The Role

The Head, Guarantee Operations will lead the design, implementation, and management of P4L Funds' Credit Guarantee and Risk Sharing programmes, ensuring they effectively support financial inclusion, agricultural financing, infrastructure investment, and sustainable business growth.

The successful candidate will oversee the end-to-end guarantee lifecycle from programme design and partner onboarding to guarantee issuance, portfolio monitoring, claims management, recoveries, and performance reporting.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in credit guarantee schemes, development finance, banking operations, risk management, agricultural finance, or infrastructure finance. This role requires a strategic leader who can balance developmental impact with financial sustainability while building strong partnerships with financial institutions, development finance institutions (DFIs), government agencies, and private sector stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Guarantee Programme Strategy

Develop and implement P4L Funds' Guarantee Operations strategy in alignment with the organization's food security and financial inclusion objectives.
Design innovative credit guarantee products that improve access to finance for farmers, SMEs, cooperatives, agribusinesses, logistics operators, and strategic partners.
Expand guarantee programmes to support infrastructure financing, warehouse receipt financing, equipment leasing, and value chain financing.
Drive continuous improvement of guarantee products based on market needs and stakeholder feedback.

Guarantee Operations Management

Oversee the complete guarantee issuance process from application through approval, documentation, and monitoring.
Establish standardized operating procedures for guarantee administration.
Ensure timely processing of guarantee requests while maintaining robust risk controls.
Monitor guarantee utilization and operational efficiency across all programmes.

Portfolio Management

Manage and monitor the overall guarantee portfolio to ensure quality, sustainability, and balanced risk exposure.
Track portfolio concentration, sector exposure, default trends, and guarantee performance.
Conduct periodic portfolio reviews and recommend corrective actions.
Develop early warning systems for potential guarantee defaults.

Claims & Recovery Management

Establish policies and procedures for guarantee claims processing.
Review and approve guarantee claims in accordance with programme guidelines.
Coordinate recovery activities with participating financial institutions and legal teams.
Maximize recoveries while minimizing guarantee losses.
Monitor claims turnaround time and recovery performance.

Risk Management & Compliance

Collaborate with the Credit & Market Risk team to ensure appropriate risk assessment methodologies are applied.
Ensure compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and guarantee programme guidelines.
Monitor operational risks and implement effective internal controls.
Support audit and regulatory reviews relating to guarantee operations.

Financial Institution & Partner Management

Build strategic relationships with commercial banks, microfinance banks, development finance institutions, insurance companies, cooperative societies, and international development partners.
Lead onboarding and performance management of participating financial institutions.
Negotiate partnership agreements and operational frameworks.
Promote collaboration that expands access to finance across the agricultural value chain.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

Develop dashboards and key performance indicators to monitor guarantee programme effectiveness.
Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual operational reports for Executive Management and the Board.
Analyze guarantee portfolio performance and provide recommendations for improvement.
Measure developmental impact, including job creation, business growth, and financial inclusion outcomes.

Process Improvement & Digital Transformation

Drive automation of guarantee application, approval, monitoring, and reporting processes.
Implement digital tools that improve operational efficiency and customer experience.
Enhance data quality, reporting accuracy, and operational transparency.
Promote continuous improvement initiatives across guarantee operations.

Leadership & Capacity Building

Build and lead a high-performing Guarantee Operations team.
Coach and mentor team members to strengthen technical and operational capabilities.
Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and service excellence.
Work closely with Finance, Credit Risk, Legal, Investment, Commercial, Operations, and Technology teams to ensure seamless programme delivery.

Qualifications & Skills

Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Economics, Banking, Accounting, Business Administration, Agricultural Economics, or a related discipline.
MBA or Master's Degree in Finance, Economics, Risk Management, Business Administration, Development Finance, or related field is highly desirable.
Professional qualifications such as ACA, ACCA, ICAN, CFA, or equivalent will be an added advantage.
Minimum of 12–15 years experience in banking, development finance, credit guarantee schemes, credit operations, risk management, or financial services.
At least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing guarantee operations, credit administration, or lending operations.
Strong understanding of agricultural finance, SME lending, infrastructure finance, and credit enhancement mechanisms.
Experience working with development finance institutions, donor-funded programmes, multilateral agencies, or public-private partnerships is highly desirable.
Strong knowledge of credit administration, portfolio management, guarantee frameworks, recoveries, and operational risk management.
Excellent analytical, negotiation, stakeholder management, leadership, and communication skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, ERP platforms, loan management systems, and business intelligence tools.