Regional Program Officer, Bankers without Borders®

Position Title: Regional Program Officer, Bankers without Borders®
Status: Full-time, project-based
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
FLSA: Exempt
Date: June 6, 2012

Job Summary:
The Regional Program Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), will be responsible for developing, coordinating, and monitoring Bankers without Borders® (“BwB”) volunteer projects in the SSA region. BwB is Grameen Foundation’s initiative to engage business professionals in skills-based volunteer projects that support Grameen Foundation programs and external organizations which are aligned with Grameen Foundation’s mission , engaged in microfinance, technology-for-development initiatives and social enterprise. He/she also will develop and liaise with local sources for volunteers including but not limited to companies, associations, microfinance clubs, and institutions of higher education.

Reporting and relationships:
The BwB Regional Program Officer will report to the Regional CEO, SSA, while working closely with Director of Bankers without Borders® and other members of BwB, the Africa Regional Team, and other departments within Grameen Foundation.

Availability:
The BwB Regional Program Officer will be expected to work a typical 40-hour workweek plus additional hours as necessary to get the job done. However, he/she must receive prior approval from their supervisor to work overtime. The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, and will require travel within the region and abroad (up to 15% of time). It will also require availability for overseas phone conversations during some evenings.

Essential Job Functions:
The Regional Program Officer will be directly engaged in or support the following activities:

a. Business Development (Time & Effort commitment - 60%)
i. Build relationships with and actively sell BwB services to other Grameen Foundation programs and external mission-aligned organizations.
ii. Meet sales targets for placement of volunteer assignments.
iii. Conduct due diligence on potential BwB client organizations where appropriate, including preparing/reviewing due diligence reports in close coordination with the regional staff and other product/service teams.
iv. Serve as the BwB liaison to Grameen Foundation staff operating in the SSA region.
v. Maintain in-depth knowledge of latest industry developments related to microfinance and technology-for-development in all countries of responsibility.
vi. Assist in fundraising activities for BwB work in the region in coordination with the regional leadership and the Director of BwB
vii. Cultivate local sources of volunteers in the region.

b. Project Management (Time & Effort commitment 30%)
i. Manage a portfolio of BwB project activities with MFIs, local and regional microfinance networks, and other pro-poor organizations whose mission and interests are aligned with the Grameen Foundation.
ii. Serve as primary liaison to and provide logistical support to volunteers assigned to BwB projects in the region.
iii. Perform monitoring and evaluation of ongoing BwB projects in the region.
iv. Obtain client feedback and document learning.
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c. Other duties as assigned (Time & Effort commitment 10%)
i. As a member of the Grameen Foundation SSA regional team and support general and cross programmatic activities as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
i. Experience in one or more of the following fields: volunteer management, project management, customer relations, sales, marketing or recruitment.
ii. Exceptional customer relationship skills at the executive and decision-maker levels.
iii. At home in a multi-cultural and social development environment.
iv. Self-starter: agile and able to do whatever is needed to get the job done.
v. Strong analytical & problem solving skills.
vi. Ability to effectively communicate priorities, delivery expectations, risks and concerns to multiple stakeholders.
vii. Strong time management skills and ability to manage multiple projects.
viii. Ability to work independently and interact with various levels of management.
ix. Ability to gain working knowledge of the fundamentals of microfinance and technology-for-development efforts as well as understanding of the latest industry issues and trends.
x. Commitment to GF’s mission: to enable the poor, especially the poorest, to create a world without poverty.
xi. Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook.
xii. Fluency in English is required, and French is strongly preferred.

Education and Experience:
i. Bachelor’s degree in any social sciences, business and/or development field required;
ii. Five or more years of work experience in related field; graduate degree may require less experience;
iii. Experience in Microfinance, ICT4D, Social Enterprise or stewardship of corporate social investment and charitable initiatives in a corporate environment.
iv. International work or volunteer experience in emerging markets a plus.
Holder of post-graduate professional qualifications in any of the following disciplines would have added advantage: project management, sales and marketing, human resource management, finance or technology.

Physical and Environmental Conditions:
This position does not require unusual demands for physical effort. This position may occasionally require physical effort to lift and transport boxes weighing no more than 50 pounds.

Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of places such as offices, meeting or training rooms, residences, or commercial vehicles; e.g., use of safe work place practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire regulations and traffic signals.

Additional Comment:
The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job.

Reasonable accommodations maybe made in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

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