Head of Product Security at M-KOPA
Lead our Application Security and Threat Intelligence teams while driving comprehensive security strategies that protect M-KOPA's platform and enable secure product development at scale.
Impact
Your leadership will directly protect the platform that serves over 7 million customers who have accessed more than $2 billion in credit, ensuring secure systems and products that transform lives across an entire continent.
Opportunity
* Mission-driven security: Protect the platform enabling financial inclusion for millions of Every Day Earners across Africa
* Global recognition: Join a company named by TIME 100 as one of the world’s most influential and by the Financial Times as Africa’s fastest-growing for 4 consecutive years (2022‑2025)
* Scale challenges: Lead security for a platform processing over 1.5 million payments daily across 5 markets
* Environmental impact: We’re carbon‑negative, having displaced over 2.1 million tonnes of emissions
What You’ll Do
At M-KOPA, you’ll lead both Application Security and Threat Intelligence teams while driving comprehensive security strategies that align with business objectives. Our security teams own their solutions end‑to‑end, from threat modelling and vulnerability research to production monitoring and incident response.
Team Leadership
* Lead Application Security and Threat Intelligence teams
* Build and scale specialised security capabilities
* Mentor talented security professionals
Technical Focus
* Offensive security including hardware hacking and Android exploitation
* Threat intelligence collection and automation
* Vulnerability research and penetration testing
* Security workflow automation using platforms like n8n
Strategic Responsibilities
* Threat modelling and risk assessments
* Red team exercise coordination
* Executive partnership and security‑to‑business translation
Security Approach
* Proactive defence: Combining offensive security research with threat intelligence to stay ahead of emerging risks
* Automation‑first: Building automated security workflows and threat intelligence systems for scale
* Business enablement: Translating security requirements into business value and growth opportunities
* Technical excellence: Hands‑on leadership that maintains deep expertise in vulnerability research and exploitation
* Cross‑functional influence: Partnering across product, engineering, and executive teams to embed security throughout the organisation
What You Need
Exceptional leadership and technical depth to shape security at the intersection of offensive security, threat intelligence, and product development. This role offers unique growth potential through executive visibility, cross‑functional influence, and direct impact on product security at scale.
Required Experience
* Hands‑on experience in product/application security with proven expertise in vulnerability research, penetration testing, and security architecture
* Experience leading and scaling security teams with demonstrated success building high‑performing Application Security and Threat Intelligence functions
* Proven track record building threat intelligence programmes, including automation platforms like n8n and hands‑on experience with Android security and hardware hacking
Location & Benefits
* Fully remote role within UTC‑1 to UTC +3 time zones
* Work with diverse teams across the UK, Europe, and Africa
* Professional development programmes and coaching partnerships
* Family‑friendly policies and flexible working arrangements
* Wellbeing support and career growth opportunities
* Executive visibility and strategic influence across the organisation
Mission
We create financial inclusion for the traditionally excluded through a fair, flexible, customer‑centric financing model, striving to drive greater inclusion of women, youth, and low‑income communities.
Impact
* Connected: 2.5 million first‑time mobile internet users connected
* Prosperous: 70% of customers use M‑KOPA products for income generation, with 35 000+ livelihoods created for agents
* Green: 2.155 million tonnes of CO₂ avoided through clean energy products, with over 127 000 circular economy products provided
Ready to Lead Security Teams?
Join us in shaping the future of M‑KOPA as we grow together. Explore more at m‑kopa.com.
Equal Opportunity Statement
M‑KOPA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained staff. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. M‑KOPA explicitly prohibits the use of forced or child labour and respects the rights of its employees to agree to terms and conditions of employment voluntarily, without coercion, and freely terminate their employment on appropriate notice. M‑KOPA shall ensure that its employees are of legal working age and shall comply with local laws for youth employment or student work, such as internships or apprenticeships. M‑KOPA does not collect or charge any money as a pre‑employment or post‑employment requirement.
Application Process
Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Shortlisting and interviews will take place at any stage during the recruitment process. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a suitable candidate is selected before the advertised closing date.
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