Role Description

The director of core banking systems & applications will have responsibility for leading the organization’s core banking systems and applications strategy and execution across the global network of microfinance institutions. The director is responsible for staff, finances, and operations for the core banking systems department, coordinating and liaising with other global support staff and leadership to develop and improve the overall banking operations of the HOPE network.

Location: Kigali, Rwanda; other geographies considered,

Level: Senior Professional

Type: Full-time

Department: Core Banking Systems & Applications

Reports to: Senior Director of Technology

Position supervises: Manager of Core Banking Systems & Applications, Senior Applications Specialist, T24 Helpdesk Assistant Manager

Responsibilities

• Promote and contribute to the fulfillment of HOPE International’s mission and vision.
• Core Banking Systems Strategy
• Create annual and multi-year strategic plans, team OKRs, and release cycles across all core banking software and applications.
• Maintain the function’s maturity at a minimum “Measured” state in accordance with the adapted CMMI model across the HOPE-managed microfinance institutions.
• Determine prioritization and implementation plans for global microfinance technology needs and initiatives.
• Serve as a lead liaison between technical staff and business leaders to create technological solutions for operational goals and challenges.
• Provide expert-level analysis on new technology products, services, digital channels, and process efficiencies to organizational leaders.
• Team Management
• Manage the core banking team. Set clear expectations, manage priorities, and guide the team toward shared goals with care for both people and outcomes.
• Model Christ-like servant leadership, fostering a team culture of care and holistic development through mentoring, coaching, intentional delegation, and regular one-on-one meetings.
• Provide regular, prayerful feedback that encourages growth, reinforces accountability, and builds on each person’s God-given strengths.
• Encourage and lead direct reports in ways that deepen their connection to HOPE’s mission and reveal how their work contributes to God’s Kingdom.
• Lead cross-functional teams in assessment, deployment, and management of core banking software and associated financial applications as a leading functional business analyst and expert-level software developer.
• Direct the core banking system team’s second-level support delivery and helpdesk functions to ensure timely, accurate, and professional service delivery to microfinance staff and clients.
• Responsible for ensuring systems, applications, and team procedures in development, test, and production environments adhere to internal policies and cyber security best practices.
• Steward team resources responsibly. Determine and manage resources required for initiatives and development, completing semi-annual budget projections for core banking and application needs and informing business leaders in their creation of institutional budgets.
• Center of Excellence
• Provide expert-level consulting on new technology initiatives that would interact with banking software environments for the HOPE global network of programs and partners.
• Lead training and development activities as needed for the organization’s microfinance staff and partners in core banking systems and applications.
• Maintain expertise in recent releases of T24 MCB so as to serve the HOPE Network as a center of excellence for T24 best practices and functionality.

Qualifications

• Personal confession of Christian faith and commitment to the mission and vision of HOPE International
• Demonstrated desire to help people who have been brought low by poverty or other circumstances regain hope, dignity, and the ability to support themselves and their families
• Bachelor’s degree in information or computer science or related field; advanced degree preferred
• 5-10 years of experience supporting core banking systems in commercial or microfinance banks, with specific experience with Temenos’ T24 system required
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in organizational leadership/management required
• Experience in microfinance, banking, or financial technology services sectors, with demonstrated technical project management
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong organizational skills, including effective time management and prioritization of competing demands/multiple deadlines
• Creativity, flexibility, and resourcefulness
• Ability to relate to, communicate, and motivate staff effectively; ability to communicate effectively across cross-cultural business and technical teams
• Experience with the Microsoft suite required; other MIS and AI software packages preferred
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally
• Fluent in English; proficiency in French preferred
• International cross-cultural experience preferred

• Promote and contribute to the fulfillment of HOPE International’s mission and vision.
• Create annual and multi-year strategic plans, team OKRs, and release cycles across all core banking software and applications.
• Maintain the function’s maturity at a minimum “Measured” state in accordance with the adapted CMMI model across the HOPE-managed microfinance institutions.
• Determine prioritization and implementation plans for global microfinance technology needs and initiatives.
• Serve as a lead liaison between technical staff and business leaders to create technological solutions for operational goals and challenges.
• Provide expert-level analysis on new technology products, services, digital channels, and process efficiencies to organizational leaders.
• Manage the core banking team. Set clear expectations, manage priorities, and guide the team toward shared goals with care for both people and outcomes.
• Model Christ-like servant leadership, fostering a team culture of care and holistic development through mentoring, coaching, intentional delegation, and regular one-on-one meetings.
• Provide regular, prayerful feedback that encourages growth, reinforces accountability, and builds on each person’s God-given strengths.
• Encourage and lead direct reports in ways that deepen their connection to HOPE’s mission and reveal how their work contributes to God’s Kingdom.
• Lead cross-functional teams in assessment, deployment, and management of core banking software and associated financial applications as a leading functional business analyst and expert-level software developer.
• Direct the core banking system team’s second-level support delivery and helpdesk functions to ensure timely, accurate, and professional service delivery to microfinance staff and clients.
• Responsible for ensuring systems, applications, and team procedures in development, test, and production environments adhere to internal policies and cyber security best practices.
• Steward team resources responsibly. Determine and manage resources required for initiatives and development, completing semi-annual budget projections for core banking and application needs and informing business leaders in their creation of institutional budgets.
• Provide expert-level consulting on new technology initiatives that would interact with banking software environments for the HOPE global network of programs and partners.
• Lead training and development activities as needed for the organization’s microfinance staff and partners in core banking systems and applications.
• Maintain expertise in recent releases of T24 MCB so as to serve the HOPE Network as a center of excellence for T24 best practices and functionality.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong organizational skills, including effective time management and prioritization of competing demands/multiple deadlines
• Creativity, flexibility, and resourcefulness
• Ability to relate to, communicate, and motivate staff effectively; ability to communicate effectively across cross-cultural business and technical teams
• Experience with the Microsoft suite required; other MIS and AI software packages preferred
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally
• Fluent in English; proficiency in French preferred
• International cross-cultural experience preferred

• Personal confession of Christian faith and commitment to the mission and vision of HOPE International
• Demonstrated desire to help people who have been brought low by poverty or other circumstances regain hope, dignity, and the ability to support themselves and their families
• Bachelor’s degree in information or computer science or related field; advanced degree preferred
• 5-10 years of experience supporting core banking systems in commercial or microfinance banks, with specific experience with Temenos’ T24 system required
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in organizational leadership/management required
• Experience in microfinance, banking, or financial technology services sectors, with demonstrated technical project management