Shariyah Manager

Job Purpose:The Shariah Manager will lead the development, structuring, and restructuring of financial products and business processes to ensure Shariah compliance while maintaining commercial viability, operational practicality, and a positive client experience.The role requires a hands-on product development professional with proven experience designing, structuring, restructuring, and implementing Islamic financial products. The successful candidate must understand existing conventional product structures, identify Shariah issues, and work collaboratively with business, Shariah scholars, Legal, Risk, Compliance, Finance, Operations, and Technology teams to develop practical alternative structures.This is not solely a Shariah compliance or monitoring position. The role requires a solution-oriented product expert who can translate Shariah principles and Shariah Committee guidance into commercially viable products, documented processes, system requirements, and executable operating models.The candidate must be an excellent communicator, collaborative team player, and persuasive presenter who can explain and defend proposed product structures to senior management, business teams, and the Shariah Committee.Duties & Responsibilities:A. Shariah Product Development & StructuringLead the development, structuring and restructuring of financial products and services in accordance with applicable Shariah principles.Review existing conventional products and processes and develop practical alternatives to achieve Shariah compliance.Assess the complete product lifecycle, including client onboarding, contractual arrangements, transactions, fees, revenue flows, settlement, accounting treatment and operational processes.Develop alternative product structures where existing arrangements contain Shariah concerns or limitations.Evaluate proposed structures from Shariah, commercial, operational and client-experience perspectives.Translate approved product concepts into clear product structures, process flows, business requirements and implementation plans.Maintain strong awareness of developments and innovation in Islamic finance and identify structures that may be adapted to the company's business model.B. Product Restructuring & TransformationPlay a leading role in the company's Shariah transformation initiatives, particularly where existing products, revenue arrangements or processes require restructuring.Perform product-level gap assessments and identify the specific elements requiring modification.Develop practical solutions for restructuring product economics, fees, contractual relationships, transaction flows and supporting processes.Develop multiple structuring alternatives where appropriate and clearly articulate the advantages, limitations, risks and implementation requirements of each option.Ensure proposed structures can be practically implemented through the company's systems, operations, accounting and control environment.Coordinate the transition from approved concept to product launch and post-implementation review.C. Shariah Committee EngagementWork closely with the Shariah Committee and Shariah advisors to obtain guidance and approval for new and restructured products.Prepare high-quality product concept papers, structure diagrams, transaction flows, contractual arrangements and supporting analysis for Shariah Committee consideration.Present proposed structures clearly and persuasively and respond effectively to technical and commercial questions.Translate Shariah Committee decisions into practical product and process requirements.Track conditions attached to Shariah approvals and ensure their incorporation into the final product design.D. Cross-Functional Product LeadershipWork closely with Business, Product, Legal, Risk, Compliance, Finance, Operations and Technology throughout the product-development lifecycle.Facilitate product-design workshops and bring different stakeholders together to resolve structural and implementation issues.Challenge existing processes constructively and propose workable alternatives rather than merely identifying compliance gaps.Act as the bridge between Shariah requirements and commercial/product requirements.Support Technology and Operations teams in translating product structures into system workflows and business requirements.Participate in product testing, UAT and implementation reviews where required.E. Commercial & Client ConsiderationsEnsure Shariah-compliant structures remain commercially sustainable and operationally practical.Understand the economic substance of existing products, including fees, commissions, financing arrangements, investment returns and other revenue mechanisms.Assess the impact of proposed restructuring on revenue, pricing, customer experience and operational processes.Work with relevant stakeholders to develop alternative revenue or fee structures where existing arrangements cannot be maintained from a Shariah perspective.Ensure appropriate product disclosures and client communications are incorporated into the product design.F. Shariah Governance & DocumentationEnsure new and restructured products are supported by appropriate Shariah approvals, policies, procedures and product documentation.Maintain product approval records, Shariah rulings, product structures and supporting documentation.Assist in developing Shariah product-development standards, approval processes and governance frameworks.Support Shariah Compliance, Risk, Compliance and Internal Audit in reviewing implemented products against approved structures.Monitor whether implemented products continue to operate according to their approved Shariah structure.Education & Experience:Bachelor's or Master's degree in Islamic Finance, Finance, Banking, Business, Economics, Shariah, Islamic Banking or a related discipline.+5 years in relevant experience (a combination of strong financial-product expertise and Islamic-finance knowledge will be highly valued).Specialized knowledge and Professional Certification:Professional qualification or certification in Islamic Finance, Shariah-compliant product development or Islamic banking is strongly preferred.Strong knowledge of Islamic contracts & AAOIFI