Jobs at Inkomoko

ABOUT THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Inkomoko Kenya seeks a highly talented and experienced Senior Business Development Advisor to work directly with our entrepreneur clients. The Senior Business Development Advisor will join a growing start-up team with core responsibilities as follows.

MANAGEMENT & GENERAL ADMINISTRATION (50% time)

• Serve as a coach, mentor, and advisor to Business Associates (BAs) and Business Development Advisors (BDAs) to help them improve their capabilities and skills
• Assist BDAs/BAs and review work as needed to ensure high-quality work is delivered to clients.
• Coordinate the BDAs and BAs activities with other department activities, ensuring the highest quality of organization and client services outcomes
• Work with the Business Development Manager and Executive team to develop annual goals for the BGS department
• Build the capacity of BDAs and BAs team to reach Inkomoko Kenya’s annual objectives, in particular providing training on matters related to Business Growth Services. Additionally, support BDAs/BAs assist Inkomoko Kenya and Inkomoko management in Micro Business Solutions projects, including recruitment,training, consulting and representation of our organization in Lodwar and attend different meetings, i.e. partners/county government meetings
• Represent Inkomoko Kenya in the local business community, conferences, and other events
• Maintain and develop relationships with business community leaders in Lodwar
• Keep up to date on the latest business and industry trends in Kenya and across East Africa
• Manage and supervise agreed upon  locations in and around Lodwar
• Ensure set KPIs are met in the locations under his/her supervision

STRATEGIC ADVISING & CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (20% time)

• Regularly communicate with BDAs and BAs to conduct site visits as needed to keep clients engaged and deliver services as planned and promised to clients
• Connect clients to other Inkomoko Kenya services as appropriate
• Review weekly, monthly and quarterly reports to stakeholders in a timely manner

BUSINESS ASSESSMENT & BUSINESS/GROWTH PLAN DEVELOPMENT (30% time)

• Conduct site visits and client interviews to fully understand business needs, challenges, and opportunities
• Review BDAs & BAs consulting work that defines the strengths & weaknesses of the clients
• Assist BDAs & BAs to implement recommendations of businesses and help clients to navigate. challenges, make sound business decisions and achieve their business/growth goals
• Manage the schedule and delivery of services throughout client engagements
• Regularly track and report on the progress of client work and project deliverables

Requirements

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

We are looking for candidates who will navigate fast-paced and resource-constrained environments with enthusiasm, patience, a sense of humor, and imagination.

The ideal candidate will fulfill the following requirements:

• 3+ years of work experience in relevant or applicable field
• Experience in consulting, business planning, and providing business advice
• Excellent computer skills, especially with MS Excel and Word
• Good written and oral communications skills
• Good presentation and training skills
• Shows perseverance, personal integrity, and critical thinking skills
• Must be able to legally work in Kenya
• Fluent and Excellent communicator to audiences in English,  Swahili, Turkana highly desirable
• Bachelor Degree in Business Administration/Accounting or related field

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Specifically, the positions responsibilities include:

CLIENT MOBILIZATION (10%)

• Identify and enroll entrepreneurs based on the criteria to be enrolled in the program.
• Communicate program details to the community participants and confirm messages have been received.
• Represent Inkomoko as an Ambassador, outreach to existing structures in the communities.
• Advise on participants’ criteria to fit the culture and existing businesses in the community.
• Communicate to Inkomoko leadership about any challenge faced by participants during program implementation

TRAINING (40%)

• Ensure that all the entrepreneurs in the program are informed and attend all the training
• Organize all the training logistics: printing training materials, setting up the training venue, recording attendance, and starting the training on time
• Provide the training using Inkomoko training materials in Somali, Kiswahili and English
• Review and advise the Senior trainer on necessary changes to the training modules.
• Complete all the training programs in the due time and within budget.

BUSINESS CONSULTING & CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (40%)

• The intake process for entrepreneurs, including baseline M&E and tracking in our electronic system
• Conducting monthly site visits to assess business need and opportunity
• Generate cash flow statements and profitability analyses with clients
• Provide informed, strategic, and realistic advice to help the client meet their objectives, or shift their objectives towards better sustainability/profitability
• Ongoing site visits to provide real-time advising to solve business changes and grow businesses
• Connect clients to other Inkomoko services, including training and access to finance
• Keep up-to-date the clients’ business information in an accurate manner
• Assist investment colleagues with investment applications, due diligence, and clients’ credit Payment

COMMUNITY  ACTIVITIES COORDINATION AND ADMINISTRATION (10%)

• Develop a good relationship with all partners and local authorities in Lodwar.
• Provide weekly and monthly reports on time.
• Represent Inkomoko in Lodwar
• Work closely with the Senior Business Development Advisor and Business Development Manager to organize community activities
• Assist Inkomoko staff with all in-county communications.
• Make sure activities in the community are done in a timely manner.
• Assist the M&E team with surveys and data collection in Lodwar.
• Provide administrative support as needed.
• Perform any other duties as assigned

Requirements

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Digital literacy (basic IT skills for Microsoft office, Excel, PPT)
• Relationship skills (coaching, listening, empathy, trust)
• Fluent and Excellent communicator to audiences in English,  Swahili, Turkana highly desirable
• Basic understanding and interest of micro and small businesses
• Show personal drive, initiative and learning agility 
• Strong financial and accounting skills; familiarity with business financial policies in Kenya 
• Flexible and able to deliver results under pressure
• Good written and oral communications skills
• Shows perseverance, personal integrity, and critical thinking skills
• Outgoing and Social
• Honest and professional
• University education/or currently pursuing  Business Administration, Entrepreneurship or any other relevant field 
• Must be based in the respective location.
• Access to a smartphone 24/7 is a plus.
• The Candidate should not be employed by any other organization currently.

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Specifically, the position responsibilities include:

Lending Strategy and Portfolio Growth

• Contribute to the development and execution of lending strategies that expand access to finance for refugees and host communities in Kenya.
• Use portfolio data, demographic trends and performance insights to inform segmentation, product refinement and portfolio growth decisions.
• Work closely with MD Kenya and Director Credit Risk to align lending priorities with country and organisational objectives.

Credit and Portfolio Integrity

• Monitor portfolio performance including demographic metrics, PAR, recovery actions and risk trends.
• Oversee loan appraisal, approval and disbursement in line with Inkomoko standards and delegated authority.
• Ensure documentation, collateral tracking, recovery follow up and reporting standards are upheld across the team.
• Prepare and present regular lending performance reports and present them to senior management, partners, and stakeholders using data driven insights.. 
• Ensure adherence to Kiva and other partner reporting requirements.
• Conduct client visits where necessary for monitoring and relationship management.

Team Leadership & Technical Discipline

• Lead, coach and develop all lending staff across Kenya locations.
• Set clear performance expectations and conduct performance reviews.
• Build strong investment discipline across the team through mentoring on documentation standards, and recovery practices.
• Ensure consistent use of systems, processes and internal controls while maintaining a healthy portfolio and achieving lending targets.

Compliance, Governance & Risk Management

• Work with Director Credit Risk to define and operationalise credit policies and procedures in alignment with organisation objectives, regulatory requirements and best practice.
• Maintain strong oversight of approval trails, documentation standards and internal controls.
• Support legal registration and regulatory engagement related to lending activities.

External Representation & Partnerships

• Represent Inkomoko in relevant external forums and meetings.
• Identify and cultivate partnerships that support lending programme growth.
• Maintain effective communication with donors and key stakeholders

Requirements

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Business Administration, or a related field is required. Additional certifications or advanced degrees in finance or risk management is  a plus.
• +8 Years of extensive experience in lending, credit risk management, and financial services, preferably in a leadership role. Demonstrated success in developing and executing lending strategies and managing loan portfolios.
• In-depth understanding of lending products, credit risk assessment, loan underwriting, and regulatory requirements. 
• Familiar with financial analysis, loan pricing models, and industry trends.
• Strong leadership and management abilities to motivate and guide a team of lending professionals. Excellent decision-making skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Proficiency in financial analysis, risk assessment, and credit evaluation. Ability to interpret complex financial data, identify trends, and make data-driven recommendations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with internal and external stakeholders. Strong presentation skills to convey lending strategies and portfolio performance to senior management.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, such as clients, regulators, and industry peers. Strong negotiation and influencing skills to drive business growth and manage partnerships.

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Operational Strategy & Risk Mitigation

• Adapt and Implement operational strategies and procedures to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in Inkomoko operations across the country 
• Contribute to the development and implementation of operational growth plans    
• Identify and address operational challenges and opportunities to enhance performance
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, local regulations, and international standards.
• Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to safeguard the organization’s clients, team, assets, and reputation.
• Coordinate standardized operational processes across the 6 Kenyan locations to promote consistency, scalability, and knowledge sharing.
• Facilitate regular site visits and cross-location audits to identify location-specific challenges and integrate best practices.
• In collaboration with the security focal point person, develop emergency response protocols tailored to Kenya's diverse regions, including contingency planning for disruptions like supply shortages or security issues.

Administration Management:

• Manage and oversee the daily operations and facilities across all offices in the country, including office management, logistics, and facilities development and contracting
• Oversee the build of new facilities for Inkomoko’s growing operations, including site procurement, contractor management, design, etc. 
• Implement fixes to the “Pain Points & Time Wasters” as developed in the Happiness Audit
• Implement and maintain administrative systems to improve efficiency and support strategic objectives. 
• Oversee logistics and fleet management, including vehicle maintenance, transportation scheduling, and inventory tracking to support program delivery in remote or urban sites.
• Manage asset registers and maintenance schedules for equipment across all locations, ensuring accountability and minimizing downtime.

Procurement:

• Oversee the procurement processes across the country to ensure timely and cost-effective acquisition of goods and services
• Develop and manage vendor relationships, negotiate contracts, and ensure compliance with procurement policies.
• Monitor and analyze procurement activities to ensure Inkomoko applies social procurement standards (equitable demographics, environment, social, governance) to sourcing 
• Integrate supply chain oversight to ensure seamless distribution of goods/services to the 6 locations, with a focus on cost efficiency and reliability in Kenya's market.

Staff Supervision and Development:

• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and retention efforts for operations staff, ensuring diverse hiring that aligns with Inkomoko's equity goals (e.g., prioritizing refugees, women, and local talent).
• Ensure compliance with Kenyan employment laws, including health benefits, contracts, and dispute resolution across sites.
• Supervise Ops and Admin Staff in multiple offices across the country to ensure smooth and efficient office operations, and ensure compliance with organizational standards.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Ops and Admin Officers and other support staff
• Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide Radical Candor feedback
• Identify training needs and opportunities for staff development to enhance skills 
• Hold regular meetings with all admin staff to ensure team cohesiveness

Budget and Financial Management:

• Manage operational budgets in collaboration with the finance department and managing director
• Monitor expenditures and ensure adherence to budgetary constraints.
• Prepare and present regular reports on operational performance, budget utilization, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for operational efficiency, such as cost per location or process turnaround times, and use data analytics to drive improvements.

Requirements

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Successful candidates will embody our organizational culture and mission to support entrepreneurs. Our work environment is fast-paced, positive, solutions-oriented, and we have very high standards. 

Qualifications Include:

• A true customer-service mindset to support employees for effective delivery of Inkomoko’s program work
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field 
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in operations management, preferably within a social enterprise or similar environment.
• Proven experience in managing multi-site operations and supervising diverse teams.
• Excellent leadership, highly communicative, with strong interpersonal skills. One East African language preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on driving continuous improvement and cost-savings strategies
• Proficiency in procurement software, such as ERP systems, e-procurement platforms, and MS Office 
• Socially responsible operational experiences are strongly preferred, including processes which favor small-businesses, women and refugee-run businesses, and green business.