Business Development Officer

Position Overview:

The Business Development Officer (BD) will increase Working Solutions CDFI's (WS) lead volume and market presence, with an immediate focus in the Silicon Valley-South Bay. The BD will generate a pipeline of prospective WS clients by: (1) building referral relationships with banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions; (2) cultivating partnerships—with a focus on Santa Clara County and San Mateo County—to increase WS’s visibility and generate leads. The BD will work with WS’s Communications Team to harness digital outreach tools to increase lead generation and conversion rates. The ideal candidate will be a stellar partnership manager with outstanding verbal and written communication skills who is comfortable with virtual partner cultivation as well as local travel and in-person, boots-on-the-ground outreach. The BD will be a change agent who is passionate about reaching financially marginalized communities with WS products.

Key Duties:

• Grow B2B Lead Volume: Cultivate relationships with banks, small business lenders and service providers, and financial institutions to promote lead generation and referrals;
• Build Ecosystem Partnerships: Engage community and government partners, trade organizations, and technical assistance centers to generate a high volume of mission-aligned client referrals and support organization visibility and strategic goals;
• Expand Local Outreach: Deepen WS’s existing market presence—with a focus on Santa Clara County and San Mateo County and adjacent regions—through in-person meetings and presentations to reach WS’s key markets;
• Support Priority Communities: Build new referral partnerships and prioritize lead generation sources to maximize outreach, volume of quality leads, and conversion rates, with a focus on start-up businesses, low-income individuals, and BIPOC and women entrepreneurs with referrals to external business support resources, as applicable; and
• Maintain Data Excellence: Enter data into CRM daily and work across teams to watch data trends and adjust outreach strategies for improved lead quality.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or 5-8 years of relevant work experience;
• Spanish language fluency required;
• Willingness to travel within the Silicon Valley-South Bay, specifically Santa Clara County and San Mateo County, and adjacent regions; also available to travel throughout WS’s footprint across the state and in particular to Southern California, as needed;
• Fluency in banking and/or financial sector terminology a plus; experience in CDFI industry highly preferred;
• Strong customer service and relationship-building skills with an awareness of how to connect resources and increase referrals;
• Strong presentation skills, both in-person and in the virtual environment;
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with cultural competency to connect with a diverse audience;
• Knowledge of digital communication and social media tools a plus;
• Small business experience a plus;
• Proficient with virtual office environment and tools including, but not limited to: Zoom, Outlook, and CRMs such as Salesforce;
• Demonstrates sound judgment and effective decision-making skills;
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently, and also values communication to keep in touch with team and larger organization;
• Flexibility with a growth-oriented mindset for a great culture add; and
• Commitment to Organizational Values: 1) Equitable access to economic opportunity for historically marginalized entrepreneurs; 2) Transparency, integrity, humility, and respect for all; 3) Meeting communities where they are with a spirit of inclusiveness and listening; and 4) Adjusting our response to address the size of the challenge.