Country Manager at MicroEnsure

MicroEnsure is a specialist provider of insurance to the low and middle-income market with more than four million active clients in 13 markets across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. The company provides a range of life, health, property and weather index products via a range of distribution partners that include microfinance companies, co-operatives and mobile network operators.

The team at MicroEnsure started working on developing its model in 2002 and established itself as the Micro Insurance Agency in 2006, which was then renamed as MicroEnsure in 2008.

In 2013, Opportunity International divested its majority stake in MicroEnsure and the company secured investment from IFC, Omidyar Network and members of MicroEnsure’s management team to provide the funding and strategic relationships necessary to continue its growth.

MicroEnsure is at the forefront of bringing insurance to the mass market via the mobile phone. In 2013 MicroEnsure Asia was established as a joint venture between Telenor Group and the UK based MicroEnsure Holdings Limited. MicroEnsure Asia will initially focus on introducing a range of insurance products to Telenor's 149 million subscribers across its business units in Asia as well as seeking to work with other mobile network operators and distribution partners in Asia and Eastern Europe.

For more information please visit www.microensure.com or join the conversation at facebook.com/microensure and follow us on Twitter @microensure

The Country Manager role is a role for a high potential leader interested in moving MicroEnsure into a leadership position in the Nigerian market.  Responsibilities include:

Partner Relationship Management

Establish and maintain excellent communication with existing front office partners and insurersCapitalize on opportunities and address operational weaknesses with urgency and focusEnsure an excellent reputation for MicroEnsure both within and beyond partner networksWith underwriting partners, design products in collaboration and negotiate terms based on the unique needs of underserved (low income) markets

Business Development

Identify and capitalize on new opportunities for new partnerships with banks, mobile, NGOs, and other aggregators in the low-income sectorMaximize opportunities to up-sell and cross-sell to existing partners, to drive revenueDevelop and execute country-level strategy and plan for business revenue growth

Financial Management

Develop a profitable micro insurance business, governed by outreach, revenue and profit targets agreed between Senior Management and the Country ManagerProvide updated reports, forecasts and projections relating to the development of the business as per a defined scheduleDevelop business plans for long term growth and profitability of the MicroEnsure Nigeria business

Operational Delivery

Work with the operations teams, locally and globally, to maintain effective, efficient operations to handle processing of business and reporting of resultsEnsure that service at all levels, including claims, enrolment and reporting, is of the highest quality

Market Awareness

Ensure a deep understanding of the insurance needs of the low-income market within MicroEnsure NigeriaAnticipate opportunities in the marketplace by organizing market research efforts among current and potential clientsUse research insights to deliver value in current products, identify new products, and make critical changes in operations and communication

Public Relations

Promote visibility to the market which evokes the image of compassion, ethics and integrity, projecting the values and image of the organisationOrganise press events around MicroEnsure achievements, new partnerships and product launchesCompile and distribute client impact stories for publication within partner networks

Team Leadership

Provide strong leadership, mentoring and guidance to all of the MicroEnsure Nigeria teamEncourage a culture of continuous improvement and innovationEnsure the team is motivated to perform effectivelyWork closely with the team to learn the business, gain employee trust and make an impact on the daily operations of the business

Senior Leadership (Head Office) Participation

Ensure that Senior Management are informed as required of progress, risks and issues relating to operational and service deliveryLead interface with Senior Management including financial, operational and strategic reviewDevelop key relationships across technical global leaders at MicroEnsure to bring top products, services and best practices to Nigeria

Qualifications

4-year degree qualification required, Master’s degree preferred10+ years’ work experience, preferably in financial services, telecoms or insurance, with a demonstrated track record of achievement and increasing responsibilityStrong leadership, management and business development ability and experienceAppreciation and concern for the plight of low-income NigeriansAbility to effectively present and sell concepts to senior managers in partner organizations who are often unfamiliar with insuranceAbility to train staff members and low-income individuals in unfamiliar insurance conceptsDemonstrated ability to develop business, sell concepts and close deals in NigeriaExperience in developing new products and demonstrated understanding of market research techniques and competitor analysisExperience in working with low-income persons in professional or informal settingsKnowledge of Nigerian financial services sector essential, knowledge of insurance preferredFacility with statistical analytics and an understanding of the importance of data-driven decision-making in the businessAbility to utilize contacts for new business opportunitiesAbility to perform business analysis by utilizing operational, financial and other dataWillingness to work as a team member with people across geographies and culturesStrong self-starter able to perform tasks with minimal inputCommitment to model and articulate MicroEnsure’s social mission and valuesFluency in spoken and written English essential; local language functionality a plusStrong knowledge of and experience with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, including using these tools to present materials orally and in written form

The Country Manager is responsible for overseeing the business development, general operations and country performance.  Micro insurance is an emerging industry in Nigeria so MicroEnsure must continue to set the standard for product innovation, business process acumen and service excellence. The Country Manager should develop the capacity and skills of the existing team and new hires to ensure effective delivery of services for new and existing business.

Success for the Country Manager will be defined by 1) quickly forming a deep understanding of micro insurance and interfacing with existing and new customers to grow and sustain the business, 2) developing a strong team of Nigerian professionals who can provide high quality, efficient service to partners and clients and 3) taking full ownership for the operations budget and company administration