Chief Executive Officer

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 31,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Employee Contract Type:

Local - Fixed Term Employee (Fixed Term)

Job Description:

Local candidates who are eligible to work in Rwanda are highly encouraged to apply

Overview

VisionFund Rwanda is a Christian owner-operated mission-driven microfinance network working with caregivers in hard to reach, impoverished locations so they can create secure futures for their children. Inspired by Christian values, we are dedicated to working with the most vulnerable families and communities regardless of religion, race, ethnicity gender, to create lasting change in their lives.

VisionFund serves low-income clients living in vulnerable and rural communities by offering financial and livelihood solutions, delivered through our Network, World Vision and partners; empowering families to create income and jobs; and unlocking economic potential for communities to thrive. The products and services offered fall into five broad categories: microloans, savings programmes, microinsurance, training and education. Benefits include sustainable livelihoods, increased economic well-being, improved community well-being, decreased dependence on outside aid and restoration of hope and dignity. Together with World Vision, we are focused on ending extreme poverty by 2030.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will provide strategic, financial, operational, and transformational leadership to VisionFund Rwanda (VFR), driving sustainable growth, institutional resilience, and increased impact among vulnerable families and communities. The CEO will lead the transformation of VFR into a high-performing, commercially driven, customer-centric, and sustainable deposit-taking microfinance institution. A key priority will be shifting the organization from a traditional NGO mindset to a performance-oriented culture that balances strong financial results with social impact and Christian values.

The role is accountable for achieving sustainable portfolio growth, deposit mobilization, profitability, and operational excellence. The CEO will strengthen VFR's funding structure by growing low-cost customer deposits, diversifying funding sources, reducing the cost of capital, and building strategic partnerships with donors, investors, and financial institutions.

Working closely with the Board, regulators, VisionFund International, World Vision Rwanda, and other stakeholders, the CEO will position VisionFund Rwanda as a leading inclusive financial institution, delivering sustainable growth, financial sustainability, and transformational impact.

Critical Success Factors

Lead cultural transformation from an NGO-oriented mindset to a commercially disciplined, high-performance financial institution. Transform VFR into a fully deposit-led institution, increasing deposit mobilization and reducing the overall cost of capital. Drive sustainable portfolio growth and productivity improvements to achieve and maintain break-even and long-term profitability.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Transformation

Provide Christ-centered Leadership to Lead the transformation of VisionFund Rwanda into a commercially driven, high-performing deposit-taking MFI while maintaining its Christian mission and development impact. Successfully embed a culture of accountability, performance, customer-centricity, innovation, and commercial discipline.

Deposit Mobilization & Funding Optimization

Build a strong deposit franchise that positions VFR as a truly deposit-led institution. Increase low-cost customer deposits, diversify funding sources, strengthen local financing partnerships, and reduce the institution's overall cost of capital.

Financial Sustainability & Profitability

Achieve and sustain break-even and profitability through disciplined portfolio growth, improved operational efficiency, and sound financial management. Strengthen balance sheet resilience and maintain healthy capital, liquidity, and portfolio quality indicators.

Governance, Risk Management & Stakeholder Engagement

Ensure strong corporate governance, regulatory compliance, enterprise risk management, and effective internal controls. Maintain high portfolio quality and institutional resilience while building strong relationships with the Board, regulators, donors, investors, VisionFund International, and World Vision Rwanda

Business Growth, Productivity & Operational Excellence

Drive sustainable loan portfolio growth, improve staff productivity, enhance customer experience, and optimize operational processes. Leverage digital transformation and innovation to improve efficiency, outreach, and service delivery.

Leadership, guidance and support to the Team for personal/team development and wellbeing (personal, professional and spiritual).

Inspire and align leaders of the various teams and influence the performance of the same. Nurture the spiritual and professional development of direct reports and team Instill and encourage a strong servant and service culture in leaders and their teams; role modelling Christian Leadership and Core Values Provide feedback and coaching to direct reports and team members. Foster an organizational culture of Performance, Operational Excellence and Accountability based on VisionFund/World Vision Core Values, vision and mission Build and lead a high-performing IT team; foster a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and collaboration. Create an environment that safeguards the Psychological Safety of team members, where there is freedom to speak up and express different opinions.

World Vision Integration & Impact Enhancement

Strengthen strategic alignment and collaboration with World Vision Rwanda to maximize shared impact, deepen outreach to vulnerable communities, leverage World Vision's community platforms for customer acquisition and impact delivery, and develop integrated solutions that advance both financial inclusion and household resilience outcomes.

Institutional strengthening and Capacity building

Provide effective leadership ensuring efficient talent acquisition and retention of senior and middle management. Ensure effective staff development , succession planning and performance management systems are in place at all levels.

Policy development and compliance to local and VFI policy regulations

Formulates and implements guidelines, procedures , internal regulations that are consistent with Board, VFI and industry regulator approved polices,

Knowledge Skills and Capabilities

Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Finance, Economics, Banking, Accounting, Development Finance, or a related field. Bachelor's degree in Finance, Banking, Business Administration, Economics, Relevant professional qualifications such as CPA, ACCA, CFA, CIMA, Chartered Banker, or equivalent will be an added advantage. Minimum 10–15 years of progressive leadership experience in banking, microfinance, or other regulated financial services institutions, with at least 5 years in a senior executive leadership role. Proven track record of leading organizational transformation, including culture change, business growth, and performance improvement. Demonstrated understanding of microfinance, banking, deposit-taking institutions, financial inclusion, and financial services regulation. Strong understanding of corporate governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance within regulated financial institutions. Demonstrated success in driving sustainable portfolio growth, profitability, and operational excellence within a financial institution. Strong experience in deposit mobilization, liability generation, funding diversification, and balance sheet management, with a proven ability to reduce the cost of capital. Experience leading or supporting the transformation of a financial institution into a more commercially focused and customer-centric organization. Strong background in risk management, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement within a regulated environment. Proven ability to build and manage strategic relationships with regulators, donors, investors, lenders, development finance institutions, and other key stakeholders. Experience working in organizations that balance financial sustainability with social impact objectives is highly desirable. Experience collaborating with international organizations, development agencies, or faith-based institutions such as World Vision will be an added advantage.

Work Environment

Office environment i.e typical office based and frequent travel to fields (50% travelling within the country and 50% head-office based) Travel: 90% Domestic 10% international travel is desired On call in/ and after the normal working hours, as needed Work Authorisation – Must get a Work Permit if not a local staff from within the Country and obtain local Regulator’s approval as CEO. Must also obtain VFI approval as Board Member of MFI.

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local and International Applicants (IA's) Accepted