Chief Investment Officer

Background

RDF is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to unlocking lasting prosperity in communities across America. Since its founding in 1999, RDF has provided attainable financial solutions as well as guidance and support to communitybased organizations working in health, education, affordable housing, homeownership, entrepreneurship, and community resilience.

One of the few CDFIs to hold a prestigious AA- rating from S&P, RDF is recognized for its exceptional financial strength and impact. To date, it has invested more than $1.6 billion across 38 states—leveraging over $7 billion in additional capital.

By offering flexible financing and hands-on support, RDF helps bring vital projects—like clinics, schools, and affordable housing—to life, especially in places where traditional resources fall short. Expanding access to capital strengthens local economies and builds lasting stability for families and small businesses.

Through deep client relationships and tailored technical assistance, RDF goes beyond funding. It partners with local leaders to co-create solutions, tackle challenges, and move communities forward. As a trusted ally, RDF is there for the hard work, the breakthroughs, and the long haul.

Learn more about RDF at https://www.rdf.fund/.

Summary

As a member of RDF’s executive leadership team, the Chief Investment Officer is responsible for leading RDF’s lending strategy and execution to achieve the organization’s capital deployment and impact goals. RDF’s capital deployment and impact goals are comprised of both core/on balance-sheet, and off balance sheet lending activities and programs such as New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC), that are consistent with RDF’s mission. Central to the success of this position is leading a team of high-performing investment professionals in the advancement of RDF’s investment strategy to make key connections; provide valuable advice; design and lead structured financings; and deliver innovative solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing team of investment professionals to foster a dynamic community development finance environment centered on mission-driven organizations, operational excellence, continuous improvement, transparency and accountability, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
• Formalize the organizational structures for each defined business unit which includes RDF’s NMTC Program that delineates roles and responsibilities, job titles, specifications, and key competencies that include the full cycle of client relationships (business development, underwriting, closing transactions, client relations, and technical assistance).
• Provide recommendations to the executive team on vision and strategic direction needed to properly align the fund’s industry, geographic, service, and project focused businesses units to achieve desired impact and financial outcomes.
• Recruit, supervise, coach, and mentor high performing teams of community development investment professionals and support staff; ensure that team members receive ongoing professional development opportunities that are consistent with agreed upon, personalized career development plans.
• Collaborate with investment teams to design, present, and sell specialty financing solutions to complex client situations.
• Collaborate with the executive team to identify, evaluate, and structure new, mission consistent capital partnerships that leverage the fund’s existing infrastructure and connections to expand its reach and impact.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

• Broadly diversified commercial and industrial, real estate, mission-driven and alternative investment management and/or lending expertise.
• Deep understanding and appreciation of the enterprise and portfolio risk management implications and challenges associated with maintaining a national service area, including developing new markets, with limited human resources.
• Exceptional writing, public speaking, and presentation skills, including experience presenting complex subject matter to non-expert audiences and high-level decision makers.
• Demonstrated knowledge of established corporate finance concepts, including financial asset and operating business valuation methodologies.
• Ability to evaluate and redesign core business processes and identify and track appropriate key performance indicators to enhance and maintain overall productivity and quality.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and effectively across all enterprise functions, with all levels of staff and stakeholders; through professional associations; and in cooperation with coalition partners.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, problem solving, and negotiation skills with experience building, coaching, challenging, and leading high performing teams.
• Must be comfortable making investment and operational decisions oftentimes with limited, incomplete, and/or imperfect information.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is

$250,000 – $300,000 with a generous benefits package. The exact salary that will be offered to the Chief Investment Officer will be determined based on a consideration of the successful candidate’s skills, experience, and geography and aligned with RDF’s compensation policies.

RDF will consider remote candidates who commit to spending time with the team in Phoenix and other work-related travel.

How to Apply

https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/search/v2/22404