EXPAT COO - Lending Service (Island Life)

EXPAT position in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Overview

Our client, a regulated financial services institution in Papua New Guinea, is seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join their leadership team during an exciting period of growth and transformation.

Operating under central bank regulation, our client provides deposit-taking and lending services across Papua New Guinea, with a portfolio split between microloans and secured lending. After three years of strategic restructuring, the organisation is now on a strong upward trajectory with improved financial performance and clear departmental KPIs.

This is a three-year contract with strong potential for extension based on performance. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in driving operational excellence, accelerating execution speed, and overseeing key business units in a competitive, frontier emerging market environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership: Drive day-to-day operational management of core business units, with close oversight of secured and unsecured lending operations, marketing, and IT functions
• Performance Management: Ensure business units meet and exceed clearly defined departmental KPIs and performance targets
• Systems Transformation: Lead and support migration to new core operating systems, AI automation initiatives, and IT systems improvements including call centre technology enhancements
• Speed of Execution: Address and improve operational efficiency in a Pacific environment, implementing processes that accelerate decision-making and delivery
• Lending Operations: Provide hands-on management of lending functions, including review and refinement of credit policies and product costing models
• Strategic Implementation: Execute on the company's clearly defined strategy whilst identifying opportunities for faster growth and improved profitability
• Team Development: Foster collaboration across a culturally diverse workforce of 800+ language groups, building unified team culture and accountability
• Stakeholder Management: Work closely with the Chairman and shareholder, maintaining open communication lines within a flat organisational structure
• Branch Oversight: Conduct occasional visits to outstation branches across Papua New Guinea's main island and surrounding territories

Requirements:
Required Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Commerce, Business, Finance, or related field (BCom or equivalent)
• Extensive experience in financial services operations, particularly within lending environments
• Proven lending experience – essential requirement; candidates without lending background will not be considered
• Demonstrated ability to work in a hands-on operational capacity, comfortable with Excel, spreadsheets, and financial modelling
• Experience with core banking/operating systems and systems migration or transformation projects
• Strong track record in driving performance and accountability in competitive environments
• Ability to operate effectively in emerging or frontier markets with less developed infrastructure
• Experience working in environments requiring speed of execution and operational agility
• Proven capability to build and lead diverse teams across multiple locations
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work within flat organisational structures
• Willingness to relocate to Papua New Guinea on a three-year contract basis

Preferred Qualifications

• Honours degree or MBA
• Experience in African banking environments (particularly institutions such as African Bank or similar hands-on operational environments)
• Previous experience in smaller financial institutions (under 500 employees) where hands-on involvement is required
• Understanding of microfinance or unsecured lending operations
• Experience operating in Pacific or similar cultural environments
• Track record of working effectively with diverse cultural groups and fragmented team structures
• Exposure to rapid growth environments with significant expansion plans

Benefits:
Package

Salary: AUD 250,000 - AUD 300,000 per annum + Performance Based Bonus

Benefits Include:

• Fully furnished housing provided by the company
• Company vehicle
• Annual return flights to home country for employee and immediate family
• Three club memberships (golf club, yacht club, or similar)
• Comprehensive medical cover
• Professional membership fees covered
• Relocation support: Cubic metres allowance for personal belongings and shipping assistance
• Initial relocation costs covered

Contract Term: Three-year fixed-term contract with strong likelihood of extension for high performers

Location: Primarily based at Port Moresby head office, with occasional travel to branch locations across Papua New Guinea

About Living in Papua New Guinea

Important Considerations:

• Papua New Guinea is classified as a frontier emerging market with developing infrastructure
• Papa New Guinea has limited expatriate schooling options
• Opportunities exist for accompanying spouses with transferable skills to find meaningful employment
• The environment requires adaptability and patience with Pacific time zones and cultural differences
• Port Moresby offers expatriate amenities including club facilities and a growing expat community

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