General Manager (GM) South Pacific Business Development Microfinance Network

Organization: The South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) Microfinance Network is the leading microfinance / micro-enterprise development organization operating in the Pacific Islands. SPBD improves the quality of life of low-income families by providing training, unsecured credit and ongoing guidance and motivation to help women start and grow micro-businesses. We provide low-income families with access to convenient savings and insurance facilities and help them to finance home improvements and childhood education. SPBD operates in Samoa, Tonga and Fiji with strong local teams and a broad base of local and international support. As part of our succession planning, we are looking for a new:

General Manager (GM) of SPBD Solomon Islands

The Opportunity: The GM is the on-ground national leader of SPBD Solomon Islands and reports to the local Board and to the President of the Network. The GM leads and motivates a professional team to achieve our poverty alleviation mission and our corporate goals.

Main Duties:

· Lead the launch and initial development of SPBD’s new operations in the Solomon Islands

· With substantial guidance from SPBD management:

· Lead the design and development of SPBD’s local suite of products and services

· Lead the development of all of SPBD’s local operating policies and procedures

· Procure the necessary infrastructure to assure a successful launch

· Recruit, hire, train, and motivate a qualified local staff; ensure efficient staff management

· Ambitiously grow the outreach in the Solomon Islands

· Continuously grow the organization’s loan portfolio while consistently maintaining its PAR>30day at under 2.0%.

· Scale the organization to profitability within 30 months.

· Prepare and update annual budgets, financial projections, operational and financial plans

· Ensure ongoing efficient staff management, including hiring, motivating and building staff capacity

· Ensure that all internal and external reports are prepared within defined timeframes and requirements

· Perform local and international fund raising activities

· Build, maintain and enhance relationships with key stakeholders

· Ensure the implementation and regular update of organizational policies and procedures

· Represent and promote SPBD locally and internationally

· Provide leadership in the implementation of our Strategic Plan

Skills/Qualifications/Experience:

· Experience working in the microfinance industry. Knowledge of best practices in the industry.

· Strong interpersonal, management and leadership skills

· Sound understanding of financial management and accounting principles

· Demonstrated ability to build cohesive teams and to achieve goals through teamwork

· Demonstrated report- and proposal- writing experience

· University education; preferably in business and administration, international relations or development.

· Excellent computer skills in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

· Fluency in spoken and written English. Pidgin language skills are an asset, but not required

Remuneration: Competitive compensation, incentive pay and benefits are provided (total package around US$65,000). Pay package is benchmarked with senior public and private executive management positions in Solomon Islands

Term of Assignment: Three year minimum contract renewable with latest start date of 01 June 2012.

Closing Date: Please forward your CV with a cover letter to: Greg Casagrande, Chairman, SPBD Microfinance, 60 Park Place, Suite 2100, Newark , NJ, 07102, USA or by email to greg@spbdmicrofinance.com by no later than Friday, January 20th, 2011. Apply soon. We are accepting CVs immediately and for a limited time.