The Business Development Manager – Private & Merchant Sector is a key managerial role responsible for driving revenue growth and accelerating the adoption of EthSwitch’s interoperable payment platforms across Ethiopia’s private sector.

The position focuses on identifying new business opportunities, acquiring and onboarding banks, microfinance institutions (MFIs), fintechs, payment service providers (PSPs), merchants, corporates, and e-commerce platforms, and deepening usage of high-impact solutions such as the EthioPay Instant Payment System (IPS), interoperable QR payments (ETHQR), Request-to-Pay (RTP), Alias, e-Mandate, bulk payments, and PISP APIs.

Reporting to the Director – Stakeholder Engagement, by executing targeted Go-to-Market strategies, building strong commercial relationships, negotiating agreements, and supporting seamless onboarding, the Business Development Manager will contribute directly to increasing transaction volumes, expanding the network, and strengthening EthSwitch’s market leadership in Ethiopia’s digital payments ecosystem.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

The Business Development Manager – Private & Merchant Sector shall:

• Develop and execute annual business development plans and Go-to-Market strategies for EthSwitch’s payment solutions targeting private sector stakeholders (banks, MFIs, fintechs, PSPs, merchants, corporates, and e-commerce platforms).

• Identify, qualify, and pursue new business opportunities to onboard new participants and expand merchant acquiring networks, with a focus on driving volume growth through IPS, QR, RTP, bulk payments, and PISP integrations.

• Prepare and deliver compelling proposals, presentations, and product demonstrations tailored to the needs of financial institutions, fintechs, and merchants.

• Negotiate participation agreements, subscription models, revenue-sharing arrangements, and commercial terms with potential and existing private sector partners.

• Coordinate pilot programs, technical integrations, training sessions, and successful go-live processes for new onboarded institutions and merchants.

• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with senior executives and operational teams in banks, MFIs, fintechs, PSPs, and merchant communities.

• Conduct market research, competitor analysis, and customer needs assessments to uncover growth opportunities and recommend new use cases or service enhancements.

• Collaborate closely with Product, Technical, Operations, Marketing, and Legal teams to ensure smooth onboarding, high-quality support, and timely resolution of issues.

• Monitor key performance indicators including new participant’s onboarded, merchant growth, transaction volume uplift, activation rates, and revenue contribution; prepare regular reports with insights and actionable recommendations.

• Support awareness campaigns, workshops, industry events, and marketing initiatives to promote EthSwitch services and overcome adoption barriers in the private sector.

• Gather continuous market feedback and intelligence to inform product development and strengthen EthSwitch’s competitive positioning.

Job Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, Finance, or a related field.

• Master’s degree (MBA or related) is strongly preferred.

• Professional certifications in sales, business development, or payments are an advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum 5-8 years of progressive experience in business development, sales, or partnership management.

• At least 4–5 years of direct experience in fintech, banking, payments, or digital financial services, with a proven track record of client acquisition and revenue growth.

• Hands-on experience in merchant acquiring, institutional onboarding, or selling payment infrastructure solutions is highly desirable.

• Demonstrated success in executing Go-to-Market strategies and achieving commercial targets in a B2B environment.

• Strong knowledge of Ethiopia’s financial ecosystem, including banks, MFIs, fintechs, PSPs, merchants, corporates, and the regulatory landscape (NBE directives).

Key Skills & Competencies:

• Excellent negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building skills.

• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to link payment solutions to tangible business benefits.

• Fluent communication in both Amharic and English (written and spoken).

• Results-oriented mindset with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet targets.

• High level of professionalism and ability to work effectively with C-level executives and technical teams.

How To Apply

Qualified candidates are invited to submit their application with non-returnable CV, educational qualifications and work experience to hr@ethswitch.com, stating the title of the position clearly on the subject line. Qualified female applicants are highly encouraged.

*Please be aware that it is mandatory to attach your credentials (educational qualifications and work experience) along with your CV. Submitting only your CV is not sufficient.

*Please be advised that all applicants’ Educational Credentials will be verified with the respective higher institutions.

Job Requirements The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, Finance or a related field, with an MBA strongly preferred. Candidates should have 5‑8 years of progressive experience in business development, sales or partnership management, including at least 4–5 years directly within fintech, banking, payments or digital financial services. Hands‑on experience in merchant acquiring, institutional onboarding or selling payment infrastructure solutions is highly desirable. How to Apply Submit your non-returnable application and CV along with supporting documents in Via email hr@ethswitch.com