About this Security Officer role at Wave
Our mission
We're making Africa the first cashless continent.
In 2017, over half the population in Sub-Saharan Africa had no bank account. That's for good reason—the fees are too high, the closest branch can be miles away, and nobody takes cards. Without access to financial institutions, people are forced to keep their savings under the mattress. Small business owners rely on lenders who charge extortionate rates. Parents spend hours waiting in line to pay school fees in cash.
We're solving this by building financial services that just work: no account fees, instantly available, and accepted everywhere. In places where electricity, water and roads don't always work, you can still send money with Wave. In 2017, we launched a mobile app in Senegal for cash deposit, withdrawal, and peer-to-peer and business payments. Now, we have millions of users across 9 countries and are growing fast.
Our goal is to make Africa the first cashless continent and that's where you come in...
How you'll help us achieve it
We are looking for a security professional to support our operations. You will play a critical role in ensuring the safety of our people and operations.
In this role, you'll;
- Monitor and report on security developments nationwide, providing timely, accurate updates to relevant internal teams to inform decision-making and risk mitigation efforts.
- Inform and advise staff, particularly foreign personnel, on the security situation, including travel restrictions, incident alerts, and recommended precautions. This includes assisting with visa-related security requirements where needed.
- Protect company assets, personnel, and operations by identifying potential threats and implementing appropriate security measures.
- Build and maintain strong, proactive relationships with law enforcement, civil authorities, and other key external stakeholders to support security coordination and response.
- Respond quickly and effectively to security-related questions or incidents, including providing real-time travel guidance within the country.
- Deliver security briefings to new and existing staff, ensuring they are well-informed of risks, protocols, and best practices for operating safely in their environment.
- Conduct security training sessions for staff as needed, tailored to current risks and role-based responsibilities.
- Assist in the investigation for key vendors and potential partners to ensure alignment with company standards and compliance requirements.
- Support and participate in internal investigations, especially those related to financial or operational losses, in coordination with relevant departments.
- Ensure business continuity and security readiness by taking on additional duties as needed in line with evolving risks.
- Be available to travel from Kinshasa and other locations if required to support security operations or assessments.
- Demonstrate a high level of reliability, discretion, and commitment to operational excellence in all aspects of the role.
- Conduct security assessments/audit for offices, PA, or PMA to identify vulnerabilities and recommend appropriate mitigation measures.
Key details
- Location: Kinshasa, and may travel to field locations.
- Work authorization in the Democratic Republic of Congo is required
- This is a permanent position
- Our salaries are competitive and calculated using a transparent formula. We run performance reviews twice a year and award bonuses to strong performers who have been with the company for more than 6 months
- We offer generous health insurance for yourself and your dependents
- We support working parents - we offer 26 weeks of parental leave for mothers and 4 weeks for fathers, in addition to subsidized child care when they return to work
- Airtime reimbursement
- Free food and a beautiful office space
Requirements
- Experience: Proven track record in operational security, risk management, or safety within the private sector (Fintech, NGO, or Multinationals).
- Domain Knowledge: Strong understanding of field operations, cash management, and agent networks.
- Context: In-depth knowledge of the security landscape in the DRC and a strong local network.
- Education: Relevant degree or professional certifications in security/risk management.
- Fluency in French and local languages
You might be a good fit if you
- Balance Risk with Growth: You don't just say "no"; you find ways to make operations safer so we can move faster.
- Are Data-Driven: You use indicators and mapping to stay ahead of risks rather than just reacting to incidents.
- Operate with Pragmatism: You value simple, effective solutions over complex, bureaucratic processes.
- Are a Calm Leader: You remain composed and decisive in critical incidents or crises.
- Are a Builder: You enjoy creating frameworks and systems from scratch in a dynamic, evolving environment.
Our team
- We have a rapidly growing in-country team in Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Uganda, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Cameroon plus remote team members spread across the world.
- We're deeply passionate about our mission of bringing radically affordable financial services to the people who need them most.
- We foster autonomy for our employees. You'll own your projects at every stage, from understanding the problem to monitoring your solution in production.
- We raised the largest Series A in Africa in 2021. Our world-class investors, include Founders Fund, Sequoia Heritage, Stripe, Ribbit Capital, Y Combinator, and Partech Africa.
- We are on Y Combinator's top companies by revenue.
How to apply
Fill out the form below, and upload a resume in English and a cover letter describing your interest in Wave and the role.
We review applications frequently and recommend that you apply to the role that most closely aligns with your skills, experience and career goals.
Wave is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
