• Flexible work style
• Low-interest loans
• Group Life Insurance
• Day off on your birthday 🎂 🎁 🎉
• Employee interest groups that provide supportive communities within Kora
• Great company culture and the opportunity to work with a highly collaborative team building something great!

Note: We recognise imposter syndrome is real - any candidate who does not perfectly fit every characteristic of this role is still strongly encouraged to apply.