Senior Lending Officer

Job Description

Job Description

The Senior Lending Officer (SLO) is an accomplished lending professional with experience in commercial real estate finance, church-owned, nonprofit-owned, and/or mission real estate projects. The SLO has a track record of experience with community and economic development finance (including affordable housing using Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs), New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC)-funded projects, public and philanthropic economic community development and housing resources and other development finance tools. The SLO is highly experienced in deploying the full range of financial tools and organizational resources to make impactful church real estate projects happen in disinvested communities (especially CB&LF/ARC’s Target Markets: Investment Areas, Black Communities).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• In collaboration with the Chief Divisional Operating Officer and Minister & Team Leader Strategic Initiatives, the Senior Lending Officer implements the current three-year Mission Implementation Strategy to successfully achieve transformational goals and maximize Fund missional impact.

• Oversees CB&LF/ARC loan operations, including supervising lending staff, loan originations, presentation of loans for approval to the CB&LF/ARC Board Executive Committee, processing, underwriting, closings, loan platform management, risk management, troubled loans, and loan projections.

• Oversees preparation of all lending reports and documents required by the Chief Divisional Operating Officer, the Controller and/or the CB&LF/ARC Board of Directors. Must work closely with the CB&LF/ARC Controller to prepare, organize, and provide documents and reports to outside auditors.

• Provides oversight to the CB&LF/ARC Partners in Vision (PIV) development services program for churches managed by AIM Development Group.

• Identifies lending opportunities, and when necessary, sell participations in loans to other mission-aligned lenders and CDFIs.

• Supports and assists the Chief Divisional Operating Officer in identifying church-owned real estate development projects, specifically for those church projects that include community facilities, affordable housing, and/or mixed-use projects that include any combination of religious, community development, housing and/or economic development purposes;

• Assists the Chief Divisional Operating Officer in raising capital, developing and maintaining relationships with new and existing banking institutions, philanthropies, investors, organizational partners, and other CDFIs.

• Coordinates weekly loan meetings with Chief Divisional Operating Officer, Controller, and lending staff to review pending applications, monitor loan portfolio performance, production goals, troubled loans and lending policies, minimize legal and financial risks;

• Presents loan approval recommendations and/or loan restructuring recommendations (prepared by the Senior Loan Administrator, Loan Finance Assistant and Underwriter) to CB&LF/ARC Board Executive Committee on behalf of churches applying for CB&LF/ARC financing;

• Advises the Chief Divisional Operating Officer on general and specific matters related to needs/concerns expressed by borrowers, observations on loan products and CB&LF/ARC programs/services, other opportunities and/or challenges identified from communications with active borrowers.

• In collaboration with the Chief Divisional Operating Officer, interviews, selects, and trains employee(s); plans, monitors and appraises employee performance;

• Develops and maintains professional and courteous relationships with church leaders CB&LF/AC and other NMUCC staff; serves as a positive role model by exemplifying values which are consistent with the United Church of Christ;

• Initiates and strengthens relationships, in collaboration with other CB&LF/ARC staff, with potential congregations that may benefit from the Fund’s mission.

• Assume other responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required to perform successfully in this position.

• An undergraduate degree in finance, or a related field or equivalent experience, or a combination of academic study and experience in commercial real estate, finance, or community economic development; MBA, JD or other advanced degree in relevant field (finance, planning, etc.) is preferred.

• A minimum of 3-5 years of real estate lending experience, especially with complex community development projects, or 5 years in a related field at a CDFI and/or in the community development finance division of a banking institution. Knowledge and experience in church and/or nonprofit real estate lending is a plus;

• Knowledge of government real estate development subsidy programs, tax credit programs, and other public and/or private economic and community development funding initiatives that serve distressed or underinvested communities;

• Strong work ethic, professional demeanor and willingness to cooperatively participate on a team in a mission-based organization

• Superior financial analysis and credit evaluation skills; ability to develop and/or analyze a project pro forma and/or a capital stack

• Self-starter, ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a small team

• Commitment to and theological understanding of the purpose and mission of the church in its broad range of concerns and in its ability to promote life and abundance in society is preferred; church experience as lay or clergy leader is a plus;

• Demonstrated written and oral English language skills, including ability to conceptualize and develop resources shared in print (blogs, social media posts, articles, etc.) or through public speaking. Knowledge of a second language is a plus;

• Desire and sensitivity to work in diverse racial, ethnic, cultural and religious settings with commitment to pluralism in the workplace as well as in one’s understanding of mission-driven work;

• Competency in leadership planning, development and training;

• Demonstrated human relations and supervisory skills;

• Proficient in Microsoft Office software programs, use of e-mail, other business applications and internet, and willingness to expand skill base

• Ability to travel within U.S. as necessary (25%-30%)

This position is Cleveland based and requires work in the office at least 3 days/week.

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for the position and is subject to review and change at any time in accordance with the needs of the ministry. Since no job description can detail all duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a position, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a position shall also be considered part of the position holder’s responsibility.

It is expected that the persons who holds this position will conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the policies of the UCC and in a manner that will reflect positively on the organization. All staff are encouraged to nurture safety within the work performed on behalf of the UCC by being attentive to self-care, education, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and the importance of referring those in need to supportive and helpful resources.