Programme Manager, Payments at Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA)

Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA) is a leading financial sector development organisation working to promote financial inclusion in Nigeria. Established in late 2007, EFInA’s vision is to be the leader in facilitating an all-inclusive and growth-promoting financial system. EFInA is funded by the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

EFInA is well renowned within Nigeria’s financial sector for providing thought leadership in financial inclusion and championing the unbanked. Through funding and catalysing innovation, providing cutting-edge research, advocating for enabling inclusive policies and building capacity, EFInA has built a reputation as an “honest broker” amongst both the private and public sectors. Data from the EFInA Access to Financial Services in Nigeria surveys was a key source of information in the development of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy; and is also widely used by a diverse range of stakeholders, including regulators, as a benchmark for financial inclusion in Nigeria, Furthermore, financial services providers use EFInA’s research to develop a range of relevant financial products through gaining insights and understanding of consumers’ needs.

EFInA is seeking to appoint dynamic, strategic, and committed individuals to newly defined roles to build on its current achievements and accelerate the impact of financial inclusion in Nigeria. EFInA is a rapidly growing organisation with considerable influence in the financial sector. Employment with EFInA offers an exceptional and challenging opportunity for the right candidate.

Job Title: Programme Manager, Payments

Location: Lagos

The Role
The Programme Manager, Payments will design, develop and execute EFInA’s strategy to establish cheap, robust real-time payment systems that enable financially excluded Nigerian adults to increase their access to relevant financial products and transact easily at a lower cost. The Programme Manager, Payments, will use the breadth of EFInA’s pillars – research, advocacy, capacity building and funding – to drive large scale formal financial inclusion through the development of pervasive, cheap electronic retail payment networks. He/she will convene and mediate between financial institutions, payment providers, regulators, other development partners and customers to ensure a balanced approach to building a trusted, robust and inclusive electronic payment environment. Through these activities, the Programme Manager, Payments, will support EFInA’s executive team in creating and implementing the services, structures and systems required to achieve EFInA’s strategic objectives over the next three to five years.

The role demands a highly numerate individual who has business modelling skills and the capability to evaluate and synthesise large amounts of information. He/she must be a strategic thinker who is able to execute EFInA’s payments strategy. The Programme Manager, Payments must possess deep technical understanding of the payments landscape in Nigeria, and the ability to apply global best practices to develop robust payment systems that can be taken to scale. He/she must also have a proven track record of identifying, implementing and driving innovation, with minimal supervision.

Using these skills and experience, he/she will identify additional research required to inform key stakeholders and successfully deliver EFInA’s payments strategy.

The Programme Manager, Payments should have strong organisational and project management skills to proactively identify, develop, budget, monitor and drive EFInA’s payments strategy. In addition, he/she should have excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, and possess the gravitas, credibility and track record for building and maintaining relationships with key external stakeholders. By identifying and forging strategic alliances, he/she will promote and secure commitment to developing innovative and inclusive payment systems in Nigeria; and further EFInA’s financial inclusion agenda. He/she will also support EFInA’s research, advocacy, capacity building and funding objectives by disseminating pertinent information, convening meetings, presenting at conferences, and interacting with key counterparts.

The successful applicant will have eight or more years of experience in the payments industry, with a minimum of three years in inclusive finance, and/or working on providing relevant payment solutions to low income communities. He/she will have a strong strategic focus, be results driven, and be committed to high standards of performance. They must be comfortable with negotiating change, taking responsibility and making complex strategic and operational decisions. Highly adaptable, creative, and accustomed to delivering results in a dynamic and fluid working environment, the Programme Manager, Payments will make decisive and tangible contributions to EFInA as soon as he/she joins the organisation.

Primary Relationships
Reports to: Head of Programmes
Department: Programmes
Supports the Head of Programmes to build and manage external relationships with private sector actors including financial services providers, payment service providers, technology providers, industry associations; as well as public sector actors including regulators (CBN, NAICOM and PenCom), Central Switch (NIBSS), Federal & State Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Principal Responsibilities and Accountabilities
The role will include, but not be limited to the following responsibilities and accountabilities:

Document and Deepen Knowledge of the Payments Sector in Nigeria

• Maintain an overview of, and document, the current landscape of the payments sector in Nigeria in terms of key stakeholders, industry associations, policies, regulatory frameworks, impediments to growth and barriers to access for the low income population
• Monitor, review and evaluate current policies and regulations in Nigeria that support and promote electronic payment systems. Identify gaps and advocate for any required changes to ensure that these payments systems are robust, cheap and foster greater financial inclusion
• Identify gaps and key opportunities in the payments sector that will drive EFInA’s strategic objectives
• Provide analysis of the main developments within the payments sector in other relevant jurisdictions (particularly countries with similar profiles to Nigeria)
• Identify key areas in which additional research or information is required and commission the necessary research in conjunction with the Head of Knowledge and Evidence
• Disseminate research findings to key external stakeholders and ensure that they are used to inform policy reforms, encourage the development of robust real-time inclusive payment systems and/or stimulate innovation, in line with EFInA’s strategic objectives
• Contribute to the development of financial inclusion and EFInA’s position as a thought leader by writing and publishing papers on key developments in the payments sector

Develop and Implement EFInA’s Strategy in the Payments Sector

• Develop a payments strategy for how EFInA can lead the implementation of inclusive electronic payment products and channels, to be approved by the Head of Programmes
• Manage external consultants and technical partners, as directed by the Head of Programmes
• Understand, identify, explore and advocate for policy reforms, innovative approaches and payments models that accelerate the growth and development of electronic payment products and channels
• Produce succinct focus/strategy notes based on research findings and interaction with stakeholders, which clearly identify opportunities for improving the cash-less policy, growing electronic payments channels, improving payments interoperability and advancing EFInA’s financial inclusion agenda
• Identify and develop a pipeline of payment related projects for the Innovation Fund; evaluate relevant grant applications; and make recommendations to the Head of Innovation Funding
• In conjunction with the Grants Manager, prepare grant agreements for grants awarded related to payments
• Ensure all grants pertaining to the payments sector are appropriately monitored in line with grant agreements and provide input to the project monitoring reports in a timely manner
• Work with the Head of Programmes and Programme Managers responsible for Agent Networks, Inclusive Products & Northern Nigeria, and Women & Financial Capability to effectively embed inclusive real time electronic payments in their respective strategies
• Identify areas for capacity building for key stakeholders in both the private and public sectors to deepen their knowledge in inclusive electronic payment systems and financial inclusion

Stakeholder Management

• Identify key stakeholders that have a role in driving the implementation of inclusive electronic payment products and channels in Nigeria. Forge, maintain and deepen partnerships with these stakeholders
• In conjunction with the Head of Programmes, develop and execute an effective marketing strategy for key stakeholders that increases awareness of the issues limiting the growth of electronic payment products and channels and highlights EFInA’s recommendations for addressing these issues
• Work with the Head of Programmes to maintain the relevance and effectiveness of the EFInA Mobile Money Working Group, including convening meetings, preparing minutes, and monitoring progress
• Organise stakeholder events to discuss and debate pertinent issues that will support and drive the implementation of inclusive electronic payment products and channels in Nigeria
• Develop and effectively manage payment related projects to ensure timely completion of programme deliverables

Additional Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for own continuous professional development by proactively identifying and participating in formal/informal learning opportunities
• Develop a learning culture by sharing best practices and successes from Payments related activities with different parts of the organisation
• Perform any other duties as required by the Head of Programmes or the CEO

Job Competencies and Capabilities
Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Master's degree in Economics, International Development, Finance, Business Administration or a related discipline
• At least eight years’ experience in the payments industry (preferably within Nigeria), with a minimum of three years in inclusive finance, and/or working on providing relevant payment solutions to low income communities
• At least five years’ experience in/or exposure to policy development
• Strong relationship management experience with the ability to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Experience working in a complex or pioneering environment and of managing or facilitating change
• Project management experience with relevant certification
• Supervision and leadership experience
• Experience in evaluating proposals

Desirable

• Financial modelling experience

Skills

• Strategic thinker who keeps abreast of international trends in electronic payments
• Works independently and as part of a team
• Highly numerate, with strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Proven ability to produce concise, well-structured and very high quality reports and presentations
• Ability to synthesise and interpret large amounts of information and data
• Very high level of attention to detail and accuracy
• Very strong verbal and written communication skills
• Very strong presentation skills
• Strong public speaking skills
• Effective influencing and relationship building skills, including at senior levels
• Strong advocacy skills
• Advanced level competency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project and Access
• Fluency in other languages desirable

Personal Qualities

• Commitment to the financial inclusion agenda
• Gravitas, credibility and ability to initiate and develop strategic partnerships and alliances
• Driven and a self-starter
• Highly-organised and efficient; able to multi-task effectively and prioritise work based on minimal direction and multiple competing priorities
• Results-focused; able to work well under pressure and meet deadlines
• Delivers high quality results, with cost-effective use of resources
• Innovative
• Proactive with high levels of initiative
• Resourceful with an enterprising attitude that is quick to search out alternative solutions to needs or problems
• Positive, flexible, supportive attitude to work
• Exhibits a helpful behaviour beyond strict job requirements
• Can-do approach
• Discreet and respects confidentiality
• Integrity and high personal ethical standards
• Resilient
• Confident

Remuneration: Competitive

Application Closing Date
31st May, 2014

Method of Application
To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to: efina@creativemetier.com by 31st May 2014, ensuring that you state which role you are applying for and where you saw this advertisement.

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