Business Development Officer

Working Solutions CDFI (www.workingsolutions.org) is a certified, nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). As the First to Believe in Small Business, Working Solutions (WS) makes affordable capital—primarily loans from $5,000-$100,000 with no minimum FICO requirement and no collateral requirement—available to start-up and early-stage entrepreneurs, including ITIN applicants, and provides free business consulting with every loan. WS is committed to communities that have historically not had access to capital and places an additional priority on serving lower-income individuals, BIPOC entrepreneurs, and women.

WS recently announced shared executive leadership with CDFI Main Street Launch as a growth strategy to increase impact, enhance operational capacity, and extend the collective reach of both organizations in California. Through this strategic partnership, WS is able to provide a continuum of capital to support financing needs up to $350,000 for entrepreneurs at different stages of readiness. The Business Development Officer will be a WS hire.

Focused on significant social impact, WS has deployed over $70 million in small-dollar capital to more than 3,000 small businesses in California since inception with a goal to reach $100 million in all-time deployment by FYE2029. Headquartered in San Francisco and lending in the Bay Area since 2005, WS expanded statewide in 2024 and now serves entrepreneurs across California. WS’s financial strength, mission-aligned impact, and local and national visibility reflect its commitment to core markets and excellence in getting the job done. As an industry leader, WS is looking for a community-minded change maker to help grow loan deployment and set new sights for the years ahead. Come be a part of this vision!

Position Overview:

The Business Development Officer (BD) will increase WS’s lead volume and market presence, with a focus on growth-ready entrepreneurs. The BD will generate a pipeline of prospective WS clients by: (1) building referral relationships with banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions; and (2) cultivating community partnerships to increase WS’s visibility and generate leads. The BD will work with WS’s Communications Team to harness digital outreach tools that 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 and in-person, boots-on-the-ground outreach. The BD will be a change agent who is passionate about serving financially marginalized communities.

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 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 Community Outreach: Deepen WS’s existing market presence 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 1-3 years of relevant work experience;
• Spanish language fluency required;
• Availability to travel within California throughout WS’s footprint across the state, including in Silicon Valley, the Central Valley, and 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.

Application Deadline: Open until filled.

Please email resume and cover letter with the subject line “Business Development Officer” to jobs@workingsolutions.org. No phone calls please.

Working Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Working Solutions offers a competitive salary based on industry best practices as well as an excellent benefits package, including company-sponsored medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contribution, and employer paid basic life insurance with optional supplemental coverage available at employee cost; a 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match; flexible spending accounts (medical, dependent care); professional development funds; generous paid time off; cell/internet stipend; and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Fluency in Spanish and English required