Regional Program Officer, Africa, Bankers without Borders®

Status: Full Time, Project Based (Project end date December 30, 2011

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible For Overtime Pay)

Job Summary: The Regional Program Officer, Africa, will be responsible for developing, coordinating, and monitoring Bankers without Borders® (“BwB”) volunteer projects in the Africa region.

BwB is Grameen Foundation’s initiative to engage business professionals in skills-based volunteer projects that support microfinance and technology-for-development initiatives and organizations. 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: The BwB Regional Program Officer will report to the Director of Bankers without Borders® while working directly with 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 standrard 40 hour workweek plus additional hours as necessary to get the job done. The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, and will require travel within the region and abroad. It will also require availability for overseas phone conversations in the evenings.

Essential Job Functions

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

• 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.
• Build relationships with and actively educate local MFIs and microfinance networks about BwB.
• Review and respond to requests for support from partners and others.
• 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.
• Serve as primary liaison to and provide logistical support to volunteers assigned to BwB projects in the region.
• Cultivate local sources of volunteers in the region.
• Perform monitoring and evaluation of ongoing BwB projects in the region.
• Obtain client feedback and document learning.
• Serve as the BwB liaison to Grameen Foundation staff operating in the region.
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of latest industry developments related to microfinance and technology-for-development in all countries of responsibility.
• Assist in fundraising activities for BwB work in the region in coordination with the Regional CEO and the Director of BwB.
• Other duties as assigned.
  

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep commitment to eradication of poverty and alignment with Grameen Foundation’s mission
• Experience in one or more of the following fields: volunteer management, project management, customer relations, or marketing and recruitment.
• Exceptional representational and customer relationship skills at the executive and decision-maker levels.
• Strong startup mentality: agile and able to do whatever is needed to get the job done.
• Strong analytical & problem solving skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate priorities, delivery expectations, risks and concerns to multiple stakeholders.
• Strong time management skills and ability to manage multiple projects.
• Ability to work independently and interact with various levels of management.
• 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.
• Ability to gain working knowledge of GF's policies, procedures, and practices.
• Commitment to GF’s mission and the eradication of poverty on a global basis.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook.
• Fluency in English and French is required.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree with a degree in a related field is preferred.
• Five or more years of work experience in related field; graduate degree may require less experience;
• Microfinance experience preferred;
• International work or volunteer experience in emerging markets a plus.

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 may be made in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

For more information about Grameen Foundation please visit our website at www.grameenfoundation.org

Interested candidates please Click Here to apply.

This job advert is available at the Grameen Foundation website here.