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Program: USAID-funded GROW Project in Ukraine 

Application Deadline: Until filled

Location:   Kyiv, Ukraine

World Council of Credit Unions seeks a Lead Business Development Specialist for the GROW Project in Ukraine (hereinafter – GROW to work closely with the credit unions to strengthen their capabilities to effectively respond to their client needs. She/he will work closely as a team member of GROW to help revive the credit union sector in Ukraine by ensuring the credit unions have access to modern services and tailored support to sustain growth and operational capacity of Ukrainian credit unions to better serve MSMEs.

About the Project:

The GROW Project in Ukraine is a four – year project implemented by World Council of Credit Unions and funded by USAID.

The goals of GROW are to:

• Support MSME growth through increased lending
• Improve the enabling environment for credit unions
• Improve the operational capacity of Ukrainian credit unions to better serve MSMEs

The GROW Project will expand access to finance through credit unions for legal entities and private entrepreneurs, including farms, MSMEs, and cooperatives, as well as individuals in rural areas who are seeking to start or expand existing businesses. To facilitate this, GROW will address the supply of business financing, improve the enabling environment, and deepen the technical capacity of credit unions to provide and promote their financial services.

Responsibilities

The Lead Business Development Specialist will manage a team of technical experts and provide strategic direction to build the operational capacity of the partner credit unions to better meet the needs of MSMEs. The Lead Business Development Specialist will work in coordination with GROW partners, Ukrainian MSMEs NGOs and international partners and experts to draw on lessons learned per experience in other countries.

Specific responsibilities are as follows:  

Technical

Lead and coordinate GROW work to improve operational capacity of Ukrainian credit unions to better serve MSMEs with areas of focus to include:

• Marketing and client relationship management:
  1. Develop and manage a nationwide promotional campaign of credit unions;
  2. Design and development of a digital platform, the GROW Hub, which will consider the current goals and needs of credit unions and their members;
  3. Coordinate activities related to the development and realization of marketing strategies aimed to promote the credit union sector and assist credit unions in client relationship management.
• Provision of financial tools:
  1. Assist key credit unions with conducting market needs assessments and outlining their goals for expanding products, adapting products to meet MSME needs (including vulnerable populations), and their overall growth;
  2. Advise credit unions interested in launching non-interest bearing products, such as insurance or currency exchange, to diversify their business models and strengthen their resilience.
• Financial literacy:
  1. Support financial literacy activities of credit unions, with a focus on MSMEs and new members;
  2. Support the growing number of women and veteran entrepreneurs.
• Technical assistance to MSME credit union members:
  1. Link members and credit unions to business development service (BDS) providers;
  2. Support building relationships and negotiations with BDS providers, payment service providers (PSPs), fintech, insurance providers.
• Online services and cybersecurity:
  1. Assist credit unions in coming into compliance with new NBU requirements on cybersecurity and IT infrastructure once released;
  2. Develop digital products and expand online service platforms of credit unions to support business offerings and small loans.

General

• Provide strategic direction in line with project goals and objectives, including managing a team of technical experts to strengthen credit union operational capacity;
• Work closely with other GROW team members across objectives to ensure synergies, efficiency, and proper flow of work between various tasks and objectives;
• Liaise with partner organizations, consultants, government officials, and other stakeholders as needed to ensure proper communication and information flow;
• Contribute to the development of work plans, quarterly/annual reports, reports to USAID, as well as reporting required for the project partners, recipients, and the government as assigned by the Chief of Party (COP) / Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP);
• Collaborate closely with other USAID activities as applicable;
• Travel outside of Kyiv, as needed, to reach rural credit unions and their members; and
• Fulfill all tasks required to meet project goals as assigned and per request of the COP or DCOP.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in economics, marketing, finance, banking or another related field.
• At least 3 years of experience in Ukraine in business development, finance, digital transformation or project management.
• Professional certification in program management preferred.
• Previous USAID experience preferred.
• Training experience preferred.
• Excellent writing, research, and communication skills.
• Native Ukrainian fluency, both written and spoken.
• High proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Computer proficiency (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Culturally sensitive and able to work with multiple stakeholders in Ukraine and understand their various positions/viewpoints.
• An ambitious nature, problem-solving abilities, creativity, and a dedication to creating change in Ukraine.
• Ability to travel to rural areas in Ukraine.

Apply: Please send a cover letter, resume, and three reference contacts to [email protected] with the subject line: “Lead Business Development Specialist.” Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. Thank you.