Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a U.S. non-profit organization dedicated to creating, evaluating, and replicating innovative solutions to poverty and policy problems worldwide. IPA specializes in using randomized impact evaluation to assess the effectiveness of development programs.

Job Summary

Project Summary:
IPA Ghana seeks a product officer to work on the “Enhancing the Productive Assets of Micro Entrepreneurs” (EPAME) project. EPAME is a project that examines the economic and social impact of a hybrid savings-loan product for micro entrepreneurs in developing countries.  The project examines whether marketing an untied savings-loan product with no restrictions on how capital from savings deposits and loan proceeds is invested, or a tied savings-loan product in which capital investment is dedicated ex ante to a specific firm asset leads to better productivity and growth outcomes for micro enterprises.  The EPAME project is undertaken in collaboration with Financial Republic (FR); a local micro-finance organization.

The Product Officer’s role is to facilitate the product offer, sign up, adoption and delivery of specific products to clients. The Product Officer must be able to build client trust, communicate effectively, drive execution, foster innovation, and focus on delivery to customers. The Product Officer must value and be able to collaborate with others, solve problems creatively and demonstrate high integrity.

Specifically the Product Officer will:

•  Coordinate with Field officers to identify clients who express interest in any of the product offers
•  Visit/follow up on interested clients and assist them to sign up for  the right product
•  Assist clients to fill all appropriate sign up and loan application forms
•  Coordinate with the FR Credit Officer/Branch Manager to schedule interview dates for clients
•  Communicate with clients and assist them to meet all product requirements
•  Invite clients for loan interviews when their scheduled time is due
•  Keep accurate records of clients
•  Report to the FR Operations Manager daily
•  Ensure all filing is done in a timely and accurate manner
•  Accompany clients to purchase items for which the loan is disbursed
•  Ensure that the right products and services are given to the right Client
•  Develop and maintain relationships with existing clients
•  Analyze and clean client data
•  Perform any other work related tasks assigned by designated persons of authority

Qualification Required & Experience

Required Qualifications and Skills:

•  A minimum of Higher National Diploma (HND) in Economics, marketing, Public relations or any related field
•  A strong understanding of customer/market dynamics and requirements.
•  Willingness to walk/travel
•  Willingness to work with uncooperative clients and ability to cope with rejection.
•  Fluency in any of the local languages (Twi, Ga, Ewe) is preferred
•  Excellent computer  knowledge and skills (especially MS Office Suit)
•  Experience in a similar position is preferred

How To Apply For The Job

Please submit your complete CV and cover letter by email to: billkozo_uk@yahoo.co.uk copying  aowusu@poverty-action.org , using the subject line: Product Officer/Data Analyst:  Firstname Lastname

NB: CV’s should NOT exceed two pages and applicants should provide at least two credible references

Closing Date: 30 November, 2012

All documents should be submitted as attachments, and the file names should include the name of the applicant.  The documents may be submitted in Word document or PDF format.  Applicants who are selected for an interview will be contacted by email or phone.