Vice President & Head of Program Lending

Role overview

Strategy and partnerships

• Define and execute SME lending strategy aligned with business growth objectives and risk appetite.
• Identify SME segments and develop supplier finance, microfinance, and embedded lending programs.
• Build partnerships with corporates, fintechs, government entities, and ecosystem partners.

Lending and digital delivery

• Design underwriting frameworks and eligibility models with Credit, Risk, Data, Operations, and Technology teams.
• Digitize lending journeys from customer onboarding through servicing and collections.
• Integrate lending solutions into digital channels and ecosystem platforms.

Performance and customer propositions

• Own business targets, portfolio performance, asset quality, and risk-adjusted returns.
• Monitor approval rates, turnaround times, disbursement volumes, delinquency, and recovery ratios.
• Develop customer-centric lending experiences and flexible repayment propositions for SMEs.

Leadership and governance

• Lead program managers, product specialists, and analysts while promoting innovation and accountability.
• Ensure lending activities comply with internal policies, CBUAE requirements, and AML/CFT standards.

What the employer is looking for

• Extensive experience in SME banking, business banking, commercial lending, or program-based finance.
• Success developing and scaling lending products, credit programs, or financing ecosystems.
• Strong commercial acumen, credit-risk knowledge, and portfolio-risk management capability.
• Proven leadership of high-performing cross-functional teams.
• Experience with digital transformation, fintech partnerships, or embedded finance is desirable.

Core skills

• SME banking, lending products, credit risk, and alternative underwriting methodologies.
• Working capital facilities, term loans, invoice financing, supply chain finance, and government-backed schemes.
• Digital lending ecosystems, customer journeys, platform integration, and data-driven decision making.
• Leadership, communication, stakeholder engagement, analytical ability, and problem solving.

Opportunity

• Work with senior leaders and cross-functional teams on digital transformation and next-generation lending.
• Access professional growth, leadership development, competitive rewards, benefits, and wellbeing programs.