Community Lending Associate

Community Lending Associate

Do you have the drive, curiosity, and can-do attitude to help a community lender accelerate successful revitalization in Baltimore City?

Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund (NIIF) is a place-based, non-profit loan fund with a mission to mobilize capital and leverage partnerships that support community development, drive economic opportunity, and promote growth in Baltimore’s historically disinvested neighborhoods. Launched in 2019, NIIF is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certified by the US Department of Treasury that has committed approximately $100 million in loans for projects and initiatives in Baltimore communities.

We are seeking a Community Lending Associate to play a vital role in delivering capital and supporting inclusive development in Baltimore City. As part of a small, collaborative team, the Community Lending Associate will have the opportunity to originate, underwrite, and close a wide variety of transactions and perform impact measurement and evaluation activities as part of our lending efforts.

Successful candidates for the position will need to demonstrate the following:

• A genuine passion for community development, affordable housing, and CDFIs, with curiosity about how they drive impact in underserved neighborhoods.
• A positive, roll-up-your-sleeves attitude and the flexibility to take on a variety of tasks as part of a small, collaborative team.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects at once.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently with borrowers, board members, and colleagues alike.

Responsibilities:

Community Development Lending Support

• Support community development lending efforts by working with prospective borrowers to identify and cultivate lending opportunities, collect relevant information, and participate in customer calls and site visits.
• Evaluate potential borrowers / projects, including mission alignment, management and operational capacity, organizational structure, and financial feasibility.
• Move proposals through the closing process by performing diligence and financial analysis, reviewing conformity relative to NIIF Investment Policies, drafting credit memos, and presenting loan recommendations to NIIF’s Investment Committee.
• Support the Lending Team with pipeline tracking, record maintenance, and interaction with Closing / Funding team.
• Assist the Lending Team and Construction Lending Specialist with monitoring construction projects and related draws.

Impact Evaluation, Measurement, and Tracking

• Assist Impact Director in collecting, analyzing, and reporting project impact data.
• Manage survey-based project impact measurement tool and the impact database.
• Prepare impact assessments for prospective projects and loan closings, as well as periodic impact reports.

Other

• Support operational tasks, including procurement, internal / external communications, and information technology systems.
• Assist with board and committee meetings and materials.
• Provide additional administrative support, as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Strong interest and/or experience in affordable housing, community development finance, lending and investment, banking, or another relevant field.
• Commitment to social justice consistent with the mission and goals of NIIF.
• A self-directed, hands-on, highly resourceful individual and flexible team player.
• Familiarity with general accounting principles, including the ability to read a balance sheet and income statement.
• Highly proficient in MS Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Two (2) years professional experience in an office environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Coursework and/or a degree in a relevant subject (e.g., real estate, accounting, business, urban planning, or public policy).
• Familiarity with basic underwriting or credit analysis concepts.
• Experience managing datasets and/or analyzing and displaying quantitative information. (Current tool is Airtable.)
• Experience and knowledge of city, state, and federal housing programs, as well as market participants including Community Development Financial Institutions.

Compensation:

The anticipated annualized salary range is $65,000-$85,000 pending experience, along with a benefits package, including medical insurance, HSA, retirement benefits, and a generous paid time off program. NIIF has a hybrid work  environment, currently with 2 days in the office.

TO APPLY:

NIIF will begin a review of applications immediately and will continue its work until an appointment of a Community Lending Associate is made. For full consideration, applicants MUST submit the following in a Word Document:

• Letter of interest: Please address how you can help lead NIIF as Community Lending Associate in achieving our mission and strategic initiatives.
• Professional Resume.

Who We Are:

NIIF’s vision is for Baltimore communities to have the capital and resources to achieve their aspirations. As a CDFI, we seek to foster this vision by mobilizing capital and leverage partnerships that support community development, drive economic opportunity, and promote equity in disinvested neighborhoods.

NIIF is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Applicants of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

We welcome you to apply today.