About the Role

To drive growth, profitability, and sustainability of the SHG business through program management, strategic partnerships, process excellence, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder management while ensuring achievement of business objectives.
Key Responsibilities

Business Growth & Profitability
. Own and deliver business budget, portfolio growth, revenue, and profitability targets for the SHG business.
. Launch and scale Individual Loan and other SHG products aligned to market opportunities and business objectives.
. Ensure timely receipt, reconciliation, and maximization of eligible subvention claims.
. Drive portfolio performance through continuous monitoring and corrective actions.

Partnerships & Stakeholder Management
. Build and manage relationships with NRLM, SRLM, Banks, Government agencies, and other key stakeholders.
. Ensure timely, accurate, and complete submission of reports, MIS, and data requirements to all internal and external agencies and statutory bodies.
. Lead onboarding and engagement of BCs, Bank Sakhis, CRPs, and other channel partners.

Product & Process Excellence
. Drive product innovation, industry benchmarking, and periodic enhancements to maintain competitiveness.
. Implement process improvements and automation initiatives to improve efficiency and reduce TAT.
. Design and execute business campaigns to drive productivity, acquisition, and portfolio growth.
. Ensure timely and accurate payment of incentives, commissions, and other partner payouts.

Governance, Compliance & Risk
. Ensure adherence to all regulatory requirements, programme guidelines, and internal policies.
. Maintain strong audit outcomes and positive ratings across internal, statutory, and regulatory reviews.
. Monitor business risks, portfolio quality, and control parameters,



and implement corrective actions where required.
. Drive a culture of compliance, governance, accountability, and sustainable business growth.
Qualifications
. MBA / PGDM from a reputed institution (Tier I/II preferred), with specialisation in Finance, Rural Management, or Development Studies.
. 12-18 years of experience in banking / financial inclusion / development finance, with a minimum of 5 years in SHG lending, NRLM/SRLM engagement, or rural livelihood programs at a senior management level.
. Prior experience in a product management, program management, or strategy role within a bank's financial
. inclusion or priority sector vertical is essential.
. Deep working knowledge of DAY-NRLM architecture (SHG → VO → CLF structure), SHG-Bank Linkage Programme, NABARD refinance, and e-Shakti platform.
. Demonstrated track record of managing government and regulatory stakeholder relationships (NRLM, SRLMs, NABARD, RBI).
. Strong understanding of RBI Priority Sector Lending norms, MFIN/Sa-dhan guidelines, and credit bureau infrastructure (CRIF/Equifax) as applicable to SHG lending.
. Experience in managing cross-functional programs involving Technology, Operations, Credit, Risk, and Compliance teams
Role Proficiencies:

. Strong understanding of SHG, Individual Loans, Rural Finance, and NRLM/SRLM ecosystem.
. Proven ability to drive business growth, portfolio expansion, profitability, and partner productivity.
. Expertise in product innovation, process improvement, digital enablement, and TAT optimization.
. Robust stakeholder management across Government agencies, Banks, BCs, Bank Sakhis, CRPs, and internal teams.
. Sound knowledge of regulatory guidelines, subvention programs, audit requirements, risk, and compliance.
. Demonstrated leadership in driving cross-functional collaboration, strategic initiatives, and business outcomes at scale.

📌 Bharat Banking: National Lead - SHG Program Management (Mumbai)
🏢 Axis Bank
📍 Mumbai