Head of Legal, Governance and Recovery

About this role

VisionFund Tanzania, a microfinance institution owned by VisionFund International (World Vision's microfinance subsidiary), is seeking a highly experienced professional for the role of Head of Legal, Governance and Recovery. VisionFund Tanzania is currently the fourth largest and fastest-growing Microfinance Institution in the country, recognised for maintaining the highest quality portfolio and some of the most efficient operations in the sector. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this position provides corporate governance expertise, legal advisory services, and recovery leadership to the institution while maintaining board secretarial records. The Head of Legal, Governance and Recovery leads across four interconnected domains.

In corporate governance, the role provides secretarial services to Board and Board Committee Meetings, ensuring timely and accurate recording and distribution of minutes and meeting packs, facilitating director induction and ongoing training, and ensuring compliance with the Companies Act and related regulatory frameworks. In legal advisory and litigation, the role advises on emerging legislation, develops strategies to protect the institution from legal suits and contractual losses, represents the Bank in court proceedings, and manages all labour-related matters and disputes. In recovery operations, the role oversees the Recovery Manager and team, implements strategies for delinquent and written-off accounts, evaluates cost-benefit of recovery methods including settlements and restructuring, and ensures accurate provisioning for bad debts in collaboration with finance and risk teams. In contracts and risk management, the role drafts, reviews, and maintains agreements, ensures compliance with Bank of Tanzania regulations, and manages legal risks on a day-to-day basis.

The role requires a Master's or Bachelor's degree in Law, a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law School of Tanzania, and current status as a Practicing Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania. Candidates must have at least five years of legal practice experience in the banking sector, specifically in credit, collections, risk management, and legal recovery, supplemented by litigation and corporate governance experience.