Job
31 Jul 2026
Small & Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO)
Operations Director
Posted 3 hours ago
About the Role
Location: Harare. Reports to: Chief Executive Officer.
SMEDCO invites applications for the position of Operations Director. The successful candidate will play a critical role in steering the Corporation's strategic operations and developmental mandate.
Key Responsibilities
- Lending Operations: lead the planning, implementation and continuous improvement of the Corporation's lending operations, aligned with SMEDCO's mandate as a development finance institution.
- Credit Lifecycle Management: oversee the full credit lifecycle — loan origination, underwriting, disbursement, portfolio monitoring and collections — ensuring portfolio quality and financial sustainability.
- Infrastructure Management: direct the Corporation's infrastructure development and management portfolio.
- Capacity Building: lead the design and delivery of entrepreneurship training, capacity building and business-development programmes for MSMEs.
- Brand & Market Penetration: oversee marketing, communications and brand management.
- Policy & Compliance: develop and implement operational policies, procedures and systems that enhance efficiency, mitigate risk and ensure regulatory compliance.
- Workforce Leadership: provide strategic leadership in workforce planning, resource allocation and performance management.
- Digital Transformation: drive digital transformation of operational processes (loan management systems, CRM, data analytics).
- Stakeholder Partnerships: build and maintain partnerships with Government Ministries, development partners and financial institutions.
- Strategic Reporting: prepare and present operational reports, portfolio performance analyses and strategic recommendations to the CEO.
SMEDCO invites applications for the position of Operations Director. The successful candidate will play a critical role in steering the Corporation's strategic operations and developmental mandate.
Key Responsibilities
- Lending Operations: lead the planning, implementation and continuous improvement of the Corporation's lending operations, aligned with SMEDCO's mandate as a development finance institution.
- Credit Lifecycle Management: oversee the full credit lifecycle — loan origination, underwriting, disbursement, portfolio monitoring and collections — ensuring portfolio quality and financial sustainability.
- Infrastructure Management: direct the Corporation's infrastructure development and management portfolio.
- Capacity Building: lead the design and delivery of entrepreneurship training, capacity building and business-development programmes for MSMEs.
- Brand & Market Penetration: oversee marketing, communications and brand management.
- Policy & Compliance: develop and implement operational policies, procedures and systems that enhance efficiency, mitigate risk and ensure regulatory compliance.
- Workforce Leadership: provide strategic leadership in workforce planning, resource allocation and performance management.
- Digital Transformation: drive digital transformation of operational processes (loan management systems, CRM, data analytics).
- Stakeholder Partnerships: build and maintain partnerships with Government Ministries, development partners and financial institutions.
- Strategic Reporting: prepare and present operational reports, portfolio performance analyses and strategic recommendations to the CEO.
Requirements
- A recognised Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics or a related field.
- A postgraduate qualification (e.g. MBA, MSc in Finance or equivalent) is an added advantage.
- A minimum of ten (10) years' experience in a banking, development finance or financial services environment, with at least five (5) years in senior management.
- Demonstrated experience in a credit-focused Development Finance Institution (DFI), with a proven track record in MSME lending, portfolio management and risk mitigation.
- Strong leadership, strategic planning and stakeholder management skills.
- Proven ability to drive operational excellence, innovation and organisational transformation.
- Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
- Familiarity with Integrated Results-Based Management (IRBM) frameworks is an advantage.
How to apply: submit your application as a single PDF file (application letter, detailed CV and certified copies of academic certificates), indicating the vacancy applied for, to [email protected] by 31 July 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- A postgraduate qualification (e.g. MBA, MSc in Finance or equivalent) is an added advantage.
- A minimum of ten (10) years' experience in a banking, development finance or financial services environment, with at least five (5) years in senior management.
- Demonstrated experience in a credit-focused Development Finance Institution (DFI), with a proven track record in MSME lending, portfolio management and risk mitigation.
- Strong leadership, strategic planning and stakeholder management skills.
- Proven ability to drive operational excellence, innovation and organisational transformation.
- Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
- Familiarity with Integrated Results-Based Management (IRBM) frameworks is an advantage.
How to apply: submit your application as a single PDF file (application letter, detailed CV and certified copies of academic certificates), indicating the vacancy applied for, to [email protected] by 31 July 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.