With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 33,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Key Responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities:

Planning

·        With Regional Managers, Branch Managers, defines specific operating targets and objectives (individual branch / office/ LO plans) for all products and services, feeding into the monthly, quarterly and annual operating plans.

·        Uses branch information (as per above) to contribute to annual operating plan, in

coordination with the CEO, CFO, P&C, CRO, CCO and IT/MIS. Determines key

business, social, growth and staffing objectives, efficiency and productivity

standards/targets and ensures operating costs are in line with acceptable budget

ratios at both branch and overall institutional level.

·        Prepares annual work targets/schedules/budgets and assigns duties to HO/Region

operations personnel to ensure efficient and effective operations department for

approval to CEO.

·        Active member of the strategy working group.

·        Takes lead in developing VisionFund Zambia’s long-term operations strategy in line

with VisionFund International’s strategy.

·        Continually gathers information and analyses the strategic position of Vision Fund

Zambia (VFZ) as compared to the industry.

Branch and network monitoring and problem solving: 

·        Closely monitors implementation of approved plan, ensuring all departments and

branch offices are achieving set goals and targets.

·        Closely monitors execution of SG linkage strategy with World Vision.

·        Implements performance improvement plan and interventions to help

Underperforming staff and branch offices.

·        Ensures implementation of new strategy, including appropriate staff recruitment,

motivation, appraisal and retention in coordination with P&C Manager.

·        Sets targets to monitor field visits, verification visits, and meetings with Branch office

Staff and Clients.

·        As needed, provides Head of Finance with needed information to ensure proper liquidity

management at Branch level and regarding savings transaction, and to ensure compliance

with regulatory requirements.

·        Quickly identifies and then puts in place plans to resolve problems, particularly related to

portfolio quality, staffing and product performance as they relate to specific Branches.

·        Takes an active and swift leadership role with branches that are underperforming or are

not compliant with any policy or regulation, etc., ensuring that appropriate measures are

taken to bring the Branch performance or compliance back to required standards.

·        Consults with the IT department on any issues related to monitoring or reporting, and

ensures IT resolves issues as soon as possible.

       Risk Management and Control:

·        Oversees the implementation of the internal control systems, ensuring the smooth running

of the business and safeguarding the institution’s assets; Follows-up with the relevant

manager(s) to ensure any actions related to audit findings are implements by branches

and/or departments.

·        Actively works with the Chief Risk officer and Chief Credit officer and all departments to

Identify, measure risks and treat risks in a timely and proactive manner

and actively develops mitigation strategies through sharing information between

departments and around the branch network.

·        Ensures compliance with all existing MFI and VFI policies; with local regulations; and with

all VFI/Lender covenants.

·        Ensures that policies and procedures are applied consistently and uniformly across all

branches.

·        Plans and ensures the implementation of an adequate and timely branch reporting system.

·        Supports Branches in analyzing results of their Branch in risk terms and by various

groupings such as benchmarking volume and quality of business, portfolio quality, write off,

product mix, methodology, vintage, etc. in order to know how to take actions for

improvements- organize plans with the Branches.

·        Helps prepare the network for all audits and ensures audit findings are closed

appropriately and in a timely fashion.

·        Facilitates portfolio reviews and ensures findings are incorporated in the processes.

       Marketing and Branding:

·        Works within Branch network, CEO, Marketing team and the Region to develop new

products as appropriate, using field data and competitor analysis.

·        Works with CEO and other colleagues to create branding and promotional plans for

products and services offered by the MFI (e.g. newsletter, radio advertising, posters,

school competitions, press releases, etc.).

·        Coordinates as needed regular customer satisfaction surveys and market research.

·        Interacts with World Vision, with the local community, business organizations, and

industry networks to promote goodwill and generates new business (integration

opportunities).

        Staffing, Performance Management and Capacity Building:

·        Participates in the interview, selection and hiring of new operations department

employees.

·        Ensures the annual appraisal Cycle (agreeing annual and learning and development

objectives, mid-term reviews and end of year reviews) is implemented and evaluates

job performance of operations department Regional managers and branch

managers.

·        Coordinate with HR on performance-based salary and/or merit increases.

·        Coordinate with HR on regularly conducting needs assessment for Branch Managers

and team leaders, analyzing gaps and developing plans for capacity building.

·        Guides the development of succession plans for department managers and branch

management.

·        Monitors and evaluates the progress of capacity building and revises plans as

necessary.

·        Ensures all high-performing staff have a development plan in place.

·        Implements restructuring plans as approved by VFI and Board, as appropriate.

·        Coordinate with HR on to ensure all under-performing staff are closely managed so that

performance improves or separation is managed according to local regulations.

·        Spends at least 60% of the time in branches, planned branch visits and

reporting.

      Social Performance and Integration:

·        Ensures that the MFI reaches its target clients (poor, women with dependent children, AP

areas), making necessary adjustments to do so (changes in geographical location,

introduction of new products, linkages with WV Savings Groups, product processes

related to delivery methods, education, etc.) while balancing the need for institutional

sustainability.

·        Ensures that clients and their children are protected and treated with respect in the

provision of financial services through implementation of the client protection policies.

This includes not over-indebting clients, appropriate debt collection practices, and active

mechanisms for client complaint.

·        Ensure that Regional Managers, Branch Managers and staff are trained in and apply strong

social performance practices (per points above).

·        Contribute to the design and execution of a robust impact framework for the delivery of a

quality strategy in collaboration with WVZ.

     KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

·        Minimum bachelor’s degree in economics, Banking and Finance, Accounting, Business

Administration or any other relevant field.

·        Master’s Degree in a related field is an added advantage.

·        Must be a member of a professional body.

·        At least 10 years’ experience in managing microfinance operations in an MFI/ Bank setting

under regulated environment.

·        Determined personality with initiative, perseverance and the ability to motivate and

and manage  staff

·        Capability and willingness to take responsibility and highly developed sense of

rectitude.

·        Ready to comply and live up to and in accordance with the organization Ideals and

Core Values.

·        Be a good trainer, facilitator, mentor, and coach.

·        Very good communication and marketing skills.

·        Good knowledge in economic and financial topics.

·        Good analytical and problem-solving skills.

·        Must be a committed Christian, able to stand above denominational diversities.

·        Attend and lead daily devotions.

        Working Environment/Travel:

·        Office environment: typical office based and frequent travel to fields (40% traveling

and 60% office based).

·        Travel: 90% Domestic 10% international travel is desired.

·        On call: Yes, in the after normal working hours.

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local Applicants Only