Senior Lending Officer

Job Description

Job Description

People Architects is partnering with The United Church of Christ to recruit for a Senior Loan Officer. GENERAL PURPOSE OF POSITION: The United Church of Christ Church Building and Loan Fund (CB&LF) has assisted faith leaders with the financing and development of church-owned real estate since 1853. Recently, CB&LF founded a wholly owned affiliate, Amistad Redevelopment Corporation (ARC) _now certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)_ to attract new financial resources and provide technical assistance to churches that want to repurpose their properties for mission-aligned real estate uses like affordable housing, schools, healthcare and other community facilities. The Minister for Church Legacy and Renewal will work with Conferences, Associations and local congregations to equip them for sustainable renewal and bold missional impact. S/he will a) help stable and growing congregations increase missional impact, b) support closing congregations to preserve their enduring legacies, and c) help faith-based institutions of all kinds to align their real estate and other strategic assets with the mission and values of the United Church of Christ to achieve measurable transformation. This position will advance the UCC core values of strengthening the church, reshaping the narrative, leadership development, and decolonization. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist stable and growing congregations to increase missional impact through new and existing education and training offered by CB&LF, Love of Church and other sources.
• Continuing the work of the UCC Church Legacy and Closure initiative, work with UCC Conferences, the Council of Conference Ministers (CCM), Associations, congregations and clergy to assist and support closing congregations to preserve their enduring legacies and discern mission-aligned real estate disposition strategies.
• Coordinate the creation of a comprehensive digital and physical UCC Real Estate and Strategic Assets resource, offering best practices for managing, deploying, and preserving church real estate and other strategic assets in alignment with UCC mission and values.
• Champion a “Theology of Mission” collaborating with CB&LF staff to create trainings and narratives that empower local church leaders to view every physical asset as a platform for justice and community renewal.
• Facilitate access to Love of Church resources, providing healthy congregations with the tools to decolonize their assets and strengthen their community presence.
• Develop a "Legacy Sustainability Model" to ensure that the financial and missional "DNA" of concluding congregations is preserved.
• Collaborating with CB&LF/ARC’s Senior Data Analyst, and CARD (Center for Analytics, Research, and Data) document research on closing UCC congregations to discern significant patterns, inform the support and training needed for pastors serving declining congregations, and highlight narratives of hope and strategic transformation.
• Facilitate UCC-wide communication, working with Marketing & Communications; (MarCom), to promote and share legacy and renewal resources UCC News and other media outlets.
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• College degree and other related experience and/or training; demonstrated personal interest in, and commitment to church legacy and renewal from a biblical/theological perspective.
• Commitment to, and theological understanding of, mission in its broad range of concerns; ability to articulate and witness to one’s faith perspective.
• Understanding of the polity and structures of the United Church of Christ.
• Ability to conduct research, identify patterns in organizational renewal, and collaborate with data analysts to produce report, articles, and presentations.
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills, including the ability to write creatively, and the ability to speak publicly in an articulate and engaging manner.
• 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.
• High competency in technology and computer literacy.
• Strong work ethic exhibiting a sense of urgency in completion of tasks and willingness to work a flexible schedule.
• Self-starter with ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize workload and remain motivated and positive. Well organized and detail-oriented, and exceptional time management.
• Flexibility to travel for meetings and consultations with local congregations and Conferences.
• Other duties as assigned.

This position is based in Cleveland, Ohio and requires 3 days/week in the office on a hybrid schedule. 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 person who holds this position will conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the policies of the NMUCC 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 NMUCC by being attentive to self-care, education, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and the importance of referring those in need to supportive and helpful resources. Comprehensive Benefits Package Employer paid health, dental, pension, life, and disability benefits  
EOE Statement: The United Church of Christ National Setting celebrates diversity and an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to a workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the broad spectrum of our diverse society. We endeavor to recruit employees from backgrounds that vary by race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, genetic information, past, present or future service in the uniformed services, religion, or any other legally protected characteristic under applicable federal, state or local law. We are proud to be a multicultural, multiracial, open and affirming, accessible to all, equal opportunity employer.