Housing Finance Systems Manager at Habitat for Humanity Zambia – July 2025

Housing Finance Systems Manager

Title: HOUSING FINANCE SYSTEMS MANAGER
Department Name: PROGRAMS
Reports to Title:   PROGRAMS DIRECTOR
Responsible for: 1 POSITION

Position Summary:

The Housing Finance Systems (HFS) Manager is a pivotal leadership role at Habitat for Humanity Zambia (HFHZ), tasked with spearheading the development, implementation, and scaling of innovative housing finance solutions. This role is critical for expanding inclusive access to affordable and appropriate housing for low-income households across Zambia. Reporting to the Programs Director, the HFS Manager provides strategic and technical leadership to dismantle systemic barriers in housing finance. This includes driving the implementation of the Creating Access to Safe Housing (CASH) project (funded by Jersey Overseas Aid) for underserved communities, strengthening community-based financial institutions like Savings Groups (SGs), and forging key partnerships with public and private sector entities. Collaborating closely with regional and global teams, including the Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter (TCIS), the HFS Manager will integrate market-based financial innovations across HFHZ’s multisectoral programs, encompassing shelter, Water & Sanitation, climate resilience, and livelihoods, aligning with Habitat for Humanity International’s broader housing finance and market systems The Housing Finance Systems (HFS) Manager is a key leadership role within Habitat for Humanity Zambia (HFHZ), responsible for spearheading the development, implementation, and scaling of housing finance solutions that expand inclusive access to affordable and appropriate housing for low-income households across Zambia.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Housing Finance Program Leadership (40%)

-Lead the strategic planning, implementation, and effective management of HFHZ’s housing finance programs and interventions to achieve defined impact targets.
-Oversee the integration of housing finance within HFHZ’s broader programming including shelter, Water and Sanitation, Climate resilience and economic empowerment.

-Provide strategic and technical guidance to HFHZ teams and partners in the design and rollout of appropriate housing microfinance products.
-Lead proposal development, budgeting, and donor reporting for HFS-related projects.
-Coordinate the development and implementation of program work plans, comprehensive monitoring frameworks, and effective evaluation mechanisms to track progress and demonstrate results
2. Strategic Partnerships and Innovation (30%)

-Build and manage relationships with financial institutions, government bodies, fintech providers, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), regulatory agencies, and development partners.
-Collaborate with The Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter (TCIS) to pilot and scale innovative housing finance models (e.g., impact insurance, SME loans, digital finance).
-Designing, implementing and scaling digital tools that support client data management, mobile payments and digital loan payments.
-Building digital literacy and adoption among staff, partners, and community based financial organizations to ensure inclusive access to housing finance through technology.
-Represent HFHZ in national and international forums, financial inclusion working groups, and housing sector platforms.
-Contribute to thought leadership and knowledge generation to position HFHZ as a leader in inclusive housing finance.
3. Strengthening Community-Based Financial Systems (20%)

-Provide leadership for the formation, registration, and capacity development of community-based financial Organisations particularly Savings Groups other informal or semi-formal community entities involved in housing finance.
-Guide technical assistance on governance, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, savings group mobilization, loan appraisal, and operational management of Savings Groups and forms of local or community -based organizations.
-Provide leadership for facilitating messaging for community mobilization and financial literacy campaigns to build awareness and demand for inclusive housing financial products and services.
-Ensure the financial inclusion of marginalized populations, including women, youths, People Living with Disabilities (PLWD) and informal sector workers in the housing finance systems programming.
4. Safeguarding, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (10%)

-Work with MEAL teams to track progress, outcomes, and learning across all HFS-related activities.
-Ensure systematic data collection, documentation of best practices, and development of case studies.
-Support organizational learning, capacity development, and cross-country knowledge sharing with other Habitat national offices.
-Ensure safe programing of all housing finance and market driven interventions including sector players

Success Criteria:

• Integration of housing finance within HFHZ’s broader programming including shelter
• Growth and development of new and existing partners in housing finance space
• Achievement of all key deliverables on the CASH Project
• Compliant with donor requirements, HFHZ’s policies and HFH Standards
• Improved capacity of managers and field teams
• Timely reporting and communication
• Enhanced collaboration with TCIS
• Expanding financial inclusion for underserved low-income communities

Qualifications and Experience

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in economics, Finance, Development Studies, Business Administration, or a related field. A master’s degree in a relevant field will be an added advantage.

Experience:

-Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in housing finance, microfinance, or inclusive financial systems, with at least three (3) years in a senior leadership or managerial capacity.
-Proven experience in designing and managing people centered financial inclusion programs, Savings Group development, or housing microfinance.
-Strong familiarity with Zambia’s financial sector, cooperative legal frameworks, and housing market dynamics.
-Demonstrated experience with private sector engagements
-Demonstrated success in working with both community-level Organisations and high-level stakeholders, including donors and financial regulators using People Public Private Partnership approaches.

Technical Skills:

-Proposal development – capacity to write development/impactful proposals
-Product Development – evidence of understanding/experience in micro finance product development methodologies including Human Centric Design is a plus
-Project Management – evidence and experiment of project management essentials,
-Monitoring and evaluation – evidence of ability to monitor project implementation
-Planning and budgeting – evidence of experience developing and reviewing plans and budgets,
-Strategic Partnerships – evidence of experience in creating and managing strategic relationships and partnerships.

Soft Skills:

Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills.
Ability to manage teams, mentor staff, and coordinate cross-functional collaboration.
Highly organized, self-motivated, and committed to Habitat’s mission and values.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English both written and spoken.
Knowledge of other local languages (e.g., Bemba, Nyanja) is an advantage.

Active support of HFHI Values:

Humility – We are part of something bigger than ourselves

Courage – We do what’s right, even when it is difficult or unpopular

Accountability – We take personal responsibility for Habitat’s mission

Safeguarding: HFHZ requires that all employees take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguarding our intended beneficiaries, their communities, and all those with whom we work.  Managers at all levels have responsibilities to support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguards the rights of beneficiaries and community members (especially children), and promotes the implementation of Habitat for Humanity’s code of conduct.

Working Conditions:

40 hours of work per week, with one hour lunch break and 2 health breaks of 20 minutes each in a day.

Location: Based in Lusaka, this role requires regular and extensive travel to HFHZ field sites and partner locations across rural and peri-urban areas of Zambia. Occasional international travel may also be required for learning exchanges or global convenings. Candidates should be prepared for potential extended field stays, sometimes under challenging conditions.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your letter of motivation, CV, National Registration Card, certified and ZAQA verified qualifications to Habitat_hr@habitatzam.org.zm. Address your application to the National Director.

Kindly only apply if you meet the minimum requirements for the position. Clearly state the name of the position you are applying for in the subject line.

Closing Date:   The closing date for applications is Wednesday, 13th August, 2025.

Only shortlisted candidate  will be contacted.

Salary:

National terms and conditions, competitive and negotiable within the salary ranges depending on experience, skills, and competencies.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ZAMBIA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER