Business Development Manager - Francophone Africa
LemFi (Series B) is building the go-to financial app for the Global South.
Moving to a new country shouldn’t mean starting from zero. That's why our team of 400+ spanning 20+ countries is building a financial ecosystem that helps immigrants stay connected to home, build stability, and create wealth regardless of where they are from or where they live.
What began as fast, affordable remittances is now evolving into a complete platform for multi-currency accounts, payments, credit, and long-term financial growth.
With millions of users across the globe, we process over $1B in monthly transactions to 30+ countries, proving that borders shouldn't limit financial opportunity.
As a Senior Business Development Manager - Francophone Africa on the Partnerships & Expansion team, you will be the architectural force behind the strategic relationships that power LemFi’s global payment corridors. You will identify, evaluate, and build critical partnerships with banks, regulators, aggregators, and mobile money operators to expand our reach, improve unit economics, and ensure seamless regulatory alignment across key African markets.
You won’t just be signing contracts; you will be structuring win-win commercial agreements and managing end-to-end partner lifecycles that directly enable millions in monthly transaction volume.
Working in lockstep with Treasury, Compliance, Product, and Growth, you will have the autonomy and visibility to shape partnerships that dictate the speed, reliability, and scale of our sustainable expansion.
How You’ll Contribute
Expand Market Corridors: Build, manage, and scale strategic partnerships with financial institutions and mobile money operators from initial evaluation to full go-live.
Drive Commercial Excellence: Lead high-stakes negotiations covering pricing, FX margins, SLAs, and settlement terms to structure partnerships that optimize unit economics.
Navigate Regulatory Landscapes: Act as LemFi’s trusted external representative to regulatory bodies, supporting licensing submissions and ensuring compliance across complex markets.
Align Cross-Functional Execution: Partner deeply with Treasury on liquidity planning, Product on technical rollouts, and Growth to ensure partnerships directly support revenue goals.
Optimize Partner Performance: Proactively monitor partner health metrics—like success rates, downtime, and settlement delays—to manage risks and optimize the partner mix for reliability and cost efficiency.
Who You Are
Relationship-Driven Owner: You don't just open doors; you take end-to-end accountability for managing complex, multi-stakeholder partnerships that deliver tangible commercial value for LemFi.
Strategic Yet Execution-Focused: You can see the big picture of LemFi’s global expansion while meticulously handling the granular details of contract renegotiations and partner due diligence.
Adaptable in Ambiguity: You are highly comfortable navigating the rapid changes and shifting regulatory landscapes inherent in fast-paced, high-growth fintech environments.
Commercially Astute: You instinctively understand how to structure win-win deals that balance competitive FX margins, liquidity constraints, and aggressive volume targets.
What You’ll Bring
Relevant experience in Business Development, Partnerships, or Commercial roles within fintech, payments, remittances, mobile money, or banking.
Proven track record of negotiating and closing deals with aggregators, MNOs, or financial institutions.
Deep operational understanding of cross-border payments, FX, and settlement flows.
Fluent French speaker with exceptional written and verbal communication skills across diverse stakeholders.
Strong exposure to diverse regulatory environments, licensing discussions, and partner due diligence processes.
The Interview Process
Chat with a Talent Partner (30 mins)
Hiring Manager Interview – Partnerships & Commercial Experience (45 mins)
Case Study Presentation – Deal Structuring & Negotiation (60 mins)
Cross-Functional Panel – Treasury, Compliance & Product (45 mins)
Final Interview – Leadership & Culture (30 mins)
Why Join LemFi?
Love shouldn’t be expensive, yet those working hardest for their families often face predatory fees and banking exclusion. We're changing this.
At LemFi, you won’t be just a cog in a machine. Whether designing products, scaling operations, or telling our story, you’ll tackle complex challenges with real, immediate impact. Your work goes beyond metrics - it puts money back in families’ pockets and offers access to the previously excluded. Join us to make a meaningful difference, where high performance is a lifeline for millions.
Our Values: How We Win
Sharp Customer Focus 🎯 We cut through the noise and prioritize ruthlessly based on what drives real value.
Lead with Data 📊 We trade instinct for insight. We test, analyze, and own the outcomes.
Ownership 🤝 We take responsibility for global outcomes, not just local wins.
Grit 💪 We navigate ambiguity with resilience and keep pushing until the customer feels the impact.
You can connect with us on LinkedIn and Instagram and if you haven't already, download the app on the App Store or Google Play.
Diversity & Inclusion at LemFi
To build the best financial tools for the global diaspora, we need a team that reflects the world we serve. We welcome builders from all walks of life who embody our values over a perfect resume.
Don’t meet every single requirement in the job ad? Research shows that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often hesitate to apply if they don't check every box. If you are excited about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be just the right person for this, or other roles.