Overview
VisionFund is World Vision’s microfinance provider serving vulnerable clients through loans, savings, and insurance. We enable families to grow their livelihoods in hard to reach, rural locations in 25 countries so that caregivers can create secure futures for their children. We believe in brighter futures for children; empowering families to create incomes and jobs; unlocking economic potential for communities to thrive.
VisionFund is committed to forging a new path that will help us achieve our goal of positively impacting the lives of 30 million children through our strategy, Our Livelihood Promise. Based on the results trend so far, we have realized we are not going to be able to achieve that goal with our current structure and operating model. This will require us to reposition the Global Centre.
In light of the above, VisionFund International’s Network of Microfinance Institutions is hiring a Global Product Manager, Credit. The Credit Product Manager will lead the effort across the VFI Network to ensure the competitive positioning in our operating markets by driving innovation and client-centric product development and service improvement. He/she will build capacity and coordinate reviews of new and existing product/service strategies and their delivery channels in consultation with MFI operations and in close collaboration with relevant departments within VFI and partners to maximize VFI’s lending activity.
The position acts as Subject Matter Expert on credit product, policy and process for the organization. Supervises and resources staff working on these elements in order to ensure standardized credit management that is based on Credit Risk Manual and Global Credit Policy and is embedded into the operation. This role provides oversight of credit in all areas of product, policy and business process, which are initiated by MFIs. The position works closely with MFIs and key departments that provide technological solutions and the Risk Management framework to help the MFIs to develop and deliver quality products to clients, through robust credit processes.
Key Responsibilities
Product Management and strategy:
- Develops Product Mix and Pricing Strategy analysis and reporting tools to work with MFIs so product focus, number and pricing all contribute to competitiveness, acceptable risk profile, growth, scale and profitability.
- Uses available information / data sources (BBI) to develop data insights on areas of retention, new vs renewal, loan size, secured vs unsecured, etc. to assist MFI to improve product and services
- Creates quarterly reports that capture lessons learned, track key reporting indicators and show progress on TA, pilots, roll outs and scaling activities.
Product Development:
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to conceptualize, develop, test, and launch new financial systems and products in the field.
- Develop a Human Centered, Product Development process framework as a guideline for MFIs to build on and develop their own process in alignment with global standards and policy.
Monitoring and Evaluation of Client Experience and Satisfaction
Evaluates Clients potential and market surveys:
- Evaluates feedback from existing client´s surveys and explore opportunities for product enhancements.
- Based on needs assessment, supports MFIs in creating client´s surveys and other feedback mechanisms.
Evaluates customer satisfaction and competition, providing recommendations to improve customer experience:
- Monitors customer satisfaction level vs standards, complaints and customer relationship management and analyse customer service across different channels (Call Centre, Branch Operations, Digital/Mobile) of MFIs to provide recommendation to improve customer experience.
Knowledge Management and VFI positioning:
- Support in positioning VFI as a leader in Financial Inclusion by participation in industry´s forums and knowledge sharing events.
- Create knowledge management content for a broader audience based on successes and lessons learned from different projects and initiatives.
Required
- Training related to Product Management, Product Development and/or Marketing, Data Analysis.
- Formal or informal training in Credit Risk Management
- Extensive working experience of minimum of 10 years in a Microfinance, Financial Inclusion environment.
- At +/-5 years of management experience in roles of credit product development and management in Financial Inclusion institutions, at least 2 of those years in senior management roles.
- Experience working in a multinational and multicultural environment with proven cross-cultural effectiveness
- A strong understanding of credit products, risk assessment, and credit risk management.
- Financial Acumen: Proficiency in financial concepts, market trends, and credit market dynamics.
- Successful record of working in Cross-Team Collaboration, leading and influencing teams across different functions.
- Good written and verbal communication skills and strong at influencing.
- Excellent planning, monitoring and organization skills.
- Ability to analyse, recommend solutions, mentor and guide people
- Must be able to simultaneously manage multiple priorities, projects and stakeholders
- Strong data analysis skills, digital literacy and creating high quality reports
- Knowledge of best credit standards / practices within the microfinance industry.
- Excellent written and verbal English fluency.
Preferred
- Master’s degree or higher in areas related to economic and social development, inclusive finance or related.
- Advanced studies, training or certification in Human Centred Design methodologies for Financial products and services.
- Experience in projects involving Capacity Building is a plus.
Languages and Travel
- A second language, French or Spanish with good verbal command is preferred.
- Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.
Applicant Types Accepted:Local Applicants Only
