Lending Director

The Franklin County Community Development Corporation (FCCDC) seeks a dynamic and entrepreneurial Lending Director to lead the FCCDC Small Business Lending Program and strengthen its position as a leader in mission-based impact lending. We are looking for an experienced small business lender who wants to use their expertise to strengthen our region’s economic development efforts in a collaborative, mission-oriented team and develop innovative approaches to engage more people that have not been able to access financing due to historic and current inequities and biases. This is an opportunity to grow a mature program to reach more underserved people, by increasing the size of the loan portfolio from $10 million, and becoming a Certified Development Financial Institution.

Key aspects of the position are business development, pre- and post-loan technical assistance to clients, credit analysis, underwriting, financial forecasting, loan packaging, compliance, loan portfolio management, loan policies and systems, grant management and outreach in the community.

The Lending Director will work closely with the other FCCDC Programs (Business Development, Food Systems and Production, and Racial Justice) to develop key partnerships and a deep pipeline of potential borrowers.

The Lending Director is part of senior management and will provide leadership within the organization and serve as a strategic partner to other Program Directors, the Executive Director, and the Board of Directors.

Responsibilities:

• Work with the FCCDC team to meet organizational goals and mission

• Participate in activities and help work for racial, social and economic justice

• Manage all aspects of the FCCDC business lending program, including planning and budgeting

• Program outreach to build the pipeline and grow the portfolio, in particular with more people from underserved populations

• Screen applicants, conduct interviews and assess client’s readiness using innovative methods

• Coordinate business technical assistance and lending services

• Provide business counseling directly or match with other FCCDC staff or appropriate consultants

• Perform necessary due diligence and conduct site visits. Analyze loan packages in terms of business viability, client experience, knowledge and management capacity, character, credit record, collateral and owner's equity. Use creative methods to ensure equitable decisions

• When loan packages are ready, present loan proposals to the Loan Review Committee

• For micro-loans, work with other FCCDC staff to make loan decisions

• Manage contracts and reporting requirements for the FCCDC and funders and ensure loan files and other administrative aspects are maintained in proper order

• Develop proposals and compliance reporting to the CDFI Fund. Remain updated on all regulations, policies and procedures relative to commercial lending and to ensure a compliant portfolio

• Responsible for loan closings, documentation and coordination with lawyers

• Follow-up and monitor clients, maintain a well-balanced portfolio, collect repayments, perform remodifications and loan workouts if necessary

• Coordinate the lending program with other FCCDC programs and other organizations.

• Update and manage lending databases

• Assist with training workshops

• Support FCCDC organizational development and growth

• Maintain strictest confidentiality

• When schedule requires remote work, expected to be available for meetings, calls, responding to emails, and conducting regular duties

• Attend regularly scheduled client meetings, team meetings, mandatory trainings, and participate in professional development activities

• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias

• Help meet organizational goals and mission; participate in anti-racism activities; and help work for racial, social, and economic justice

• Participate in FCCDC client and staff meetings, team meetings, and professional development activities

• Ensure FCCDC values are brought to all aspects of the work: Racial, Social, and Economic Justice; Community Empowerment; Innovation; Collaboration; and Integrity Requirements Minimum

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in related field with five (5) or more years of progressive managerial experience with a proven record of customer service, business counseling, commercial lending and leadership experience.

OR

Advanced degree in related field with (3) three or more years of progressive managerial experience with a proven record of customer service, business counseling, commercial lending and leadership experience.

• Previous lending experience, microenterprise credit, mission-driven lending.

• Demonstrated ability to network with bankers, government, community and business representatives to generate loans, promote FCCDC, and increase client contact throughout western MA.

• Counseling and assessment skills. Ability to work with clientele of wide-ranging ethnicity, education level, socioeconomic status, including immigrants.

• Knowledge of small business operations and business environment in western MA.

• Independent worker, excellent communication, organizational and analytical skills. • Commitment to Community Economic Development.

• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of the FCCDC.

• Committed to dismantling white supremacy culture within the FCCDC and in the community, and help work for racial, social and economic justice.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience operating own business or in a management position in a company a plus.

• Project management experience and experience with CDFI a plus.

• Experience with farm and food businesses a plus.

• Spanish fluency a plus.

If you are excited about this role and have relevant experience but your experience does not align exactly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply.

We work 37.5 hours per week and provide flexible schedules, when possible, so that each employee is productive in a way that works for the organization, them, and their family. The Lending Director works from the FCCDC office in Greenfield, meets off site at client locations, and participates in community outreach. Some work can be done remotely. The position has regular contact with FCCDC staff, Loan Review Committee, Board of Directors, collaborators, vendors, and consultants. The Lending Director will supervise one or more staff members. We are a CORI-friendly employer and consider all applicants regardless of their background. While we do conduct background checks as part of our hiring process, a past record does not automatically disqualify candidates. We evaluate each applicant based on their qualifications, experience, and the specific requirements of the role.

Benefits including flexible hours, health insurance, retirement plan and paid time off.

• Retirement: 3% match

• Paid vacation, personal, and sick time

• Health insurance, health savings account