Executive Director of Inspiritus Emerging CDFI

Background

At Inspiritus, we guide individuals and families whose lives have been disrupted on a path from surviving to thriving. Our name is derived from the word inspirit, which means to fill with strength or courage, and that is what Inspiritus does. Inspiritus helps individuals and families discover their inner strength and resilience, leading to a more fulfilling life. We inspirit.

https://weinspirit.org

Summary

The Executive Director of Inspiritus’ emerging CDFI has the rare opportunity to join and lead a new entity that will broaden the important mission to Inspiritus, a non-profit organization that guides individuals and families on their journeys from surviving to thriving. The Executive Director will engage and leverage the strengths of Inspiritus to ensure the CDFI is strong while being deeply impactful for new Americans desiring to establish and grow their business, achieving household self-sufficiency in the process.

This position will oversee and build the capacity of Inspiritus’ current business lending operations with a goal of achieving certification from the US Department of Treasury as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). The Executive Director will determine and deliver team direction, goals, and financial objectives. He/she will design strategies to grow a quality loan portfolio and increase impact for new Americans starting and growing businesses. The position will provide strategic management for the health and growth of Inspiritus lending programs with strict financial oversight. He/she will conduct staff training, oversee the lending program’s risk mitigation and work closely with other Inspiritus leaders, including the CDFI’s Board of Directors, to facilitate collaboration and teamwork in order to provide refugees with quality services. The Executive Director of Inspiritus’ emerging CDFI is a full-time, exempt salaried position.

Responsibilities

1. Oversee and build the capacity of Inspiritus’ emerging CDFI. Determine and deliver team direction, goals, and financial objectives. Design strategies to grow a quality loan portfolio and increase access to capital for new American entrepreneurs.
2. Direct Inspiritus’ lending staff and client technical assistance activities. Maintain overall portfolio quality and performance through a strong case management model that delivers solid underwriting practices, proactive client relationships & education, and effective response to challenged clients & delinquency situations.
3. Supervise and coach staff (employee, contract, volunteer). Includes hiring process, employee performance reviews, employee feedback, team coordination, educational opportunities, access for employee questions/concerns, budgeting input, and HR documentation.
4. Balance Inspiritus’ mission with sound financial principles and results. Ensure the CDFI’s lending strategies, compliance and legal issues are appropriately addressed and represent Inspiritus’ best interest. Complete and share regular portfolio analyses both internally and externally.
5. Provide oversight to coordination of Inspiritus’ volunteer Board of Directors and Loan Committee including recruitment, member relations, planning, meetings, presentations, communication. Interact with other Inspiritus volunteers and stakeholders.
6. Create, manage & evaluate quality programming in the areas of business lending and individualized borrower technical assistance. Determine and manage Inspiritus’ lending policies, procedures, portfolio management and administrative functions with the team. Conduct and/or oversee client outreach, pipeline activities, underwriting, collections, documentation, write-offs, workouts and client service. Determine and manage Inspiritus’ case management systems and borrower technical assistance for continuum of client needs: pre-loan, existing loan, distressed loan, and post-loan. Document all program policies & systems.
7. Meet or exceed all Inspiritus’ goals designated for the CDFI. Monitor progress, collect data or documentation, and manage clients as required by funders and internal policies through ongoing client contact. Work to ensure high client service satisfaction ratings.
8. Provide internal and external reporting as required. Maintain supporting data as appropriate. Develop and maintain reporting relative to the CDFI’s lending activities, including loan covenants, cash management of loan funds and financial projections.
9. Develop, maintain and expand local and regional partnerships, collaborations and contract opportunities to meet or exceed program area goals and outcomes. Educate potential partners through presentations detailing Inspiritus’ lending products and services.
10. Negotiate lending contract agreements with funders, according to the terms of the Inspiritus/lending entity management agreement,. Oversee Inspiritus’ fee-for-service loan fund agreements.
11. Develop and direct the CDFI’s capitalization plan. Serve as key liaison with funding opportunities for the CDFI. In collaboration with the fractional CFO, drive the implementation of the capitalization plan including identifying funding leads, attending meetings, participating in presentations and supporting the writing/editing of funding proposals by providing industry-specific information, etc. Accurately write and submit funder and stakeholder reports as required by compliance deadlines.
12. Maintain expertise in access to capital for underserved entrepreneurs and the CDFI and microlending industries to ensure delivery of comprehensive alternative financing options to clients. Explore traditional and nontraditional channels to recognize trends and future opportunities for Inspiritus. Act as Inspiritus’ radar in this arena.
13. Assist in overall mission of Inspiritus by working in a team environment to effectively complete other duties as assigned.
14. Maintain personal and professional boundaries in the performance of the job.
15. Participates in Inspiritus functions and public relations activities.
16. Participates in training and professional conferences to keep abreast of current trends.
17. Conforms with and abides by all regulations, policies, work procedures, and instructions

Requirements

Required Education and Experience

1. Bachelor’s degree required. Experience in non-traditional access to capital, the CDFI industry and refugee programming required. Initiative and a proactive work style along with the ability to work in a team environment.
2. Minimum of 3-6 years’ experience in micro-enterprise development, CDFI and microlending or related private sector business that includes knowledge of small business start-up issues, challenges of refugee entrepreneurs, microloan underwriting and portfolio management.
3. 2-4 years hands-on supervisory experience required. Previous management experience in a mature CDFI preferred.
4. Highly organized, detail oriented and able to manage multiple assignments and simultaneous priorities under pressure.
5. Ability to complete tasks in a timely manner, often under time constraints.
6. Strong analytical, verbal and written communication skills.
7. Fully conversant with MS Word, Excel and Outlook.
8. Ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively in a multicultural environment, both in groups and one-on-one.
9. Additional language(s) fluency is desirable.
10. Vehicle and valid driver’s license required as position will require travel throughout states.

Compensation and Benefits

Classification: Exempt

Salary Grade/Level/Family/Range: $80,000-90,000

Reports to: CEO and CDFI Board of Directors

How to Apply

To apply, please go to https://weinspirit.org/employment-internships