W

Watu

Asset-financing BNPL for African mobility

Retail Channel Manager

Full-TimePosted on 10/21/2026
No salary listed
Mid
Bachelor's
Lagos, Nigeria
In PersonWork in designated multiple locations to onboard and grow the retail channel.
Sales & Account ManagementBusiness Development & Partnerships

About the job

Requirements
  • At least 3 years of working experience within the mobile asset-financing industry as a full-time employee or consultant in a frontline business relationship management role.
  • Strong, verifiable retail-channel relationships with active retail stores across Nigeria.
  • Ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and adapt to a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
  • Ability to build rapport and work with a team of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
  • A professional ethical record with no criminal history.
  • Technical understanding of a customer relationship management (CRM) system.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Ability to deliver and maintain a high level of customer service with internal and external customers.
  • Ability to own decisions aligned with company values and agreed key performance indicators.
  • Ability to maintain respectful relationships with teams, customers, and partners.
  • Ability to operate openly and transparently with teams, customers, and partners.
Responsibilities
  • Represent WATU and promote its interests to retail stakeholders by providing resources that support in-store channel sales.
  • Profile existing and new retail stores for Watu in-store sales growth.
  • Manage the productivity of in-store agents across dealer networks to drive daily sales and continuous growth against key performance indicators.
  • Provide company and product awareness to potential and existing retail dealers.
  • Manage and grow the sales network through in-store representatives across dealer networks.
  • Train, empower, and coach in-store agents on sales execution, onboarding processes, and service delivery.
  • Ensure retail stores adopt compliant onboarding practices.
  • Drive timely reconciliations and settlements.
  • Work in designated multiple locations to onboard and grow the retail channel and support in-store agent productivity.
  • Demonstrate Watu brand standards.
  • Present and sell Watu partners' products and services to new retail store partners while maintaining positive business relationships with teams, partners, and customers.
  • Support the resolution of customer problems and complaints to maximize satisfaction.
  • Track and manage sales performance.
  • Manage channels and report productivity by retail dealer across states, regions, and clusters.
Desired Qualifications
  • A Bachelor's degree in Business or Business Administration.

About the company

Watu is an asset-financing fintech in Africa that provides buy-now-pay-later loans to unbanked and underserved customers to acquire income-generating assets. It finances items such as two- and three-wheelers, smartphones, and education, with bundles that include GPS tracking, insurance, and logbook transfers, and repayment is typically via mobile money with interest and fees as revenue. The company differentiates itself by targeting mass-market mobility and financial inclusion at scale, expanding beyond vehicles into devices and education, and investing in green mobility through EV financing and partnerships. Its goal is to increase access to credit and mobility for underserved populations, while expanding the EV portfolio and building the infrastructure needed for affordable, sustainable transportation across Africa.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Debt Financing

Total Funding

$29M

Headquarters

Nairobi, Kenya

Founded

2015

Get referred to Watu

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • On 23 July 2026, Watu Uganda financed one million devices, doubling 2025 volume.
  • Watu and Airtel Rwanda launched smartphone financing on 9 July 2026, broadening distribution.
  • Car & General reported 2025 revenue up 92.7% to KES28.3 billion.

What critics are saying

  • TechCabal reported 2024 profit plunged 85% as loan defaults rose in Kenya and Uganda.
  • The Star said 2025 restructuring cut some departments nearly half, signaling brittle economics.
  • If defaults spike again, funding can tighten and force a destructive repossession spiral.

What makes Watu unique

  • Watu finances boda bodas, tuk-tuks, and smartphones through bundled asset-credit underwriting.
  • Its GPS, insurance, and logbook-transfer bundle locks assets into repayment and recovery.
  • July 2026 Airtel Rwanda deal ties handset financing to telecom distribution and mobile money.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

  • Health Insurance

Company News

Launch Base Africa
Sep 11th, 2026
Kenya's Watu bags $7M in nondilutive debt to scale smartphone and vehicle financing

Kenya's Watu has secured a $7 million nondilutive debt facility from AHL Venture Partners to support its asset-financing operations across Africa and Latin America. The funding will strengthen working capital and expand the company's portfolio of motorcycles, three-wheelers, and smartphones in select African markets. Founded in 2015, Watu operates in 10 countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, and Mexico. The company reports originating over 7 million loans since inception, focusing on mobility and connectivity assets for underserved customers. The facility builds on a financing relationship dating back to 2022. It follows AHL's recent second close of its Africa Credit Fund I, which raised $45.5 million toward a $70 million target. The fund provides senior secured, mezzanine, and bridge loans ranging from $2 million to $10 million to profitable businesses across East, West, and Southern Africa.

EAVCA
Sep 24th, 2025
Metier Partners with Watu to Scale Operations in Existing Markets and Unlock New Opportunities to Deepen Support for Communities it serves

Metier Capital Growth Fund III partners with one of East Africa's leading connected asset microfinance institutions 16 September 2025 - Metier, through its Capital Growth Fund III ("MCGF III"), has partnered with Watu Group ("Watu"), a non-deposit taking microfinance institution [...]

Techish
Sep 16th, 2025
Jumia and Watu are teaming up to offer smartphone financing in Kenya - with a catch.

By combining Jumia's massive online marketplace with Watu's financing model, this BNPL program could turn smartphones from simple gadgets into powerful tools for economic and social growth.

Bizna Kenya
Sep 16th, 2025
Jumia and Watu Credit partner to make smartphones affordable for millions of Kenyans

By combining Jumia's online marketplace with Watu Credit's proven financing model, the BNPL program positions smartphones not just as devices, but as tools for economic and social empowerment.

BitKE
May 22nd, 2025
FINTECH AFRICA | Kenyan BNPL Startup, Watu, Sees 85% Profit Plunge in One Year Amid Rising Loan Defaults

Founded in 2015 by Latvian entrepreneur, Andris Kaneps, Watu has raised over $20 million across five funding rounds from investors including: