Commercial Activation Specialist

Meet Ozow 

Ozow is a leading fintech company that's redefining digital payments in South Africa and beyond. We're dedicated to making payments more accessible, secure, and convenient for both businesses and consumers. As a fast-growing player in the financial technology sector, Ozow fosters a culture of innovation, diversity, and inclusivity. We believe in pushing the boundaries of what's possible and are committed to making a positive impact on the world through our payment solutions.   

More about this Ozow fantastic position  

As a Commercial Activation Specialist, you will play a critical role in driving value from newly onboarded merchants by ensuring they successfully activate and begin transacting on the Ozow platform. You will bridge the gap between onboarding and revenue generation, focusing on nurturing small to mid-tier merchants to unlock their processing potential. 

Your role and responsibilities 

You will  

• Act as the primary point of contact for newly onboarded small to mid-tier merchants 
• Take ownership of the merchant activation journey from onboarding to first transaction 
• Influence internal stakeholders (Sales, Onboarding, Customer Success) to ensure seamless merchant experience 

Merchant Activation & Revenue Growth  

• Drive activation rates of newly onboarded merchants within defined timeframes 
• Increase Time-to-First-Transaction (TTFT) efficiency across the merchant base 
• Identify patterns, barriers, and opportunities to improve merchant activation strategies 

Merchant Engagement & Activation Execution  

• Proactively engage and nurture merchants to initiate processing on the Ozow platform 
• Provide guidance and support to merchants on integration, setup, and usage 
• Maintain consistent follow-ups through structured activation cadences 

Performance Tracking, Optimisation & Cross-Functional Collaboration  

• Track and report on merchant activation metrics (activation rate, TPV ramp-up, engagement levels) 
• Collaborate with Sales Development and Integration teams to resolve merchant blockers 
• Segment merchants based on potential and tailor activation approaches accordingly 
• Ensure merchants reach minimum TPV thresholds before handover to Customer Success 

Tool Utilization & Change Management  

• Maintain accurate merchant activity and engagement tracking within CRM systems 
• Ensure adherence to activation processes, playbooks, and documentation 
• Recommend and contribute to process improvements to enhance activation efficiency 

Automation & AI  

• Leverage CRM automation tools to streamline follow-ups and engagement tracking 
• Identify opportunities to implement automated activation journeys and communications 
• Utilize data insights to prioritize merchant outreach and optimize activation strategies 

You are an ideal candidate if you have 

• 2–4 years' experience in sales, account management, onboarding, or merchant services within fintech, payments, or SaaS 
• Proven ability to manage pipelines and drive customer engagement to achieve activation or revenue targets 
• Strong understanding of payment platforms, integrations, or digital commerce ecosystems 
• Experience working with SMEs or small to mid-sized merchants 
• Strong data-driven mindset with the ability to track and interpret KPIs 
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills 

Your skills and competencies

• You eagerly embrace change, absorb cross-functional skills, and connect ideas across disciplines to drive fresh thinking and innovation. 
• Ability to initiate, develop, maintain and leverage outstanding relationships to influence a wide network, both inside and outside the company. 
• A trailblazer who steps up, takes charge, and creates meaningful impact—those driven by performance and purpose to lead from the front and make a real difference every day. 
• You thrive in collaboration, embrace inclusion, and bring a genuine curiosity for global cultures—valuing collective success over individual credit. 
• Demonstrate strategic foresight, sound judgement, and the ability to make confident decisions under uncertainty, always working toward the best possible outcomes. 
• You challenge norms, champion innovation, and constantly seek growth—for themselves, their team, and the solutions they build. 
• You are a decisive doer—those who take initiative, follow through with confidence, and ensure results through courageous, hands-on leadership. 
• We value optimism, agility, and the strength to persevere under pressure—balancing performance with positivity, even in challenging environments. 
• You are driven, proactive individuals who take ownership, face challenges with grit, and consistently push for excellence—not just as participants, but as catalysts for success. 

Interview process 

During the interview process you will meet with the People team, the hiring manager, and relevant CSuite. Be prepared to complete a technical assessment that will showcase your skills.  

In office perks 

• Healthy breakfast, lunches and snacks
• Monthly team connects 
• On-site Barista 

Perks for South African based employees

• Medical aid subsidy
• Group Risk Insurance
• Generous paid annual leave   
• Birthday leave
• Learning and Development opportunities 
• Mentorship programme
• Quarterly team building 
• Community initiatives 
• Access to cutting edge technology - Ozow Tech Stack

Our Employee Value Proposition

Join Ozow and become part of an elite force that challenges the ordinary and achieves the extraordinary. If you're driven to make an impact, embrace challenges, and seek unparalleled opportunities for growth, your journey starts here.

Compliance

As a fintech company, we prioritize data security, confidentiality, regulatory and compliance. Due to the sensitive nature of our work, we require individuals with a high level of integrity and trustworthiness to ensure adherence to financial regulations and industry standards. Given the sensitive nature of our work, all employees are expected to demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and a commitment to ethical conduct in line with financial regulations and industry standards

Ready to be exceptional? Apply now! 

Keen to know more? 

Interested in joining our rocket ship?  

To find out more about life at Ozow, head over to our Careers Page here!