Job Vacancy @ BRAC Sierra Leone – Manager, Business Development

Job Description

Career with BRAC Sierra Leone

With over 100,000 employees reaching an estimated 135 million people, BRAC is the world’s largest non-governmental organization.

BRAC is a development success story, spreading anti poverty solutions born in Bangladesh to 9 other developing countries in Asia and Africa, making it a global leader in providing opportunities for the world’s poor.

With a holistic approach that uses a wide array of tools including microfinance, education, healthcare, legal services and more, BRAC invests in communities’ own human and material resources, catalysing lasting change and creating an ecosystem in which the poor have the chance to seize control of their own lives. Of the world’s top development and humanitarian relief organizations, BRAC is one of the few based in the global South. BRAC International is seeking application from competent, dynamic and self-motivated individuals to fill up the following position:

Position:  Manager, Business Development

Duty Station: Country Office (with occasional visits to provincial field offices)

Purpose:

This position will work with the CEO and PM to review BRAC Microfinance (SL) Limited’s existing products,  lead in development and implementation of new products,  support in the digitalization of the microfinance field operations and plan and implement  current and upcoming donor and non-donor funded microfinance product development in Sierra Leone. In Sierra Leone, the microfinance program is growing, and new products and services are under development. Therefore, it is important to have a role specifically focusing on new products and digital channels being piloted to achieve product objectives and document lessons learned.

This role will also work closely with Social Performance Champion/Manager, HR, Audit/Monitoring, IT and other relevant departments for implementation of Social Performance Management (SPM), and Client Protection Principles related to client-centric products and service delivery, including any new digital initiatives and innovations. This position will also liaise closely with BRAC International IT and digital transformation team to support the country team on project management of the digital field application roll out.

Major Responsibility

Products and Channel Development

• • Plan, implement and manage new MF programmatic projects (either initiated by programme or fundraising affiliate) – ensure all product and channel planning and implementation are strategically aligned with BI MF strategic priority areas, USSPM 3 (Design products, services and delivery channels that meet clients ‘needs and preferences) and MF digital strategy.
  • In collaboration with Senior Leadership, develop comprehensive new MF project plans and define and implement product sales strategies to achieve MF strategic objectives.
  • Work closely with BHIBV digital transformation team and country management to design and implement country level MF digital strategy. Provide thought leadership on the use of DFS to better meet the needs and improve the livelihoods of existing and target customers particularly women in Sierra Leone
  • Client-centric product innovation plan, design and implementation for target segments – conducting client centric market research to understand BRAC Sierra Leone existing and targets customer segments’ needs – particularly women and youth and the design/refinement, piloting and scaling of appropriate products and channels using client insights.
  • Analyze various market segments and collaborate with leadership to choose the best ones to pursue in line with BRAC International Microfinance (MF) strategic priorities.
  • For all product and channel projects, create and maintain comprehensive project documentation including project pilot and scale up plans with clear project scope and objectives, implementation schedules, budgets and reports.

• Work closely with BHIBV digital transformation team to develop business requirements document for digitalization of field operations and piloting of digital field application.
• Manage and coordinate all relevant stakeholders to ensure technical and operational feasibility of each project. Coordinate internal resources and third parties/vendors for the flawless execution of projects.
• Perform risk management and analysis to minimize project risks.
• In collaboration with internal teams, train country office and branch staff to effectively roll out new/refined products and channels
• Ensure resource availability and allocation as per defined budget.
• Manage the product team, including coaching, planning, monitoring and job appraisal.
• Attend conferences and training as required to maintain proficiency.

Product and Channel Monitoring and Reporting 

• Regularly collect and analyze feedback from customers, stakeholders and other teams and use feedback to define/refine business requirements and improve on products and service delivery
• Work closely with country management and BIHBV teams to develop a detailed project roadmap to monitor and track progress of projects
• Conduct periodic monitoring surveys and performance tracking of adoption and uptake of new products and digital channels
• Document lesson learnings from projects and disseminate insights within BRAC Sierra Leone and with other BI MF institutions
• Ensure implementation of “Product Development and Knowledge Management Guideline”
• Measure social and financial project performance using appropriate tools and techniques; specifically, to analyze the successful completion of short and long-term goals and overall results of the projects.
• Ensure that all projects are delivered on time, within scope and within budget.
• Manage changes to the project scope, project schedule and project costs using appropriate verification techniques. Report and escalate to management as needed.
• For all pilot projects, implement adaptations and manage change to improve product and processes where necessary to meet project outputs and deliver high quality projects.
• Present to stakeholders reports on progress as well as problems and solutions.

Market and Ecosystem Intelligence

• Keep an active watch on digital technologies available in the market that may improve the quality and efficiency of BRAC Sierra Leone’s field operations, and product and service delivery.
• Work with other enabling stakeholders, such as regulators, donors and others to innovate and maximize the roll out of products and digital channels to achieve client impact.

Safeguard responsibilities 

• Ensure the safety of team members from any harm, abuse, neglect, harassment and exploitation to achieve the programme’s goals on safeguarding implementation. Act as a key source of support, guidance and expertise on safeguarding for establishing a safe working environment.
• Practice, promote and endorse the issues of safeguarding policy among team members and ensure the implementation of safeguarding standards in every course of action.
• Follow the safeguarding reporting procedure in case any reportable incident takes place, encourage others to do so.

KPIs

1. Delivery planning and service delivery; Balancing social and financial return of product
2. On time work completion Percentage: Whether or not as assignment or task is completed by a given deadline.
3. Client satisfaction on delivery product.
4. Successful implementation of products.
5. Target and achievement on product design, pilot, learning reports created and presented
6. Train staff successfully on new product delivery

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies

• In depth knowledge of microfinance operations
• Outstanding communication, presentation and leadership skills in Enflish
• Excellent decision-making and project management and planning capabilities.
• Detail oriented; excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Sharp analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Creative thinker with a vision.
• Conflict resolution experience.
• Able to tolerate stress.

Educational Requirements:

• Bachelor’s & Masters degree in Social Sciences preferably, in Marketing/Accounting or Finance

Experience (Including sector/industry):

• Microfinance operations background
• Experience in Digital Financial Services is an added advantage

If you feel you are the right match for the above mentioned position, please follow the application instructions accordingly:

Candidates need to send a letter of interest indicating the title of position applied for in Subject field with an updated CV [email protected] OR by hand to our Head Office 43 Freetown Road, Lumley.

Only complete applications will be accepted and short listed candidates will be contacted.

Application deadline: 1^st April 2022

Women are strongly encouraged to apply

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