Relationship Manager - Public Sector

Role Overview

This role grows the bank’s public sector commercial business by winning new government and institutional clients and expanding existing relationships. Working across ministries, parastatals, Treasury and development agencies, the role holder identifies funding and project opportunities, shapes suitable banking solutions, and manages credit and regulatory risks to support sustainable portfolio growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and pursue public sector business opportunities in line with the bank’s strategic and annual plans, adjusting priorities as market conditions and client needs change.
• Recommend short- and long-term business priorities that increase client wallet share and departmental revenue.
• Build and maintain relationships with Treasury, government ministries, parastatals, and donor or development agencies; visit clients regularly to understand priority projects and funding requirements.
• Research target sectors, identify prospective clients, maintain a focused target-market database, and run a structured programme of calls and meetings to generate quality business.
• Develop and present competitive banking solutions that create value for public sector clients while supporting the bank’s commercial objectives.
• Visit existing clients and, where relevant, their business sites to assess operating conditions, review collateral, strengthen relationships, and identify retention or credit concerns.
• Assess commercial lending proposals and monitor approved facilities for repayment performance, acting promptly on delinquency and escalating cases where required to contain portfolio risk.
• Support compliance with Central Bank of Kenya requirements, the Banking Act, and internal policies; provide relevant training to branches and support teams on legal processes.
• Coordinate the sealing, stamping, execution and dispatch of charge documents, undertakings, discharges and contracts with branches and advocates.

Requirements & Qualifications

• At least seven years’ experience in banking or financial services, including a minimum of five years in relationship management within public sector operations.
• Strong knowledge of business banking products, services and processes, with practical exposure to public sector banking.
• Demonstrated ability to build a profitable, sustainable portfolio and win quality clients, supported by a sound understanding of the public sector market and competing offerings.
• Knowledge of the Central Bank of Kenya regulatory framework and requirements affecting corporate customers, alongside sound understanding of credit risk and lending processes.
• Experience evaluating commercial credit applications, interpreting audited and management accounts, and assessing borrowers’ financial strength and repayment capacity.
• Strong analytical judgement, planning and decision-making skills, including the ability to assess complex credit matters using both qualitative and quantitative information.
• Effective communication, negotiation, relationship management and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work with clients, branches and internal support teams.
• Project management and organisational capability, with familiarity with branch operations, banking procedures and relevant lending laws and regulations.