Vickie Remoe Institute of Digital Communications

JOB ALERT: Associate Director of Mobile Financial Services with LeapFrog

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LeapFrog is recruiting an expert in the provision of financial services via mobile technology. As an outstanding professional with extensive operational experiences, you will identify and enable innovative companies serving millions of low-income people in Africa and Asia.

LeapFrog Investments
LeapFrog Investments manages one of the world’s largest and leading profit-with-purpose funds. The fund invests in companies that serve the next billion emerging consumers with insurance and other essential financial tools. LeapFrog seeks robust returns from these investments, while simultaneously enabling millions of low-income people with the financial safety nets and springboards to escape poverty. In less than four years, via its fast-growing and profitable portfolio companies, LeapFrog has reached over 8 million people across six countries in Asia and Africa.

LeapFrog Labs is an advisory, innovation, and R&D hub – a not-for-profit sister organization. Labs partners with companies to implement performance improvement and innovation projects that drive large-scale financial inclusion.

A Hands-on and Thought-leadership Role
Mobile telephony has been adopted faster than any technology in history, but with 2.5 billion people still lacking access to financial services, there is a long way to go mobilizing mobile capabilities for financial inclusion. Mobile-enabled microinsurance has shown particularly strong potential, both as an essential service to the poor and as a tool to enhance customer retention, increase revenue, and drive the usage of other financial products.

LeapFrog Labs is recruiting a stellar and entrepreneurial individual with the distinctive skill set to match this unique business and social opportunity. Based in Johannesburg, with significant international travel and a large proportion of time spent on site, this role involves working side by side with investee companies, as well as playing a thought-leadership role globally by engaging external stakeholders and industry groups. You can expect to experience all of LeapFrog’s focus markets, including Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria, India, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

You will have the scope to take ownership of this crucial area across the entire LeapFrog organization. The role thus requires something beyond impressive quantitative, technology and operational skills. It requires indefatigable and articulate leadership as well as a passion for experimentation and imaginative solutions.

Key Responsibilities
. Working with investees to develop a comprehensive, realistic and implementable mobile strategy to reach excluded segments, and then supporting implementation.
. Demonstrating to portfolio companies how best to engage with, and get the most from, Telco executives and regulators.
. Formal and informal knowledge transfer to investee management and functional areas, including training of key individuals.
. Leveraging cross-geography lessons and international best practice between investees.
. Working with teams on deals related to mobile financial services, for example evaluating existing branchless banking channels and identifying scope for improvements.
. Liaising with networks, research bodies, and industry associations in the areas of mobile financial services, branchless banking and impact investment.
. Contributing and driving thought leadership in mobile financial services globally, especially microinsurance, for example via representation at conferences.

Experience Sought
Applicants are likely to have:
. Five-to-ten years experience in financial services, management consulting or leading corporates related to mobile technology.
. A deep understanding of telecom business models and core platforms such as mobile money and relevant access channels such as USSD.
. An understanding of the major issues in mobile financial services, especially regulation and the building of agent networks.
. Demonstrated excellence in financial analysis or business assessment, corporate or strategic advisory work, and/or advanced project management.
. Substantial experience in emerging markets in Africa and/or Asia.
. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, with an ability to listen and to challenge stakeholders constructively.
. Entrepreneurial, social entrepreneurial and/or impact investing experience beneficial.
. An entrepreneurial, can-do and collaborative mindset, which is essential to thriving in LeapFrog’s high-bandwidth, fast-moving and passionately committed team. An eagerness to travel internationally and to embrace change and a spirit of adventure.

Sponsored by KfW and LeapFrog Labs
The Associate Director of Mobile Financial Services role is co-funded by KfW and LeapFrog Labs. It enjoys a competitive salary, travel and health insurance, as well as communications allowances, and all visa costs and work expenses are covered. At the end of the two-year contract, the successful candidate can opt to be considered for promotion and/or other roles within LeapFrog, LeapFrog Labs, or portfolio companies.

Application: Details please refer to career central job ID 21718. Alumnus can apply with a CV and cover letter directed to Joanne Tanchel at jobs@leapfroginvest.com

The deadline for applications is January 18, 2013, but applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The target start-date for the role is February 2013.

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