Impact Lending and Relationship Associate

Black Farmer Fund (BFF) is seeking a full-time Impact Lending and Relationship Associate to help steward and grow our impact-driven investment portfolio, supporting Black farmers and food system entrepreneurs through integrated, non-extractive capital. This role involves blending rigorous credit underwriting with the opportunity to get hands‑on experience with impact strategy, assisting with the structuring, deployment, and management of loans and complementary capital tools. Reporting directly to the Investment Director, the Impact Lending and Relationship Associate plays a key role in shaping BFF’s investment approach: evaluating opportunities, structuring flexible repayment terms aligned with business cash flow, and ensuring both financial performance and mission alignment across the portfolio. The role includes direct engagement with investees, and collaboration across teams to align capital deployment with technical assistance and ecosystem support. This position is ideal for an associate-level impact finance professional seeking meaningful responsibility in deal execution, close engagement with investees, and the opportunity to support an equitable, climate‑resilient food system through mission‑driven investing. Qualifications Candidates without demonstrated experience evaluating, structuring, and managing debt investments in a lending or investment context will not be considered. Required: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a closely related field with substantial financial coursework. 2+ years of professional experience with direct experience with credit underwriting in one or more of the following environments: small business lending, CDFIs, community development banks, or impact investing funds. Demonstrated, hands‑on experience independently: Screening and evaluating applicants for credit readiness Evaluating borrower financial statements and cash flow projections Providing 1:1 relationship support to borrowers Assessing credit risk and repayment capacity Proven experience managing an active loan or investment portfolio, including ongoing monitoring, borrower engagement, and performance management. Preferred (Highly Valued): Direct lending or investment experience in agriculture, food systems, or natural resource‑based enterprises. Practical experience deploying or managing integrated capital structures (e.g., loans paired with grants, technical assistance, or flexible repayment features). Familiarity with non‑extractive or community‑centered lending models paired with demonstrated financial discipline. Black Farmer Fund (BFF) was created by Black farmers who were frustrated with the limited financing options available to them, hoping to create a funding vehicle that would challenge the racial injustices and wealth inequalities faced by Black food actors. We are a 501(c)3 non‑profit community investment fund that invests patient (flexible repayment terms), integrated capital (mix of low‑interest loans and grants) among Black food systems entrepreneurs in the Northeast. BFF is by us, for us, with a community of Black farmers and food systems entrepreneurs from across the region leading the fund’s governance and decision‑making around which applicants receive funding. Our process is consensus‑seeking and guided by our values of economic justice, community wealth building, and managing environmental/ecological impact. We are currently in the process of making direct investments in Black food actors while emphasizing financial education, investment literacy, and active community involvement in creating these financing options. You can find more information on Black Farmer Fund here . #J-18808-Ljbffr Global Impact Investing Network