Head, SME & Clean Energy (Nationwide) at LEAD Enterprise Support Company Limited

Job Summary

• The Head, SME & Clean Energy is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategic growth, performance, and quality of the Bank’s SME and Clean Energy loan portfolio
• The role focuses on driving nationwide portfolio expansion, strengthening asset quality, reducing non-performing loans, improving recovery rates, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• The successful candidate will lead high-performing teams across regions, implement growth and recovery strategies, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to deliver sustainable business results.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Management:

• Drive SME loan products ranging from ₦1 Million to ₦100 Million across all six geopolitical zones and the payroll lending segment.
• Lead customer acquisition, retention, and month-on-month portfolio growth in line with approved budgets.
• Monitor market trends, portfolio performance, and competitive activities to support strategic decision-making.
• Develop and execute effective recovery strategies to reduce Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) and maintain portfolio quality.
• Collaborate with partners to ensure consistent sales of Clean Energy products across branches nationwide.
• Enforce zero Portfolio-at-Risk (PAR) culture and ensure 100% collections within assigned portfolios.

Operational Excellence:

• Ensure consistent monthly growth of SME and Clean Energy loan portfolios through Relationship Managers and branch leadership.
• Work closely with Zonal and State Business Heads to improve brand visibility and market penetration nationwide.
• Review and enhance recovery policies, tools, and processes in line with industry best practices.
• Drive adoption and effective usage of the Bank’s mobile app and Merchant POS solutions by SME customers.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead, mentor, and develop Relationship Managers and Branch Managers to achieve optimal performance.
• Identify training needs and ensure execution of structured capacity-building programs.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide actionable feedback to improve productivity and accountability.

Stakeholder Engagement & Compliance:

• Maintain strong collaboration with internal teams including Credit, Risk, Legal, Audit, IT, Retail, and Corporate Banking.
• Engage external stakeholders such as legal firms, regulators, and recovery partners.
• Ensure strict compliance with regulatory guidelines, internal policies, and ethical standards.
• Proactively identify economic, regulatory, and market risks and advise management accordingly.

Reporting & Strategy:

• Prepare and submit detailed monthly performance dashboards covering disbursement, PAR, recovery, and team productivity.
• Provide actionable insights and recommendations to senior management.
• Develop and implement a forward-looking strategic roadmap for SME & Clean Energy growth.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Monthly loan disbursement target of ₦20 Billion across SME and Clean Energy portfolios.
• 90% cross-selling of Clean Energy products to existing SME customers.
• Portfolio at Risk (PAR) below 3% for SME and 2% for Clean Energy by December 2026.
• 0% PAR on all new loan originations.
• 90% digital adoption among SME clients.
• 100% achievement of Relationship Officer mobilization targets.
• Full completion of scheduled training programs.

Requirements & Qualifications
Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Master’s degree or professional certification in Credit, Risk, or Finance is an added advantage.
• Minimum of 5 years’ progressive experience in SME banking, credit management, or loan recovery within the financial services or microfinance sector.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong understanding of SME lending, credit cycles, recovery strategies, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven leadership and team management experience.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and results orientation.
• Proficiency in digital banking tools, reporting systems, and data analytics.