Head of Islamic Banking Window at I&M Bank

Job Purpose:

• The Head of Islamic Banking Window will provide strategic leadership and market positioning of the Islamic Banking window’s operations within the bank, ensuring compliance with Shariah principles, regulatory requirements, and the bank’s strategic objectives.
• This role requires strong leadership, business development acumen, and an in-depth understanding of Islamic financial products and services.

Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and implement the overall strategy for the Islamic Banking Window in alignment with the bank’s vision and growth objectives.
• Provide leadership to the Islamic Banking team, fostering a culture of compliance, customer focus, and performance.
• Lead the development and implementation of the unit’s business plan including development of strategies, client segments and marketing plans.
• Lead development, launch and management of the unit’s assets and liability products across whole bank’s customer segments.
• Lead product development in compliance with shariah principles and in consultation with shariah supervisory council.

Innovation, Business Development & Growth:

• Drive innovation in product development while ensuring strict adherence to Shariah principles.
• Identify new market opportunities and design competitive Shariah-compliant products for all customers segments.
• Develop and manage relationships with key clients, regulators, and stakeholders.
• Gather market intelligence on product needs and continuous innovation and product upgrades to meet emerging customers' and industry needs and required standards for the Bank.
• Develop efficient process and controls for products including onboarding, portfolio management and income mapping.
• Oversee marketing and promotional strategies to enhance brand visibility and customer engagement.
• Develop and own the pricing strategy for existing and new products rolled out.

Risk, Compliance & Governance:

• Ensure all products, services, and operations comply with Shariah guidelines and directives issued by the Shariah Supervisory Board (SSB).
• Own and manage all risk aspects of Shariah Products and ensure efficient processes and controls to mitigate the risks.
• Ensure all audit and compliance issues are addressed adequately and timely.
• Act as the focal point between the bank’s management and the Shariah Supervisory Board.
• Implement effective Shariah governance and reporting frameworks as required by regulators.

Operations Management:

• Establish and oversee day-to-day operations of the Islamic Banking Window, including branch operations, product delivery, and support functions.
• Ensure compliance with local banking regulations, internal policies, and risk management frameworks.
• Monitor financial performance, profitability, and cost management for the Islamic Banking Window.

Customer Service and Product Support:

• Conduct product awareness and training in the Bank and ensure support for marketing and communication of Bank products.
• Gather customer feedback from different touchpoints/channels and continuously review for action or product improvement.
• Continuously keep in touch with business segments and customers to ensure excellent customer satisfaction and retention.

Team Management & Development:

• Lead, mentor, and develop staff to ensure strong technical skills in Islamic banking.
• Promote a high-performance culture aligned with the values of Shariah-compliant financial services.
• Conduct training programs to enhance Islamic finance knowledge across the bank.

Qualifications & Work Experience:

• Degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or related field (CIMA, CFA, or Islamic Finance certifications preferred).
• Minimum 10–15 years of banking experience with at least 5 years in Islamic Banking leadership roles.
• Strong knowledge of Islamic finance principles (Murabaha, Ijarah, Mudarabah, Musharakah, Sukuk, etc.).
• Proven track record in business development, strategy execution, and people management.
• In-depth understanding of Products, policies and regulations.
• Good undertaking of the competition and regulatory landscape.

Key Skills & Competencies:

• Strong leadership and decision-making skills.
• Excellent understanding of Shariah governance and Islamic finance principles.
• Strategic thinking with commercial acumen.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Effective communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to balance growth objectives with compliance and risk management.