1. JOB INFORMATION

Job Title: 

Senior School Support Lead(Senior Loan Officer)

Staff No.:

Department: 

Operations

Area:

Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: 

Direct Reports:

Commercial Manager

1. Junior SSLs(Loan officers)

2. JOB PURPOSE

The role is responsible for expanding Jackfruit’s educational lending in the Ugandan market through a partnership with a local microfinance bank. The role will involve leading a small field team to engage in door-to-door, event-based, and other marketing to private schools in Uganda to facilitate loan applications and lending across the credit lifecycle. The role will oversee the field team to ensure lead generation and qualification, needs assessments, school visits, client creation, document collection, credit applications, and due diligence from private schools in Uganda. The role is responsible for driving sustainable business growth within the assigned area by executing effective sales, marketing, and operational strategies while safeguarding portfolio quality and institutional standards. The position ensures strong loan performance through rigorous credit oversight, delinquency management, and strict adherence to lending policies and procedures. It provides leadership to field teams by supervising sales execution, building staff capability, and fostering high performance aligned with the institution’s mission, vision, and strategic objectives. Acting as the key link between head office and field operations, the role ensures operational efficiency, risk control, customer confidentiality, asset protection, and the maintenance of a strong corporate image.

3. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB 

Detailed description of the tasks performed by the job holder

1. Lead market expansion into Uganda for educational lending to private schools, including market research, sales, and planning for and achieving internal targets.

2. Develop business growth and marketing strategies hinged on surpassing sales targets without compromising portfolio quality for educational finance. 

3. Oversee door-to-door, event-based, and other marketing to private schools in Uganda to facilitate educational lending.

4. Oversee the field team to ensure lead generation and qualification, needs assessments, school visits, client creation, document collection, credit applications, and due diligence from private schools in Uganda.

5. Monitor monthly loan repayments; maintain a high loan repayment quality and low PAR within the institution’s acceptable rate. 

6. Ensure all institutional policies and procedures and especially lending policies are adhered by all field staff, liaising when necessary with the partner bank in Uganda. 

7. Provide direction for overall performance in the area of operations and advise the institution on time. 

8. Develop strategies for the business activities, growth and management of competition within the area of operation. 

9. Ensure budgets are adhered to, portfolio targets and strategic plans are achieved.

10. Ensure all loans in arrears more than fifteen days have all the necessary documents   as per the institutional delinquency escalation policy. 

11. Ensure all loans are appraised and visited by the Team Leader before disbursement. 

12. Participate in Peer and Final Investment Committee (ICs)  meetings and ensure all the loans are fully documented and the necessary lending processes are adhered to.

13. Maintain strong and timely communications with the Nairobi-based Operations and Credit team, along with the local partner bank, about lending progress, loan applications, field team performance, and other relevant topics.

14. Develop brief and timely reports on overall progress of the area on a daily basis.

15. Monitor execution plan of the sales team and supervise daily and weekly sales activities of the team to ensure they are performing as expected and address any difficulties the team may be experiencing.

16. Place a high priority on staff development and their understanding of Jackfruit’s policies and procedures. 

17. On a day to day basis, act as the link between the head office and the field staff. 

18. Ensure recruitment and training of Field workforce (team) within the area to ensure that Jackfruit achieves its business plan in line with mission, vision and objectives and the achievement of set targets. 

19. Keep track of leave progress as per leave plans. Ensure all staff maintain a good level of work life balance. 

20. Carry out regular performance appraisals of the staff in line with the company standards. 

21. Ensure maintenance of high levels of customer confidentiality, which includes handling customer data. 

22. Safeguarding all company assets assigned to your team. 

23. Safeguarding the company image by ensuring we adhere to company policies and procedures.

4. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum level of academic and professional qualification required to perform effectively in the role

• Relevant diploma from a recognized institution. 

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field will be an added advantage.

Minimum level of experience required to perform effectively in the role

• Four (4) years of relevant working experience, with 2 years at a supervisory position in an organization of similar size in operations. Prior work experience in microfinance, especially in the educational sector, is a plus.

5. WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal 

1. CEO 

2. Commercial Manager

3. Finance team 

4. Collection team 

5. Credit Analyst team 

6. Customer care 

7. Loan officers/SSLs 

8. Other Team Leaders

External 

1. Local partner bank

2. Customers/ School Directors 

3. Insurance Provider 

4. Valuers 

5. Auctioneers 

6. Other financial providers

6. COMPETENCIES

Technical 

• Market intelligence skills, particularly around microfinance, education finance, and the private school sector in Uganda. 

• Fluency in Swahili is a plus, but not required

• Market entry skills

• Knowledge of the education and/or microfinance sector

• Decision making skill 

• Management skills 

• Risk management skills 

• Analytical and organizational skills 

• Report writing skills 

• Credit assessment, credit scoring and setting credit limit skills 

• Human resource management skills 

• Familiarity with education and microfinance industry rules and regulations

Behavioral 

• Leadership skills 

• Communication skills 

• Team player 

• Customer care 

• Negotiation skills 

• Problem solving skills 

• Ability to work under minimum supervision