Jobs at FINCA International in Uganda- Specialist Consultant

Job title: Regional Research & Marketing Specialist Consultant, Africa region
Location: Uganda
Job Code: 904
# of openings: 1
Description

FINCA International, one of the world's leading microfinance institutions, provides financial services to more than 900,000 clients through 21 wholly-owned and operated subsidiaries in Africa, Eurasia, Latin America and the Greater Middle East. FINCA is a pioneer in providing microfinance products and services including credit, savings and money transfers to the lowest income entrepreneurs.

FINCA International is currently looking for a Regional Research & Marketing Specialist Consultant (RRMS) for FINCA to serve in the Africa region. The RRMS position reports to the Regional Director for Africa and is part of the regional ‘hub’ office with frequent travel within the assigned region. Position will be based in Tanzania or Uganda. In order to enhance customer service, and overall customer and market intelligence, the RRMS will be responsible to 1) build local marketing and research capacity of the subsidiaries, 2) develop agreed upon marketing & research tools, policies and procedures, 3) ensure that research and marketing efforts are conducted properly utilizing best practice and following approved policies and procedures and, 4) ensure subsidiaries supply FI with social performance indicators & support external resource mobilization. This function serves as a technical resource and will be carried out in collaboration with subsidiaries Marketing Managers (MMs) and close technical coordination by FINCA International’s Senior Manger for Customer Research.

The RRS will facilitate the training of marketing staff in the region and devise cost-effective research protocols to support product development, marketing, customer retention and social assessment, using both statistical and qualitative methodologies. He or she will supervise the design and implementation of country level or regional research projects, including the application of surveys, surveyor training, data quality control, and analysis and dissemination of findings as approved. The RRMS will also support marketing and customer research activities being conducted in the subsidiaries by guiding research planning and execution and contributing to the analysis and presentation of research data and findings. All of these activities will be done in order to improve operational effectiveness by gaining a deeper understanding of FINCA’s value to and interaction with the client. The RRMS will also support the development of research concepts and proposals, with the aim of securing external funding and technical resources that will support FINCA’s objectives and, at the same time, strengthen its leadership in the industry.

Ideal profile:

* A graduate degree in International Economics, International Development, Banking or Finance or related field,
* Five to ten years of professional experience, preferably either directly in marketing and customer research or in a position utilizing such research,
* Proven ability to make business decisions based on quantitative or qualitative customer and market research.
* Knowledge of financial services sector
* African regional experience
* Enjoy mentoring and developing others
* Ability to work under minimum supervision,
* Demonstrated capacity to document processes and outcomes
* At a minimum, a thorough understanding of the process for conducting research,
* Well developed analytical skills
* Advanced expertise using Excel and preferably also statistical analysis software such as SPSS or STATA
* Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills,
* Fluency in English required, fluency in French or Kiswahili preferred,
* Ability to travel up to 100% internationally.

Applications: Please save your cover letter and resume to a single document, ordered respectively, according to the following naming convention: [Last name, First name]_Africa_RRMS (omit brackets). Only applications with a cover letter will be reviewed. Please provide in your cover letter specific examples of the success you enjoyed developing others in an organization while implementing specific projects as well as any key business process initiatives developed under your guidance.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis but must be received no later than 28 February 2012.

How to Apply:
http://tbe.taleo.net/NA6/ats/careers/searchResults.jsp;jsessionid=C8919873C2D205A712BCAF8909B6A798.NA6_primary_jvm?org=FINCA&cws=1


Deadline: 28 February 2012