Business Services Manager

Job Type: Full Time

Established as a nonprofit in 2007, Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation (HVADC) is dedicated to promoting balanced, market-based solutions that lead to enhanced agricultural entrepreneurship, rural economic growth, and community enhancement. HVADC is the only economic development agency in the Hudson Valley with a specific focus on the viability of the agricultural economy in the region. HVADC provides one-on-one Business Technical Assistance (BTA) services to agribusiness entrepreneurs through its Incubator Without Wall program and facilitates access to capital through a variety of loan and grant opportunities.

HVADC’s affiliate organization the Farm and Food Growth Fund (FFGF) is a like-minded organization which has a special interest in supporting the development and growth of jobs on farms, in other aspects of agriculture production and value-added activities and in food manufacturing and food retail businesses. It administers grant programs and provides BTA services throughout the Northeast Foodshed area.

The Business Services Manager is a full-time position focused on providing client services for both HVADC and FFGF BTA and loan programs. Specific responsibilities include:

• Supervision of the HVADC/FFGF Business Services Coordinator, a part-time position which also supports client services for BTA, grants and loan programs, as well as other FFGF/HVADC staff working on specific projects with BTA loan clients and loan recipients.
• Serving as the HVADC/FFGF team main point of management and contact between clients, staff and consultants.
  • Conducting in-take and assessment of client needs.
  • Working with the internal and external HVADC/FFGF teams to coordinate Business Technical Assistance services with third party service providers/consultants including introductions to clients, needs assessment, obtaining estimate of services, developing client contracts and follow-up with clients and providers.
  • Providing marketing support by generating impact stories, case studies and best practices from client work.
  • Providing support related to client reporting, billing, contracts and consultant contracts, coordinating with HVADC Deputy Director/FFGF Vice President.
• Managing the loan application process from in-take to closing including coordination with clients, underwriters, HVADC/FFGF counsel and loan committee to assure necessary documentation is submitted, and timelines met.
• Marketing HVADC/FFGF Business Technical Assistance programs and loan products to potential client farms and food producers.
• Working with other HVADC/FFGF staff, preparing reports for HVADC/FFGF Boards, status reports for funders and other reports as needed.
• Addressing any concerns or issues a client may have and working with staff or consultants to resolve them as needed.
• Assisting with HVADC/FFGF development efforts and other HVADC/FFGF staff activities, including monitoring and responding to grant opportunities and new program design and implementation as needed.
• Participating in meetings, workshops, and presentations with staff, clients and community stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, planning, or other related fields preferred, or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Two to three years’ experience in business lending and/or underwriting.
• CDFI experience desired but not necessary.
• Familiarity with DownHome Loan Manager or a similar loan servicing platform desired but not necessary.
• Agribusiness and economic development knowledge is helpful.
• Demonstrated management skills, as well as experience reporting to C-Level suite and interacting with Board members.
• Highly energetic, creative self-starter capable of managing various assignments for multiple parties.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with professional colleagues, municipal clients, public officials, developers, and representatives from private and public financial organizations.
• A demonstrated ability to solve problems in a collaborative work environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Understanding of and adherence to confidentiality and privacy practices.
• Excellent interpersonal, team building and relationship-building skills.
• Strong attention to detail, time management and organizational skills.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office with an emphasis on Word and Excel, Zoom and Dropbox.
• Intermediate proficiency in an application platform and a CRM platform.
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred but not required.
• Commitment to racial and social equality.
• Comfortable working in environments with animals, i.e. cows, chickens, pigs, lambs, dogs.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and ability to independently travel within HVADC/FFGF geographic coverage area to visit with clients and partner organizations. Travel to clients especially is most often in rural communities in which public transportation is not available, so it is recommended that only candidates with access to a vehicle apply.

Additional Information:

• This is an in-person position in Hudson, NY.
• Occasional travel mainly throughout New York, western Connecticut, western Massachusetts, southern Vermont and eastern Pennsylvania.
• Proof of Covid-19 vaccination, mask wearing/social distancing in office as needed.

Compensation

Must be available five days/week, compensation is a yearly salary of $65,000 to $75,000, dependent upon relevant and valid skills/experience. Generous benefit package that starts with 150 hours paid time off, 13 holidays, 403B retirement plan and medical. Mileage reimbursement is given for travel to client and partner meetings.

How to Apply

Email resume and cover letter to careers@ffgrowthfund.org. Application deadline: October 31, 2024.

HVADC and FFGF are Equal Opportunity Employers and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that respects and values diversity of cultural, ethnic, and experiential backgrounds. We welcome applicants of all races, ethnicities, national origins, genders, and sexual orientations, and differently abled people.

Generous benefit package that starts with 150 hours paid time off, 13 holidays, 403B retirement plan and medical. Mileage reimbursement is given for travel to client and partner meetings.