NGO JOBS

Country: Myanmar
Closing date: 08 Nov 2013

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has an impressive record of advancing innovations in microfinance, microinsurance and extending access to financial services to communities recovering from conflict and crisis. Today, Mercy Corps works via eight direct financial service providers, reaching millions of clients with $700 million in loans, microinsurance products, remittance/bill pay services, wholesale banking and a range of technology-based banking products and services. It has expanded its competency to include meso-level industry support institutions as well as pioneering IT solutions and back-office support via a wholesale correspondent commercial bank for the Indonesian microfinance industry, one of the largest in the world, and one of the first global-enabled parametric/indemnity hybrid catastrophic insurance companies serving Haiti and expanding into Latin America and other regions around the world. This contribution to extending financial services to the poor via innovative institutional structures is all the more impressive given that it has been made in the most difficult of environments – front-line post-conflict situations, transitional economies and post-disaster circumstances.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

Managing Director of Kompanion Myanmar (KM)

Mercy Corps seeks an exceptional leader in the area of microfinance services for the poor in rural contexts. This position will be responsible for creating a new microfinance institution, and will be the first position hired. The Myanmar microfinance environment is emerging, and the position will require extensive staff capacity building and intensive engagement with local and national government. S/he will have the interpersonal skills, leadership style, strategic instinct, and the technical knowledge needed to leverage KM’s initial investments towards a path-breaking vision for the future. KM will be an integrated financial service institution, designed to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and other rural businesses, starting in Mandalay Region. KM’s financial products and advisory services will allow farmers to invest in their farms and build productive assets. It will strive to provide micro entrepreneurs opportunities to expand their businesses and provide improved services. KM will target an initial 66,000 borrowers over the first three years. The institution will retain a close relationship with Mercy Corps in Myanmar to leverage Mercy Corps’ expertise in food security and market development. This position is pending funding with an anticipated start in early 2014.

ESSENTIAL JOB QUALIFICATIONS AND FUNCTIONS:

Strategy and Vision

• Communicate a clear vision of present and future program goals and strategies to team members and stakeholders that translates into concrete programs and work plans.
• Lead the strategy process and provide regular updates.
• Adapt to a newly opened market with unique challenges including limited human resources, weak infrastructure and bureaucratic challenges.
• Design and guide the execution of a brand strategy to position KM as an innovator and leader in microfinance services in transitioning contexts.
• Start up and grow an MFI to achieve sustainability.
• Oversee the development of financial projections for KM, set targets for revenue and bringing in new capital, ensure the operational and financial sustainability of the MFI.
• Develop a marketing strategy that drives the company’s revenues and market share.
• Coordinate closely with in-country program leadership and Regional Program Directors, Financial Services, Social Innovations, and technical support units.

Team Management

• Build a management and operational team, from loan officers to management, who can successfully build a sustainable MFI.
• Create a sustainable work environment of mutual respect that attracts motivated, skilled and effective team members and enables them individually and collectively to strive to achieve excellence.
• Supervise and provide leadership to a diverse team of direct and indirect reports.
• Build capacity in both microfinance technical areas and general management areas for staff new to MFIs.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
• Source and manage consultants as needed.
• Ability to build and manage a team of professionals to lead the institution through start-up to growth and sustainability.

Influence and Networking

• Represent Mercy Corps at all microfinance-related activities in Myanmar and participate in the development of a country-wide microfinance community.
• Anticipate needs, understand donor pool and contribute to shaping donor’s views on development.
• Explore, evaluate and present innovative funding opportunities that support the objectives for the country as a whole.
• Work with our media and communications teams to raise Mercy Corps’ profile as a microfinance leader in this space, particularly among new philanthropists, corporate partners, and social investors.
• Build partnerships and collaborate at all levels with stakeholders ranging from Gov’t officials, SRI lenders/investors; other MFIs, partner NGOs including Mercy Corps HQ and Country Office, bilateral/multilateral donors, investors, and others with a range of interests and priorities.

Operations Management

• Oversee the creation of a microfinance operating system, including lending and savings procedures, a management information system, financial compliance procedures, and other necessary policies, procedures, and tools to build a sustainable MFI.
• Apply Mercy Corps’ Design M&E principles and framework to the MFI and ensure effective, timely reporting systems for all donors.
• Ensure effective, transparent use of resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies/procedures.
• Oversee budget management.
• Build and maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs, as well as segregation of duties between finance and operations.
• Mobilize and coordinate agency resources – financial, administrative, leadership, and social capital resources – to support the design of microfinance products, identify/enable their distribution channels, achieve implementation, complete the evaluation and marketing of microfinance programming that deepens and expands our impact.
• Ability to balance between necessary innovation and operational and organizational stability.
• Disseminate lessons learned and best practices.

Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Deputy Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Finance and Compliance Manager, Loan Officers, Technical Advisory Staff, finance and operations staff, and M&E Manager

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: KM Board of Directors, Country Director, Myanmar

WORKS CLOSELY WITH: Mercy Corps’ Financial Services, Economic and Market Development, Social Innovations teams, Myanmar’s Country Director and East Asia Regional Program Director

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Managing Director, CEO, COO or senior management background with an MFI or financial services provider; start- up experience significant plus
• At least 10-12 years of design and/or implementation of microfinance services for the poor with a focus on rural, agricultural sector and other economic development programming. Commercial banking experience a plus
• B/S, MBA, or MA/S in Finance or Economics, or similar degree is essential
• A track record of driving innovations from development through early marketing, to successful market introduction and product commercialization in a microfinance context
• Demonstrated success in raising donor and investor capital, business development and partnership development
• Demonstrated leadership in advancing organizational strategy and stated objectives
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational prioritization skills are necessary
• Experience working overseas in relief and/or development context
• Experience with assessments, monitoring and evaluation and design
• Experience managing and working with diverse teams
• Fluency in English required

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The Managing Director will have exceptional skillsets and experience in developing and maintaining relationships with stakeholders across the donor, social investor and traditional investment community. S/he should have high creativity and strong entrepreneurial skills to lead and support this greenfield microfinance opportunity, partnerships and the scaling up of proven interventions. Effective verbal and written communication, facilitation, leadership and solid management skills are essential. In addition to these qualifications, we are seeking someone with a great attitude who is flexible, outgoing and thrives in evolving and changing environments. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability.

S/he will possess the technical depth to navigate the challenges of operating in distressed environments and to provide outstanding microfinance expertise combined with a “roll up your sleeves, hands on” managerial and leadership capacity. S/he will work in close collaboration with our program and technical support functions. S/he will understand standard microfinance delivery systems, markets and metrics, and will not shy away from experimenting with innovative systems and flexible products in a vulnerable environment context.

LIVING/WORKING/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This position requires extensive in-country travel. There is occasional international travel for MFI related panel presentations and conferences, and visits to other Mercy Corps MFIs. This is an accompanied post for spouse and/or family.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Mercy Corps is an AA/EOE.

How to apply:

Please apply directly at:http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjob&jobid=218749&company_id=15927&jobboardid=479