The Growth and Partnerships Manager will lead the expansion of the Bank's corporate client base and drive the uptake of key products, including SME loans, salary-backed loans, asset finance, savings and investment products, as well as other products identified by the Bank. The role is responsible for developing, managing and growing strategic relationships with corporate organisations, trade associations, professional bodies and other institutional partners. The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of B2B sales, relationship management and the Nigerian financial services landscape, particularly the microfinance and SME sector. The role works closely with internal teams to design financial solutions tailored to the needs of corporate partners and their employees, with the aim of deepening market penetration and increasing revenue.
Job Details
Partnership Development and Management
Identify, initiate and secure new partnerships with corporate organisations, associations, cooperatives and institutions.
Develop a partnership ecosystem strategy and roadmap covering the Bank's products and grow the strategic partnership model to annual revenues of over 1 billion.
Build and maintain long-term relationships with strategic partners to foster mutual growth and monitor external growth and engagement.
Act as the primary liaison between the Bank and its partners, ensuring excellent service delivery and satisfaction.
Sales and Business Growth
Drive B2B sales of key microfinance products, including SME loans, employee salary-backed loans and savings plans, to partner organisations.
Develop tailored financial solutions and product packages for different corporate segments.
Advocate scalable, simplified and agile platform solutions, leveraging existing and new partner relationships within the Payments, Agent Banking and Digital Banking segments.
Prepare and execute a sales plan aligned with organisational goals, including revenue and customer acquisition targets.
Lead product presentations, sales pitches and proposal development for corporate clients.
Work with the Marketing team to develop policies, procedures and techniques that boost productivity and attract prospective partners.
Manage communication and projects between the Bank and partner organisations.
Market Research and Strategy
Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify trends, opportunities and risks.
Provide insights into partner needs and behaviours to inform product development and marketing strategies.
Monitor the performance of partnership initiatives and recommend optimisation strategies.
Analyse industry trends to identify opportunities that increase revenue and profitability.
Internal Coordination
Collaborate with Credit, Risk, Operations and Customer Service teams to ensure smooth onboarding and management of corporate clients.
Coordinate with Marketing on campaigns and events targeting partner networks.
Ensure all partnership activities comply with regulatory and internal policy requirements.
Support portfolio companies' post-investment activities and drive exit opportunities.
Reporting and Documentation
Prepare regular reports on partnership performance, sales achievements, pipeline progress and relationship health.
Maintain detailed records of partnership agreements, MOUs and communication history.
Requirements
Bachelor's degree in business administration, Marketing, Economics, Finance or a related field; MBA is an added advantage.
7 to 10 years' experience in business development, corporate sales or partnerships, with at least 3 years in a managerial role, preferably within a microfinance bank, bank or fintech.
Proven track record of securing and growing B2B and institutional partnerships and meeting revenue targets.
Strong knowledge of microfinance products, including SME loans, salary-backed loans, asset finance and savings.
Sound understanding of the Nigerian microfinance and SME sector, with an established network across Lagos-based corporates, associations and cooperatives.
Working knowledge of CBN regulations applicable to microfinance banks.
Strong proposal development, presentation, negotiation and MOU management skills.
Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work across Credit, Risk, Operations and Sales/Marketing teams.