Senior Domestic Scheme Development Officer Re- Advertised

Key facts

About the role

Highlights

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• POSITION: SENIOR DOMESTIC SCHEME OFFICER
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• ROLE SUMMARY
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• Responsible for the development, maintenance, interpretation, and operational readiness of domestic payment scheme rules and governance frameworks.
• Ensures EthSwitch’s domestic payment services (Instant Payment System, interoperable QR, bulk payments, e-mandates, bill payments, merchant payments, open API services, etc.) are clearly governed, approved, certifiable, and operationally usable.
• Translates scheme requirements into practical participant obligations, conformity criteria, and readiness assessments to support product launches and activations.
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• KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
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• Scheme Rules Development & Governance
• Lead/support drafting, review, consultation, and approval of domestic scheme rule packages (QR, PISP, bulk payments, e-mandates).
• Maintain the controlled domestic rulebook repository, rule-applicability matrix, version control, and change-request register.
• Ensure consistency across rulebooks, participation agreements, product docs, operating procedures, and fee schedules.
• Document business rationale, impact assessments, consultation requirements, approval routes, transition periods, and communication plans for scheme changes.
• Product & Use-Case Readiness
• Embed scheme requirements early into business requirements, design, and test preparation for domestic platforms/products.
• Define participant eligibility, transaction flows, authorization, exception handling, customer notifications, liability, and settlement/reconciliation obligations.
• Prepare scheme-readiness assessments and rule-applicability statements for product launches.
• Participant Conformity & Certification Support
• Define business and scheme-conformity requirements for each domestic service.
• Develop use-case certification matrices, admission/activation checklists, and scoped sign-off criteria.
• Support clearance processes so no new participant or use-case activation proceeds to production without documented conformity clearance.
• Identify recertification triggers for material changes in rules, products, or capabilities.
• Operational Safeguards & Exception Frameworks
• Contribute domestic scheme inputs to dispute-policy, settlement/reconciliation, financial-exception, and fraud-reporting frameworks.
• Clarify ownership, evidence requirements, response timelines, escalation paths, and liability rules for payment exceptions.
• Ensure operational platforms operate within agreed governance frameworks, not just technical functionality.
• Participant Support & Oversight
• Convert domestic scheme rules into usable implementation guidance (participant handbooks, operational scenarios, FAQs, training materials, change briefings).
• Monitor participant readiness and recurring rule-related issues (distinguish unclear rules from weak implementation or technical defects).
• Support monthly management reporting on rulebook status, readiness gaps, conformity, and exceptions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with BA&DT, System Development, QA, Operations, Finance, Legal, Risk, Compliance, and the CPO Office.
• Provide scheme interpretation and advice to internal teams and participants.
• Escalate material risks, inconsistencies, or unresolved policy decisions timely.
• Scheme Performance & Monitoring
• Track scheme performance indicators and prepare periodic reports/dashboards.
• Identify gaps, risks, and improvement areas in rules and processes, recommending corrective actions.
• Support development of scheme pricing/interchange frameworks with Finance and Product teams.
• Project & Documentation Support
• Support project planning and execution for scheme development initiatives.
• Prepare technical and management presentations, proposals, and reports for the Scheme Development Director and CPO.
• Maintain accurate records of activities, decisions, and stakeholder communications.
• Compliance & Risk
• Ensure activities comply with national payment system laws, regulations, AML/CFT requirements, and EthSwitch policies.
• Support risk assessments for new/existing products and recommend mitigation measures.
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• KEY DELIVERABLES
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• Drafted and consultation-ready domestic scheme rule packages and addenda
• Controlled rulebook repository and change-management records
• Product-by-product scheme-readiness and rule-applicability assessments
• Participant conformity frameworks and certification matrices
• Exception-handling and liability matrices for domestic services
• Participant guidance materials and monthly scheme-performance reporting contributions

Required qualifications

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• JOB POSITION REQUIREMENTS: SENIOR DOMESTIC SCHEME OFFICER
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• EDUCATION
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• BSc/MSc in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related fields of studies.
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• EXPERIENCES
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• 6 years of relevant work experience (for BSc) or 4 years (for MSc), out of which 2 years must be in professional positions.
• Relevant experience in payment systems, card/scheme business, digital financial services, or banking, with demonstrable exposure to scheme/product development.
• Prior experience with payment scheme rules, participant agreements, a payment switch, card association, or a national payment system body is highly desirable.
• Direct experience with payment scheme rules, participant agreements, or national payment systems.
• Experience working with or within a national switch, central bank, commercial bank, or payment service provider in Ethiopia or a comparable market is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to draft clear, implementable policy or rule documents and to manage multi-stakeholder consultation processes.
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• TECHNICAL & PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE
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• Solid understanding of domestic payment instruments and rails (account-to-account, QR, bulk, mandates, bill payments, merchant acquiring, open APIs, and the payment ecosystem).
• Familiarity with scheme concepts: participation models, liability frameworks, dispute resolution, settlement/reconciliation, certification, and change management.
• Knowledge of relevant Ethiopian regulatory requirements (NBE directives and payment system regulations) is an advantage.
• Ability to translate business and operational requirements into precise scheme obligations.
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• CORE COMPETENCIES
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• Strong analytical and structured writing skills.
• Ability to manage multiple parallel work streams under time pressure.
• High attention to detail and version control discipline.
• Stakeholder management and facilitation skills (internal and external).
• Sound judgment on risk, liability, and governance issues.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across technical, operational, legal, and commercial functions.
• Integrity and ability to maintain independence in rule interpretation.
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• REQUIREMENT SKILL & ADDITIONAL INFO
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• Computer skill and knowledge.
• External Vacancy No: EVA/08/2026

How to apply