VisionFund is World Vision’s microfinance provider serving vulnerable clients through loans, savings, and insurance. We enable families to grow their livelihoods in hard to reach, rural locations in 25 countries so that caregivers can create secure futures for their children. We believe in brighter futures for children; empowering families to create incomes and jobs; unlocking economic potential for communities to thrive.

VisionFund is committed to forging a new path that will help us achieve our goal of positively impacting the lives of 30 million children through our strategy, Our Livelihood Promise. Based on the results trend so far, we have realized we are not going to be able to achieve that goal with our current structure and operating model. This will require us to reposition the Global Centre.

In light of the above, VisionFund International’s Network of Microfinance Institutions is hiring Regional People & Culture Business Partner – Africa 3. The role of the Regional People & Culture Partner (P&C) is to provide high quality leadership guidance and technical support to the People & Culture Managers and teams based in VisionFund’s Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in assigned regional countries. This role will also act as an advisor to the Regional Operations Team at VisionFund International (VFI) and our MFI Senior Management Teams (SMT).

The aim of this role is to develop and lead quality performance of the P&C function in the region order to meet demanding business needs. The role will be required to have an outstanding level of business awareness and understanding of microfinance so as to apply a P&C lens to the business operations & people related priorities.

This role will be responsible for making decisions on what people related initiatives will be implemented at the MFI level. It will also be responsible for developing, rolling out and reviewing organization wide people related initiatives relating to both P&C and Operations strategic directives (e.g. talent management, diversity, employee relations, organizational development, succession planning, recruitment etc.). The role will be responsible for implementing and ensuring MFI adherence standardised people related processes across the MFI network within the assigned regional area.

This role will work closely to partner with and be a trusted advisor on people related processes and RACI matrix across the MFI, the Global P&C Director; P&C Business Partner; Organisational Effectiveness Director; Global VFI SET; VFI Regional Directors; MFI P&C Teams and MFI SMT.

Key Responsibilities

Support, influence and provide advice to MFI P&C teams with an aim of helping to influence their SMT and Board of Directors and implementing both organisation wide initiatives and MFI initiatives within allocated region.

• Oversee and manage implementation making insightful adjustments and recommendations tailored to the specific MFI audience.
• Act as a support and escalation point for Senior Management Team at MFI level.

Lead and develop the MFI P&C staff within allocated regional area identifying training and development needs of teams and individuals.

• Provide one-on-one coaching as required.
• Identify and guide the development of high-potential staff and build a talent management framework for P&C staff to ensure all can reach their full potential within the MFI.
• Work collaboratively with the MFI Chief Executive Officers to effectively matrix manage up to 8 P&C Managers in the assigned regional countries.

Collaborative Partner

• Provide trusted advice and recommendations to the VFI Regional Operations, Finance Directors and Regional Project Managers, with an aim of influencing to achieve effective people related priorities and improving business results.
• Work collaboratively with the MFI P&C, MFI SMT and regional team implement and improve standardisation of process & policy within the regional MFI network.
• Work in collaboration with Organisational Effectiveness Director (OED) to achieve streamlined Operational and P&C working relationship that will enhance the support provided to the MFI network.
• Act as trusted advisor to the Global P&C Director relating to specific regional related issues and strategic planning

Manages P&C Data and reporting for the region

• Lead MFI P&C teams in collecting accurate and timely people related information.
• Coach, develop and train teams to use information collected from P&C and Operations to analyse and provide valuable insights to feed into business plans and other MFI related activities

Employee Relations

• Act as escalation point for high-risk or Whistle-blower-related employment relations issues.
• Work in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders to ensure required actions are taken to resolve all issues arising

Educational and professional requirements

Required

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in HR or equivalent.
• Master’s degree in HR or Business Administration.
• Good command of French language is a must
• Extensive experience of at least 8 years (and or qualification) developing, training & coaching others (both as a manager and leader).
• Substantial experience in a HR Management/ Advisory role.
• Experience in and understanding of a financial institution.
• Relevant experience working in an international role.
• Experienced in project management.
• Experience in managing through partnership.
• Significant ability and demonstrated results in influencing methodology and results (influencing and achieving through others).
• Good command of French language is essential

Preferred

• Experience as a member of Board of Directors.
• Professional certificate in HR/OD/Management.
• Strong business acumen in a multi-national environment.

Travel and language

• Effective written and verbal communication in English

• Travel up to 20% of the time