Senior Program Officer – Rural Lending

What We Do

With residents and partners, LISC forges resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America – great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families.

Strategies We Pursue

• Equip talent in underinvested communities with the skills and credentials to compete successfully for quality income and wealth opportunities.
• Invest in businesses, housing and other community infrastructure to catalyze economic, health, safety and educational mobility for individuals and communities.
• Strengthen existing alliances while building new collaborations to increase our impact on the progress of people and places.
• Develop leadership and the capacity of partners to advance our work together.
• Drive local, regional, and national policy and system changes that foster broadly shared prosperity and well-being.

Since 1979, LISC and its affiliates have invested approximately $29.7 billion in businesses, affordable housing, health, educational mobility, community and recreational facilities, public safety, employment, and other projects that help to revitalize and stabilize underinvested communities. Headquartered in New York City, LISC’s reach spans the country from East coast to West coast in 38 markets with offices extending from Buffalo to San Francisco and in 2,400 rural counties across 49 states and Puerto Rico. Visit us at www.lisc.org

Rural LISC seeks a Senior Program Officer for Rural Lending to play a pivotal role in expanding lending opportunities, providing technical assistance, raising capital, forging business development opportunities, and creating and maintaining key partnerships. Rural LISC maintains a diverse and high-performing portfolio of loans for affordable housing, community facilities, and small business development. This position will report directly to the Rural LISC Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the primary business developer and originator of loans for all Rural LISC product areas, including economic development, affordable housing and community facilities.
• Underwrite lending transactions including, acquisition loans, predevelopment loans, construction loans, mini-permanent and permanent loans, bridge financing for new and existing affordable housing projects, including projects focused on decarbonizing housing units, and community facility and small business loans.
• Perform credit analysis, including analyzing borrower financial and operating performance, project financial performance, borrower management capacity, and project feasibility. Provide technical assistance to borrowers and prospective borrowers.
• Conduct due diligence and financial analysis, draft credit memoranda, present loans to credit committee, manage closing process with counsel, and work with Asset Management on post-closing borrower and project management.
• Collaborate with LISC’s Green Homes program staff on lending products focused on affordable housing decarbonization projects through high-performance green construction as part of LISC’s recent federal Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grant from the EPA.
• Prepare reports and presentations for investors, funders and other stakeholders as needed.
• Create content and strategic messaging regarding the impact of LISC’s lending and investment activity and otherwise support Rural LISC’s communications channels and strategies.
• Coordinate with LISC Legal, Lending and Asset Management to grow and manage the Rural LISC loan portfolio.
• Maintain relationships and communicate with LISC affiliates NEF, Broadstreet, and Strategic Investments to promote rural investments and collaboration.
• Provide technical assistance around financing and strategy to partner CDCs as they develop and support local and regional economic development efforts, including broadband pre-dev, small business capital, downtown revitalization strategies, affordable housing financing and financing for key community facilities projects. 
• Provide support to other Rural LISC team members related to lending and investment in rural communities.
• Maintain external relationships with other lending partners, including for profit or nonprofit financial institutions and local, state, and national governmental programs. Seek and create new relationships to expand Rural LISC lending capacity and opportunities.
• Work with Rural LISC Director, National LISC and other partners to develop new and innovative lending opportunities/programs aimed at expanding the lending footprint and production for Rural LISC.
• Identify and develop new sources of lending capital to support Rural LISC lending in current and new markets.
• Participate in national lending policy opportunities and provide feedback to National Policy team on federal/state programs that directly impact Rural LISC.
• Provide support and input for the Rural Advisory Committee loan review process.
• Assist the Vice President and the Leadership team in achieving and exceeding National and Rural LISC Lending goals and objectives.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required; or relevant related work experience can be used as a proxy. Master’s degree in real estate, finance, public administration or related field preferred.
• At least five (5) years of related work experience in community development lending, financial services, community development or related field. CDFI experience and/or subject matter expertise is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of financing products such as predevelopment, acquisition, construction, bridge and permanent loans; lines of credit; tax credit programs, and equity investment.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage multiple, complex transactions and programs at various stages and coordinate with multiple internal & external parties to meet approval and closing deadlines.
• Proven skills in financial analysis and underwriting. Ability to evaluate financial statements. Past lending experience required.
• Familiarity with rural economic development financing programs across a broad range of resources including, regional, state and federal programs, to include Small Business, USDA, EDA, LIHTC and NMTC. Experience in developing and implementing projects in rural areas utilizing layered financing with local, state and federal programs preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of non-profit program management and organizational development.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across the LISC network of local and national programs and LISC affiliates.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others. Flexibility and poise in dealing with a diverse range of individuals and organizations.
• Comfort and adaptability working on a “virtual” team, collaborating and communicating with staff both in-person and remotely (e.g. via phone, e-mail, webinar, etc)
• Working knowledge of the economic, political, and social environments in rural communities and experience working with local, state, tribal and federal government programs and agencies, around affordable housing, nonprofit organizations, and community development efforts strongly preferred.
• Ability to communicate through verbal and written methods, with research, analysis and relationship skills. 
• Experience reviewing datasets for quality and analyzing data for trends required.
• Solution-oriented individual who is self-directed, and able to successfully balance multiple priorities and programs.
• Commitment to accuracy, attention to detail, timely reporting, and deadlines.
• Effectively manage multiple tasks and projects and prioritize a challenging workload.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite required. Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Salesforce, Form Assembly, Smartsheet, and other database systems preferred.
• Work effectively on a “virtual” team, collaborating and communicating with staff both in-person and remotely (e.g. via phone, e-mail, webinar, etc.) is essential.
• This position will involve travel approx. 30% annually.

COMPENSATION:

LISC provides a competitive salary ($91,800 - $114,800) commensurate with experience and location and excellent fringe benefits for this position. 

*Actual salaries may be based on several factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's skill set, experience, education, work location and other qualifications.

Our benefits include: 

Medical, Dental, Vision Coverage: Comprehensive health plans for you and your family's well-being; Disability Insurance: Long-term and short-term coverage for peace of mind; Retirement Savings: Secure your future with our 401(k) and 403(b) plans; Generous Holidays: Enjoy ample time off to recharge and celebrate; Vacation, PTO, and Sick Days: Take advantage of flexible time-off policies to maintain work-life balance; Tuition Assistance: Pursue your educational goals with support from our tuition assistance program; Referral Program: Earn rewards for referring qualified candidates to join our team; Professional Development Opportunities: Grow and advance in your career with access to ongoing training and development programs tailored to your goals.

LISC is an equal opportunity employer. LISC does not discriminate in employment on account of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military status or veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

We will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.

LISC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE