Relationship Officer Islamic Banking

NBC is the oldest serving bank in Tanzania with over five decades of experience. We offer a range of retail, business, corporate and investment banking, wealth management products and services.

Job Summary Support the growth of NBC’s Islamic Banking portfolio by actively prospecting for new customers, servicing an assigned client portfolio, and performing field-level business development activities in full compliance with Shari’ah principles. The Relationship Officer – Islamic Banking is the frontline face of the Bank’s Lariba proposition, responsible for converting leads into active customers, deepening existing relationships, and ensuring every client interaction reflects the Bank’s commitment to Shari’ah-compliant, customer-centred service.
Operating under the guidance of the Relationship Manager – Islamic Banking, the Relationship Officer contributes directly to deposit mobilisation, financing origination, and customer satisfaction targets. In the absence of or as delegated by the Relationship Manager, the Relationship Officer assumes responsibility for day-to-day client engagement, pipeline management, and branch-level coordination to ensure no business opportunity is missed.

Job Description​

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Customer Acquisition & Field Business Development  |  35%

Drives grassroots business growth by identifying, approaching, and converting new-to-bank Islamic Banking customers across assigned territories and market segments. In the absence of the Relationship Manager, manages the acquisition pipeline and ensures business development activities continue uninterrupted.

1.     Execute a structured weekly and monthly call plan targeting prospective Lariba customers – individuals, households, small businesses, traders, and institutions – within the assigned territory.

2.     Generate and follow up on leads from branch walk-ins, referrals, community networks, social media, and market activations to build a healthy new business pipeline.

3.    Conduct needs-assessment meetings with prospects to understand their financial requirements and match them to appropriate Lariba products (deposits, financing, transactional accounts).

4.    Prepare and present product proposals and financing applications to prospects, articulating the value proposition of NBC’s Islamic Banking offering clearly and compellingly.

5.    Manage the end-to-end onboarding process for new customers, ensuring all documentation, KYC requirements, and Shari’ah compliance checks are completed accurately and promptly.

6.    Participate in community events, market activations, mosque outreach programmes, and trade association meetings to generate awareness and leads for the Islamic Banking proposition.

7.    Maintain an up-to-date CRM record of all prospects and pipeline activities, providing weekly pipeline reports to the Relationship Manager.

8.    In the absence of the Relationship Manager, take ownership of key pipeline deals and ensure continuity of acquisition activities, escalating only decisions beyond delegated authority.

2. Portfolio Management & Customer Relationship Deepening  |  25%

Manages an assigned book of Lariba customers, ensuring strong engagement, product utilisation, and retention while identifying cross-sell and up-sell opportunities.

9.    Conduct regular scheduled and ad hoc relationship calls and visits with assigned customers to review their banking needs, resolve concerns, and identify new product opportunities.

10.  Grow deposit balances within the assigned portfolio by proactively marketing Lariba savings, current, and investment accounts and supporting customers to increase their wallet share with NBC.

11.   Identify and refer financing opportunities within the customer portfolio to the Relationship Manager, providing initial customer information and needs assessment to support credit processing.

12.  Monitor account activity within the assigned portfolio, identifying dormant accounts, declining balances, or early signs of attrition and implementing re-engagement strategies.

13.  Handle and resolve day-to-day customer queries, complaints, and service requests within defined service standards, escalating complex matters to the Relationship Manager promptly.

14.  Cross-sell complementary NBC products and services (mobile banking, cards, insurance, trade products) to Islamic Banking customers where appropriate and permissible.

3. Deposit Mobilisation & Liability Growth  |  15%

Takes personal accountability for meeting assigned deposit mobilisation targets, acting as a primary driver of liability growth for the Islamic Banking book at branch level.

15.  Meet or exceed monthly and quarterly deposit targets by actively marketing Lariba savings, current, and term investment accounts to both new and existing customers.

16.  Organise and facilitate customer education sessions, product demonstrations, and community savings drives to promote the benefits of Lariba deposit products.

17.  Track personal deposit performance against targets on a weekly basis, reporting progress to the Relationship Manager and proactively flagging shortfalls with proposed corrective actions.

18.  Gather and relay customer feedback on deposit products to the Relationship Manager to support product improvement and competitive positioning.

4. Financing Origination Support & Credit Quality  |  10%

Supports the origination of Lariba financing facilities by identifying opportunities, collecting information, and assisting with application preparation, while maintaining awareness of portfolio credit quality.

19.  Identify and document customer financing needs, collecting required financial information, business data, and supporting documents to facilitate credit application preparation by the Relationship Manager.

20. Conduct basic pre-screening of potential financing customers against eligibility criteria, Shari’ah compliance requirements, and AML/KYC standards before referring to the Relationship Manager.

21.  Follow up on approved financing offers with customers to drive acceptance and disbursement within target timelines.

22.  Monitor repayment behaviour of financed customers within the assigned portfolio, flagging early warning signs of delinquency to the Relationship Manager for prompt action.

5. Shari’ah Compliance, Reporting & Additional Responsibilities  |  15%

Upholds Shari’ah integrity in every customer interaction and operational activity, and supports the broader reporting and administrative requirements of the Islamic Banking team.

23. Ensure all customer-facing transactions, contracts, agreements, and communications are consistent with approved Shari’ah structures, NBC’s Lariba product manuals, and SAC-approved fatwas.

24. Identify and promptly report any observed Shari’ah compliance risk, process deviation, or customer complaint relating to Islamic Banking to the Relationship Manager or Shari’ah Compliance Manager.

25. Maintain accurate, complete, and up-to-date customer files and transaction documentation in line with NBC’s record-keeping policies and Shari’ah audit requirements.

26. Prepare and submit daily activity reports, weekly call reports, and monthly performance summaries to the Relationship Manager, providing a clear picture of business development progress.

27. Participate in all Islamic Banking training programmes, Shari’ah compliance refreshers, and product updates to maintain current knowledge and competency.

28. Perform other duties and assignments as directed by the Relationship Manager or Head of Islamic Banking, including supporting team initiatives, events, and branch-level coordination.

ROLE / PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education and Experience Required

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Islamic Banking and Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, Accounting, or a related field.
• Minimum 1–2 years of experience in a banking, financial services, or customer-facing sales role.
• Basic knowledge of Islamic Banking principles and Shari’ah-compliant product structures.
• Demonstrated ability to meet sales targets and manage customer relationships in a structured environment.

Desirable

• Prior experience in an Islamic Banking unit, Shari’ah-compliant microfinance institution, or Takaful company.
• Exposure to credit assessment, KYC/AML processes, or financial product origination.
• Certificate or short course in Islamic Finance or Banking (e.g., IFQ, CIMA Islamic Finance Certificate, or equivalent).
• Working knowledge of Bank of Tanzania regulatory requirements relevant to Islamic Banking.

Knowledge & Skills

• Islamic Product Knowledge: Working understanding of key Shari’ah-compliant product contracts (Murabaha, Ijarah, Musharaka, Mudaraba, Wakala) and their application to customer needs.
• Sales & Prospecting: Ability to prospect, approach, and engage potential customers confidently; capable of handling objections and closing business within approved product parameters.
• Customer Service: Strong interpersonal and listening skills; committed to resolving customer issues and delivering a consistently positive experience.
• Attention to Detail: Accuracy in completing customer documentation, KYC, and transaction records to the standards required by Shari’ah audit and regulatory compliance.
• Numeracy & Reporting: Ability to track personal performance data, prepare simple reports, and interpret targets and actuals.
• Communication: Clear and confident verbal communication in Swahili and English; able to explain Islamic Banking products in plain, accessible language to customers.
• Digital Literacy: Comfortable using core banking systems, CRM tools, and mobile/digital banking platforms relevant to the role.

Competencies

• Entrepreneurial & Commercial Thinking – Proactively seeks out business opportunities; driven by targets and motivated by results.
• Relating and Networking – Builds genuine rapport with customers and community contacts; leverages personal networks to generate leads and referrals.
• Persuading and Influencing – Presents NBC’s Lariba proposition convincingly; handles customer questions with confidence and credibility.
• Delivering Results & Meeting Customer Expectations – Consistently meets or exceeds acquisition, deposit, and service targets; follows through on commitments to customers.
• Deciding and Initiating Action – Takes prompt action on leads and customer requests; does not wait to be directed on routine business development activities.
• Adapting and Responding to Change – Adjusts approach based on customer feedback, market conditions, and management direction.
• Learning and Researching – Actively builds knowledge of Islamic Banking products, competitor offerings, and customer needs; participates willingly in training.
• Integrity & Ethical Conduct – Upholds Shari’ah compliance and NBC’s code of conduct in all dealings with customers and colleagues.

QualificationsBachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas - Business, Commerce and Management Studies, Commercial mindset - Junior (Meets some of the requirements and would need further development), Customer Excellence - Service Delivery (Meets all of the requirements), Digital familiarity (Meets all of the requirements), Effective communication - Basic (Meets all of the requirements), Experience in a similar environment, Openness to change (Meets some of the requirements and would need further development), Product and/or Service Knowledge (Meets all of the requirements), Sales Management (Meets some of the requirements and would need further development)