Regional Credit Operations Manager (for internal candidates only)

Org. Setting and ReportingUNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5.8 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is the largest UN operation in the Middle East with more than 30,000 staff. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you. • Supervisor: The incumbent of this post reports to the Chief, Field Microfinance Programme (CFMP/J), ML7. • Supervisees: The incumbent of the post supervises 3-6 Microfinance Branches in the assigned area/region. Responsibilities• Participates with CFMP/J in the development of the Programme’s operational plans at the Field level within the departmental policy and strategy including designing overall action plans and developing and/or expanding plans covering new products and/or new branches; presents/reports insights and recommendations to the Programme senior management on the overall performance, challenges and opportunities, economic and legal development, in support of strategic decisions. • Leads microfinance operations in the assigned area/region, providing guidance, and technical support while overseeing the implementation of departmental strategies including setting targets, formulating action plans and monitoring progress toward achieving financial and operational objectives; ensures that all branches comply with industry standards and relevant regularity frameworks, including regulations and internal policies, to minimise credit and operational risks and increase profitability. • Provides substantial contribution to the development of field operational procedures, including drafting manuals, for current/new credit and products; prepares monthly, periodic and ad-hoc reports on credit operations within the assigned area/region, including performance indicators, risk assessments and profit ratios, which form an integral part of the MD Field’s operational’ reports. • Works closely with branch managers to identify potential business opportunities and new markets within the area/region, provides guidance, technical support and proposes solutions to complex challenges that cannot be resolved at the Branch level; shares best practices and facilitates knowledge transfer across different MD regions/areas to improve the overall performance. • Analyses performance metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) for each branch within the area; identifies areas of improvement and takes necessary actions to enhance productivity and profitability and ensures that each product achieves self-sufficiency by reviewing staff productivity and efficiency. • Develops productivity ratios and performance targets for each credit product, in the designated region/area in coordination with CFMP and Director of Microfinance (DM), ensuring coherence within the Field and synergy within the programme strategy; assists in conducting client and business impact assessments, as well as ad-hoc client-based research and surveys. • Develops staff capacity building plan of MD staff in the designated region/area, including appropriate training; mentors and provides technical support to ensure staff are well trained, motivated and working efficiently to meet the set objectives. • Ensures effective customer service across all branches in the area; takes responsibility for resolving escalated customer issues, maintaining customer satisfaction, and promoting customer retention; actively participates in expanding the department’s customer base and increasing market share. • Monitors the collection of bad debts undertaken by branches in the assigned region/area, ensuring proper and effective follow-up and adherence to all relevant procedures; analyses trend and takes action to minimise the bad debt portfolio. • Performs other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor. CompetenciesUN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default. • Planning and Organizing • Relating and Networking • Analyzing • Leading and Supervising • Delivering Results • Managing Complexity and Change • Proven ability in establishing effective internal and external work relationships at all levels. Education• Advanced university degree in economics, business, finance, development studies or other related discipline. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work Experience• You are required to have at least seven years of progressively responsible experience in management, administration and/or development of credit operations or financial administration of loan programmes. • You are required to have experience in staff development and training. • You are required to have an advanced university degree in economics, business, finance, development studies or other related discipline • Are you currently residing in Duty Station. It is required that you specify your current location. • Candidates are required to make a declaration as to whether they have any current or past affiliations with non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, political organisations, military, or have/are engaged in activities or have made any public statements, that could be seen to impact their neutrality, objectivity or independence in the performance of their duties for the UN / UNRWA. Any declaration will not necessarily disqualify candidates from consideration for this post. • Do you have any outside activities or political affiliations that could potentially influence your ability to perform your duties with UNRWA? You are required to explain. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Arabic is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).