Position: Business Lending Manager
Reports to: Director, Fondo Adelante
Revised: August 2022
AGENCY OVERVIEW
Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) - Building on its 47-year history, MEDA is advancing innovative approaches to asset development. Its efforts are focused on serving low-income, Spanish-speaking San Franciscans. Our direct service programs serve 7,500 individuals each year through homeownership counseling and foreclosure intervention, business development, digital literacy, workforce development, financial education and free tax preparation. We also devote resources to research and evaluation, community organizing and advocacy. In the process, MEDA is helping to develop best practices in the field.
In 2015 MEDA launched a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) – Fondo Adelante – to provide loans throughout the San Francisco Bay Area to Latino-owned small businesses that are currently underserved by traditional and non-traditional lenders alike. Fondo Adelante’s initial micro and small business loan products provide loans of up to $100,000 to qualifying business owners. The CDFI has also launched several emergency loan programs to respond to COVID-19’s impact on Bay Area small businesses deployed more than $10 million in no-interest or low-interest loans. Fondo Adelante recently integrated its lending team with MEDA’s Business Development Program to better facilitate pre- and post-loan closing technical assistance (offered in both English and Spanish) for small business borrowers. With this integration of business capital and business coaching support, MEDA is meeting the needs of low-income, Latino-owned businesses to support asset-building through business growth and job creation in the San Francisco Bay Area.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Business Lending Manager is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of Fondo Adelante’s small business loan programs, including outreach and loan origination, loan packaging, underwriting, and closing. The Business Lending Manager manages a diverse, active pipeline via several distinct small business loan programs. The Business Lending Manager also leads the further innovation of small business loan programs, with new products and lending strategies. This is an exciting opportunity to help shepherd the scaling of an ambitious, high-impact CDFI at a critical inflection point in its growth.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead small business loan production team in carrying out Fondo Adelante’s lending strategy to cultivate a strong pipeline of qualified loan applications that meet lending criteria and Fondo Adelante’s mission. The referral pipeline will be implemented with the specific goal of making Fondo Adelante the preferred lender for San Francisco Bay Area Latino-owned businesses needing $5,000 - $100,000 in lending capital.
- Efficiently oversee Fondo Adelante’s loan processing operations, including screening loan prospects against product guidelines, entering and processing loans in system, gathering all required documents, and closing out applications (both approvals and denials) within target timeframe.
- Provide support to small business loan production team in conducting efficient and thorough loan packaging, devoting approximately 50% of time to loan packaging, processing, and/or closing.
- Make decisive loan recommendations and clearly articulate and make compelling cases for loan decisions to underwriting personnel and credit committee.
- Continue to develop small business loan program capacity, including implementation of new systems, policies, and products related to the program.
- Oversee the systematized referral of business clients to and from Fondo Adelante’s business coaching program for both pre- and post-loan closing technical assistance.
- Work with loan servicing staff to support robust loan servicing strategies for entire portfolio, including collections and workouts.
- Coordinate loan production strategies with other MEDA teams and external partners, as appropriate.
- Lead business development and capital access workshops, and align capital access education content with business development staff.
- Assist Director in regular reporting to Fondo Adelante Board and MEDA senior management.
- Assist with grant writing and fundraising to help sustain Fondo Adelante, as needed.
- Track and maintain impact data, which is necessary for reporting purposes to various funders and investors.
- Manage the software systems used for the lending operations of Fondo Adelante, including its loan application and loan servicing systems, and manage the relationships with the system vendors.
- Lead the small business loan production team by providing support, training, and accountability toward clear goals and outcomes.
- Foster team-building, conflict resolution, and professional development in a way that leads to a healthy work environment.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, public administration, city/urban planning or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
- 4+ years sales experience in financial services (preferably business lending) as a loan officer, loan consultant, business banker or sales rep at a microfinance institution, consumer lender, bank, credit union, leasing company or other financial institution.
- Extensive experience with small business lending or development in a high-cost, urban environment.
- Demonstrated ability to consistently meet or exceed loan production goals.
- Demonstrated self-starter who goes beyond job description to make sure goals are achieved.
- Working knowledge of Salesforce is preferred, and desire/ability to learn other software programs to manage loan portfolio.
- Pleasant, borrower-friendly nature with personable, cooperative attitude.
- An entrepreneurial work ethic, creativity, and openness to exploring new ideas and systems.
- Ability to act professionally at all times and safeguard confidential borrower financial and other information.
- Experience with small business development, particularly immigrant-owned businesses.
- Knowledge of or experience with unbanked, or under-banked populations.
- Commitment to MEDA’s asset-building mission within Latino and immigrant communities.
- Experience working at a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) highly preferred.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish is required
MEDA is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer.
TO APPLY: Please click the following link and complete the application form.