VP, SME Lending & Digital Growth Architect

Rakbank; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 500,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive rewards

Flexible wellbeing programs

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Rakbank in the United Arab Emirates seeks an experienced leader to define and drive the SME lending program strategy aligned with business growth and risk appetite. You will shape sector-specific financing programs, build strategic partnerships, and partner with Credit, Risk, Data, Operations, and Technology to design underwriting frameworks and digitize lending journeys.

You will own targets, monitor key KPIs, and lead a team of program managers and product specialists, delivering sustainable

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in SME Banking, Business Banking, Commercial Lending, or Program-Based Finance.
• Proven track record in developing and scaling lending products, credit programs, or ecosystems.
• Strong commercial acumen with ability to grow while controlling portfolio risk.
• Leadership of high-performing, cross-functional teams.
• Deep understanding of credit risk, regulatory frameworks, and governance.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the SME lending program strategy aligned with growth and risk appetite.
• Identify target SME segments and develop sector-specific financing programs (supplier finance, microfinance, embedded lending).
• Build partnerships with corporates, fintechs, government entities, and ecosystem partners.
• Collaborate with Credit, Risk, Data, Operations, and Tech to design underwriting frameworks.
• Drive digitization of end-to-end lending journeys from onboarding to servicing and collections.
• Integrate lending solutions into digital channels and ecosystems to extend reach.
• Own targets, portfolio performance, asset quality, and risk-adjusted returns.
• Monitor KPIs: approval rates, turnaround times, disbursements, delinquency, recovery ratios.
• Refine program structures and propositions for sustainable growth and profitability.
• Design seamless, customer-centric lending experiences reducing borrowing friction.
• Develop flexible repayment solutions and lifecycle-based lending for SMEs.
• Collaborate with Customer Experience and Distribution to improve acquisition, onboarding, servicing.
• Lead and develop a team of program managers, product specialists, and analysts.
• Champion innovation, collaboration, accountability, and agile delivery.
• Ensure lending activities comply with internal policies and regulatory requirements (CB UAE, AML/CFT).

Skills

SME banking

Credit risk

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Digital lending

Embedded finance

Job description

Rakbank in the United Arab Emirates seeks an experienced leader to define and drive the SME lending program strategy aligned with business growth and risk appetite. You will shape sector-specific financing programs, build strategic partnerships, and partner with Credit, Risk, Data, Operations, and Technology to design underwriting frameworks and digitize lending journeys.

You will own targets, monitor key KPIs, and lead a team of program managers and product specialists, delivering sustainable