Head of Retail Credit - Commercial Lending

Job PostedOctober 19, 2026

NMB Bank – NMB Jobs Vacancy, Employment
Dar es Salaam Banking and Finance Jobs Full time Jobs

Job LocationHead Office, Hq

Job Purpose

Responsible for leading and managing the Commercial Lending Credit function, ensuring effective assessment, approval, administration, monitoring, inspection and reporting of credit risk associated with the Bank’s commercial lending portfolio.

Main Responsibilities:

Strategic Focus

• Lead and manage the Commercial Lending Credit function, ensuring timely and effective assessment of business, financial and credit risks arising from commercial lending applications through review, challenge and approval/recommendation of credit applications within delegated authority.

• Lead, drive and actively manage the team responsible for credit assessment, analysis and approval of Commercial Lending facilities in line with the Bank’s credit policies, procedures and risk appetite.

• Ensure the highest standards of credit quality through robust assessment, review, sampling and application of best practices in credit analysis and portfolio management.

• Provide timely advice to the Chief Credit Officer (CCO), Credit Committees and relevant stakeholders on actual or potential changes in the risk profile of borrowers, sectors or the commercial lending portfolio, together with appropriate mitigation or remedial actions.

• Undertake and oversee comprehensive credit analysis covering counterpart, obligor, industry, business and transaction risks for commercial lending customers.

• Ensure that commercial lending propositions are appropriately structured, priced and secured to optimize risk-adjusted returns and protect the Bank against potential credit losses.

• Participate as a full member of relevant Credit Committees, Watchlist Committee and other governance forums, and attend Board Credit Committee meetings when required.

• Proactively engage with the Front Office to identify emerging risks at the earliest stage and ensure appropriate structuring, conditions and mitigants are incorporated into transactions.

• Identify portfolio hot spots, emerging risks, growth opportunities and concentration risks, and recommend appropriate actions to management.

• Lead the development and enhancement of credit risk reporting and monitoring for the Commercial Lending portfolio, including relevant monthly, quarterly and ad hoc reports to management and the Board.

Leadership and People Focus

• Work closely with the Chief Credit Officer, cross functional and Credit Heads of Department, Zonal Managers and Branch Managers to strengthen credit processes and support effective execution of the Bank’s commercial lending strategy.

• Collaborate with Commercial Banking, Relationship Managers and other business stakeholders to identify areas of improvement in products, processes and services while ensuring appropriate risk controls.

• Provide effective leadership, direction and oversight to the Commercial Lending Credit team.

• Manage information flow effectively in both directions, ensuring timely communication of strategic priorities, policies, risks and performance expectations.

• Build, develop and lead high-performing teams through effective guidance, coaching, training, delegation and empowerment.

• Act as a role model in all aspects of leadership and management for direct reports and other team members.

• Implement the Bank’s Performance Management directives and ensure effective performance management of departmental staff.

• Ensure staff understand the context of their roles and responsibilities in relation to the Credit Department and the Bank’s overall strategy.

• Manage the performance of departmental staff, including objective setting, performance reviews, coaching, development and appraisal.

• Develop the capability of the team to enhance credit analysis, commercial lending expertise, risk assessment and portfolio management.

Operational Focus

• Develop and implement appropriate credit risk measurement and portfolio monitoring methodologies for the Commercial Lending portfolio, including probability of default, loss given default, expected loss and rating migration.

• Review and challenge credit proposals and approval packs submitted to Credit Committees, ensuring that key risks, mitigants, pricing and risk-adjusted returns are adequately addressed.

• Support the CCO in credit risk aggregation, management and proactive monitoring of the Bank’s commercial lending portfolio.

• Challenge transaction pricing, structure and terms to ensure appropriate compensation for credit risk and maximize value to the Bank, within the approved pricing framework.