Business Development Team Leader - Umbapay

About UmbaUmba is a pan-African digital bank serving customers in both Kenya and Nigeria. Our mission entails providing accessible and cost-effective financial services across Africa, enabling our customers to take charge of their financial well-being. We are committed to seizing a unique opportunity to transform the financial landscape in Africa by harnessing the power of machine learning to develop intelligent, affordable financial products tailored for emerging markets. Our machine learning models are continuously improving, and we leverage AI and automation to deliver banking solutions at the lowest possible cost to our expanding customer base.Umba is headquartered in Nairobi Kenya. Our primary focus is to offer a comprehensive range of digital banking products through Android, iOS and Web Apps, and we take pride in our culture of consistently surpassing customer expectations, which has fueled our rapid expansion.Umba acquired a deposit taking microfinance bank in Kenya in 2023, which has now been named Umba Microfinance Bank. The bank has achieved fast growth since launch with average monthly growth rate of 19% and 6x revenue growth in 2024.Job SummaryTo lead the Merchant financing Sales Team in achieving loan origination targets by driving customer acquisition, pipeline conversion, and portfolio growth. The Business Development Team Leader is responsible for supervising a team of sales agents focused on onboarding and servicing the Umbapay clients. The role requires a hands-on leader with a strong commercial mindset, excellent relationship management skills, and the ability to deliver revenue growth through strategic sales execution.Responsibilities2. Team Oversight & Capacity Building3. Client Acquisition & Relationship Management4. Loan Application Support & Credit Facilitation5. Portfolio Management & Loan Recovery6. Governance, Compliance & Reporting7. Strategic Market EngagementKey Qualifications & Skills: Sales Leadership & Performance ManagementDrive the Umba-pay team to consistently achieve or surpass monthly loan disbursement and revenue objectivesDevelop and execute effective sales plans to boost loan uptake and improve client acquisition ratesTrack key performance indicators regularly and implement interventions to address underperformance at both individual and team levelsLead recruitment, onboarding, and training of new sales agents to ensure readiness and alignment with sales goalsDeliver continuous coaching, provide in-field support, and facilitate skills development to enhance team effectivenessSet clear expectations, evaluate performance regularly, and foster a results-oriented team cultureSource new clients through field engagements, referrals, and direct selling effortsGuide potential clients through Know Your Customer (KYC) and Know Your Business (KYB) processes to ensure proper onboardingPromote the company’s merchant financing product by effectively communicating value propositions to prospectsMaintain strong customer relationships to support client retention, upselling, and word-of-mouth growthSupport clients in completing loan applications accurately and gather all required supporting documentsCoordinate with credit team to ensure timely processing and disbursement of approved loansTrack repayment schedules and engage proactively with clients to ensure timely paymentsIdentify clients experiencing financial difficulty and provide repayment support or restructuring optionsCollaborate with the collections team to follow up on non-performing accounts and recover overdue amountsMaintain portfolio at risk (PAR) levels in line with the organization's recommended benchmarksPersonally oversee critical client relationships and high-value transactions to maximize conversion and retentionEnsure adherence to internal policies, standard operating procedures, and all applicable regulatory requirementsKeep comprehensive records of client interactions, application progress, and sales metricsSubmit timely and accurate reports on sales performance, client activity, and portfolio healthMonitor market developments, competitor activities, and customer needs to guide sales strategiesIdentify emerging market segments and initiate relevant partnerships to expand the customer baseEducation: Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Marketing, or a related fieldExperience: At least 1–3 years of experience in sales, banking, microfinance, or a related industryStrong sales and negotiation skills, with a proven ability to meet targetsKnowledge of credit risk assessment and loan processingExcellent customer service and relationship management skillsAbility to work independently and as part of a teamMinimum 4–6 years of experience in SME or business lendingProven track record of consistently achieving sales and loan disbursement targetsExperience in field sales or B2B client acquisition in banking or financial institutionPowered by JazzHR3lNC2Jp5BA