Business Development Officer

Background

Communities on the margins of opportunity deserve a trusted partner on their journey toward
financial growth and stability. As a locally invested, collaborative partner in social justice and
financial equity, Community Vision provides nonprofits, small businesses, and social enterprises with strategic investment and guidance to deepen work, scale impact, and strengthen our communities. We know that supporting community-owned and community-governed projects creates shared prosperity and builds collective, self-directed, economic, and political power. This position will put you at the forefront of exciting organizational growth and re-envisioning how we carry out our work, creating greater efficiency internally and deeper impact externally. Community Vision is dedicated to anti-racist practices and to building an anti-racist organization. This includes treating colleagues with respect, supporting the vision of the organization, and acting as ambassadors of our values.

Summary

Community Vision’s Capital Solutions team provides loans emphasizing achieving greater racial and economic equity. Our borrowers have used our financing to develop affordable housing, build and acquire community facilities, create economic development projects, support access to healthy foods, and strengthen their operations to make a difference in the lives of the communities they serve.
The Business Development Officer (BDO) identifies and cultivates new lending opportunities that align with Community Vision’s mission and business objectives. They will have two primary responsibilities: first, to develop relationships with organizations that can refer borrowers in need of financing, and second, to work closely with potential borrowers to understand their needs, determine a fit with Community Vision’s offerings, and structure the terms of a potential loan.
At Community Vision, we approach business development through long-term partnership-building rather than transactional relationships. All employees are expected to engage with and support a collaborative culture at Community Vision. This includes treating colleagues with respect, supporting the vision of the organization, and demonstrating the professional practices of the organization, which are community-centered, patient, communication, work ethic, responsiveness, consciousness of difference, humility and curiosity, humor, creativity, practicality, accountability, and data-driven.

Responsibilities

● Identify and form new relationships with organizations that are deeply committed to the type of work Community Vision seeks to support, and that may be capable of referring potential borrowers to Community Vision
●Maintain ongoing relationships with lead-generating partners through regular communication. Provide partners with follow-up information on the outcome of any referrals.
●Attend and speak at various conferences and community development events to both represent and promote the work of Community Vision and to learn about emerging needs and industry standards that Community Vision should consider
●Collect input from partner organizations to inform Community Vision’s understanding of our
marketplace and our development of new lending products and services
●Conduct initial screening calls with prospective borrowers to identify needs and determine fit for Community Vision’s capital products and services
●Conduct initial due diligence on prospective borrowers, including spreading and analysis of
historical financial statements
●In consultation with senior staff, structure prospective loans: determine appropriate loan type, repayment term, rate and fees, collateral, guarantors, and other loan terms.
●Write and present a written analysis of prospective loans, for approval to move to underwriting
●Lead negotiations with prospective borrowers to ensure that Community Vision earns their
business
●Conduct handoff meetings with loan underwriters to ensure a smooth transition from business development to credit analysis
●Communicate any declines in a respectful way, providing referrals to other lenders or technical assistance providers where possible

Requirements

● BA or BS degree with a minimum of 5+ years’ experience with loan production or
relationship management in community development or commercial real estate lending
● Ability to build relationships of trust with a broad range of people and organizations,
particularly those who have been historically excluded from formal financial markets
●Demonstrated ability to manage multiple negotiations and a workload that varies with
customer needs
● Strong financial analysis and underwriting skills
● A high degree of professionalism, demonstrating accuracy, timeliness, and teamwork
● Excellent writing, communication, and presentation skills
●Strong collaborator with colleagues and ability to work effectively in a cooperative and
diverse environment
●An entrepreneurial spirit, and a strong commitment to work in community development
●Direct experience lending to nonprofit community-based businesses and organizations
●Understanding of and experience with real estate lending, including predevelopment,
acquisition, construction, and permanent financing
●Familiarity with New Markets Tax Credits, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, State
Small Business Loan Guarantee Programs is a plus

Compensation and Benefits

The Business Development Officer is a full-time exempt position. This position reports to the Director of Lending. The salary for this position is between $108,000 and $123,000 annually, depending on experience. Benefits include 100% health insurance premium coverage for employees and a contribution towards dependent coverage, dental insurance, long-term disability and life insurance, transportation, and cell phone subsidies, employer contributions towards retirement savings, three weeks’ vacation, and a commitment to work/life balance. Occasional evenings and out-of-area travel may be necessary. The position involves regular computer and telephone use plus some minimal lifting.

How to Apply

Apply online through our ADP Career Center HERE. Please include a resume and cover letter.
Cover letters should discuss your interest in the position and in working at Community Vision.
Incomplete applications without cover letters will not be considered. The position will remain
open until filled. For more information on our programs and services, please visit our website at communityvisionca.org.

Community Vision is an equal-opportunity employer committed to providing applicants and
employees with a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment free of discrimination and
harassment. All employment decisions at Community Vision are based on business needs, job
requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability
(mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender
expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or
veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations where we operate. Community Vision will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on these characteristics and encourages applicants with these characteristics to apply.