Head SME Officer Job at Polaris Bank Limited

Polaris Bank was established by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on September 21, 2018 to offer commercial banking services to the Nigerian public. The bank commenced services on the same day, having purchased the assets and assumed certain liabilities of the defunct Skye Bank.With a footprint of over 350 branches across the country, Polaris Bank prides itself in delivering exceptional customer experience, leveraging best in class/state of the art Information Communication Technology (ICT). By focusing on ICT solutions across multiple service delivery channels (mobile banking, ATMs, POS and online platforms) Polaris Bank maintains a pivotal role in the Nigerian banking industry, providing customers with simple, convenient and secured banking services.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Position: Head SME Officer

Job Location: Lagos
Job Type: Full-time

Job Description

• Develop and implement market-leading strategies to significantly expand the overall SME Banking portfolio (loans, deposits, and customer base).
• Design, launch, and price competitive SME products tailored to current market trends and specific business needs.
• Monitor SME market dynamics and competitive intelligence to proactively identify new opportunities for innovation and growth.
• Drive initiatives focused on delivering superior, personalized banking solutions to improve SME customer satisfaction and retention.
• Manage high-value and strategic SME relationships to deepen loyalty and maximize profitability.
• Spearhead the implementation of digital banking solutions to enhance the SME customer experience and self-service capabilities.
• Drive automation and process efficiency initiatives across all SME Banking operations to reduce friction and cost-to-serve.
• Ensure 95% system uptime for all digital platforms supporting SME Banking channels.
• Successfully implement at least one major SME digital optimization project per year.
• Achieve a 20% improvement in operational efficiency through automation and process optimization.
• Supervise, mentor, and lead SME Banking Officers to ensure high performance and alignment with strategic objectives.
• Provide expert advisory support and annual strategy briefings to 100% of the branch network on effective SME acquisition and portfolio management plans.
• Maintain a high standard of communication effectiveness, achieving 90% positive feedback from branches/stakeholders on advisory support.
• Ensure the team’s activities adhere strictly to internal risk management standards and regulatory compliance policies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Banking & Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or related field.
• Experience in SME or commercial banking with strong focus on credit, product development, and portfolio management.
• MBA and relevant professional certifications (e.g., CIBN, ACCA, CFA) required.
• Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in digital banking platforms, credit analysis tools, and advanced MS Excel.