Vice President and Head of Program Lending

About the role

The Vice President and Head of Program Lending will lead the design and execution of RAKBANK's SME lending programmes, aligning them with the bank's growth objectives and risk appetite. This senior position reports to senior leadership and drives both strategic and operational initiatives across the lending lifecycle.

Key responsibilities

• Define and execute the SME lending program strategy in line with business growth and risk parameters.
• Identify target SME segments and develop sector‑specific financing solutions such as supplier finance, micro‑finance and embedded lending.
• Build strategic partnerships with anchor corporates, fintech firms, government entities and ecosystem partners.
• Collaborate with Credit, Risk, Data, Operations and Technology teams to design underwriting frameworks and eligibility models.
• Drive digitisation of end‑to‑end lending journeys, from onboarding through servicing and collections.
• Integrate lending solutions into digital channels and ecosystem platforms to broaden customer reach.
• Own business targets, portfolio performance, asset quality and risk‑adjusted returns.
• Monitor and optimise KPIs including approval rates, turnaround times, disbursement volumes, delinquency levels and recovery ratios.
• Continuously refine programme structures and customer propositions for sustainable growth and profitability.
• Design seamless, customer‑centric lending experiences and flexible repayment solutions.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of programme managers, product specialists and analysts.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, CBUAE regulations and AML/CFT standards.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in SME Banking, Business Banking, Commercial Lending or programme‑based finance.
• Proven track record of developing and scaling lending products or financing ecosystems.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to drive growth while managing portfolio risk.
• Demonstrated leadership of high‑performing, cross‑functional teams.
• Deep understanding of credit risk management, regulatory frameworks and governance requirements.
• Experience in digital transformation, fintech partnerships or embedded finance environments.
• Strategic thinker with excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.

Required skills