We are seeking an experienced and principled Head of Shariah-Compliant Products to lead the development, launch, and lifecycle management of our Islamic finance product portfolio. This includes products such as Murabaha, Ijarah, Wakala, and Takaful-linked offerings, tailored to the needs of ethically conscious customers and Shariah-sensitive markets.

The ideal candidate will have a strong grounding in Islamic finance principles and regulatory standards, demonstrated success in launching Shariah-compliant products, and the ability to manage internal product teams while collaborating with IFB (Interest-Free Banking) partners, Shariah scholars, and regulatory councils.

Key Responsibilities:

A. Product Strategy & Development

• Define the strategic roadmap for Shariah-compliant products aligned with customer needs and AAOIFI standards.

• Lead the end-to-end product development process for offerings like Murabaha, Wakala, Mudarabah, and Ijarah.

• Ensure all products are aligned with Shariah advisory board guidance and Islamic commercial jurisprudence.

• Financial & Business-Case Analysis : Perform ROI projections, unit-economics analyses, and present detailed business cases (including budgets and forecasts) to the Executive Management.

•  Competitive Benchmarking- Continuously benchmark against regional and global Shariah-compliant offerings to identify differentiators and opportunity gaps.

B. Shariah Compliance & Certification

• Liaise directly with internal and external Shariah scholars and councils for fatwa approvals and compliance oversight.

• Develop and maintain detailed product documentation for Shariah audits and regulatory reviews.

• Ensure products adhere to AAOIFI, IFSB, and local regulatory standards for Islamic financial services.

• Timely Fatwa Management - Ensure timely issuance of fatwas and manage any subsequent product updates if Shariah board guidance changes.

• Regulatory Liaison - Maintain regular engagement with local to stay abreast of evolving guidelines.

• Internal Cross-Functional Alignment - Collaborate closely with Finance, Risk, Compliance, Marketing, and Sales teams to align on go-to-market plans, pricing, and risk parameters.

C. Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships

• Build strong working relationships with Islamic banks, microfinance institutions, Takaful providers, and digital Shariah-compliant platforms.[MB1] 

• Collaborate with legal, compliance, and operations teams to ensure smooth onboarding and servicing flows.

• Represent the company in industry forums on Islamic finance, including regulatory consultations and product standard-setting initiatives.

D. Team & Portfolio Oversight

• Lead a team of product managers and specialists focused on Islamic finance offerings.

• Guide the team in maintaining Shariah integrity while building commercially viable products.

• Monitor product performance and customer feedback to drive continuous improvement.

• Oversee annual budgeting and forecasting for the Shariah portfolio; track actuals vs. plan, analyze variances, and implement corrective actions as needed.

• Set, monitor, and report on BU KPIs (e.g., product adoption rates, revenue vs. target, customer satisfaction scores).

E. Customer-Centric Product Innovation

• Conduct market research and user studies in Muslim-majority and Muslim-minority regions to tailor financial solutions.

• Innovate digital delivery models for Shariah-compliant products, including embedded finance and mobile-first experiences.

• Advocate for transparency, ethical financing, and customer empowerment in product narratives and user experiences.

• Partner with product teams to co-design Shariah-compliant product flows that maximize adoption and user clarity.

• Define and run pilot programs for new Islamic finance features & products, gather customer feedback, and iterate rapidly.

Job Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Islamic finance, Business, Economics, or related field

• Certification in Shariah Compliance or Islamic Banking (e.g., CIFE, AAOIFI, CISI Islamic Finance Certification) is mandatory

Years of Experience:

• Minimum 7–10 years in financial services, with at least 5 years in Islamic finance product development or leadership

• Experience engaging with Shariah councils and IFB institutions is essential

• Demonstrated track record of launching and managing successful Shariah-compliant products

Competencies & Skills:

• Deep knowledge of Islamic finance structures, especially in trade-based and equity-based financing models

• Strong track record interpreting P&L statements, managing budgets, and forecasting product revenues/costs.

• Proven ability to build, coach, and scale high-performing product teams; foster a culture of accountability and innovation.

• Capacity to translate high-level business strategy into executable product roadmaps and cross-unit operational plans.

• Excellent at navigating Shariah board deliberations, regulatory reviews, and negotiating with IFB partners.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication to bridge Shariah requirements, technical specifications, and commercial objectives.

• Proven ability to interpret and apply Shariah principles to real-world financial product development

• Excellent stakeholder management skills — including working with Shariah boards, regulators, and Islamic banking partners

• Strategic mindset with operational understanding of product development, compliance, and user experience

• Strong communication and documentation skills to bridge Shariah requirements and business language

• Experience with digital financial services, mobile wallets, and embedded Islamic finance is a strong advantage

How To Apply

Interested candidates should submit their resume to hr@kifiya.com and include “Head of Shariah-Compliant Products" in the subject line. 

We are an equal opportunity employer dedicated to diversity and inclusion, welcoming all qualified applicants regardless of background. Our goal is to build a diverse team to promote innovation and success.