Relationship Manager: Zimbabwe Agriculture Development Trust

Job Summary 
Applications are invited from suitably qualified individuals to fill the position of Relationship Manager at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Development Trust (ZADT). The Relationship Manager will be responsible for the to day technical direction and managerial oversight of the Trust’s Credit for Agricultural Trade & Expansion (CREATE) Fund. This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer.

Description 

The Relationship Manager is responsible for the operational management of the Trust Fund, ensuring that the lending institutions adhere to the goal and overall objectives of the Fund and to report on the impact of the Fund in line with the objectives of the Trust. Critical tasks for the Relationship Manager include, but are not limited to:

• Working directly with partner financial institutions and agribusinesses to promote the expansion of credit opportunities to support smallholder farmers:
• Promoting the growth and preservation of the Fund by ensuring that all borrowed funds are repaid;
• Reviewing and processing of fund requests from partner financial institutions;
• Develop, grow and administer a sustainable revolving fund channeled towards providing direct and indirect support in the small holder farmer value chain;
• Ensuring fund quality and organizational stability through development and implementation of standards and controls, systems, procedures, and regular evaluation;
• Establishing and maintaining a fully functional tracking and reporting system to manage the day-to-day operations of the fund; Working with partner financial institutions in creating awareness on the CREATE Fund to value chain actors such as contracting companies, processors, traders, transporters, agro-dealers, distributors and service providers;
• and recover the disbursed loans;
• Developing a marketing strategy for the fund;
• Monitoring the use of borrowed funds by the clients of Financial institutions through regular visits to client premises;
• Recommending training courses on general business management skills to beneficiaries of the fund;
• Carrying out due diligence on Clients of banks to ensure that the funds are used in line with objectives of CREATE Fund;
• Liaising with Financial institutions to identify training needs of current and potential borrowers of the Fund.
• Developing criteria for risk assessment and applying this to minimise risks to the Fund
• Receive and assess monthly reports from the Financial Institutions in line with reporting criteria; Compile annual reports about the state of the Fund.

• At least 10 years’ relevant work experience in agribusiness and/or fund management or corporate finance/banking of which 5 years should have been at a management level, with:
• Aprofessional or postgraduate qualification such as MBA, MBL, ACCA CIMA, CIS, etc
• An honours degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics or Business degree with experience in or working with agribusiness or equivalent from a recognized university is a clear advantage
• At least 5 years’ working experience in a financial institution, and particularly credit and risk assessment as well as monitoring of loans.
• Critical competencies in corporate governance principles and information systems;
• Appreciation for SME, public and private sector businesses, and well networked in the market;
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing monitoring systems;
• Demonstrated experience in conducting project evaluations especially agribusinesses;
• Strong experience in developing and maintaining relationships and partnerships.

He/She must also have:-

• Strong written, oral communication and presentation skills;
• Full proficiency with MS Office software (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) required; Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Integrity in all aspects.

To apply applications should be emailed to: HRZimbabwe[at]snvworld.org

or mailed to 6 Caithness Road, Eastlea, Harare.

Deadline: 31st October 2013