Senior Director, HBCU Brilliance Fund
Company: Reinvestment Fund
Location: Philadelphia, PA| Baltimore, MD| Atlanta, GA, Remote
Job Function: Lending/Loan Operations
Background
About Reinvestment Fund
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Reinvestment Fund operates nationally with regional offices in Baltimore, MD, and Atlanta, GA. Reinvestment Fund is a national mission driven financial institution that creates opportunity for underserved people and places through partnerships. We marshal the capital, analytics, and expertise necessary to build strong, healthy, and more equitable communities.
As a federally certified community development financial institution (CDFI), our job is to make finance an agent of positive change and equitable growth. We provide loans, grants and technical assistance to businesses and nonprofits. Our borrowers and grantees educate students, support local economies, and create jobs. They build affordable housing and provide community goods and services that include access to nutritious food, hunger relief, physical and mental health care, and other social services.
Summary
Work Location
This position can be located at our Philadelphia, PA, Headquarters location, Baltimore, MD or Atlanta, GA locations. Reinvestment Fund provides a flexible work arrangement of two days onsite and three days remote allowing for face-to-face interactions. Depending on the nature of the job, a more flexible work schedule may be considered.
About the Position
Since 2018, Reinvestment Fund has loaned $33 million to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). To date, Reinvestment Fund’s financing has supported both institutional financial health and capital facility projects. In 2021, Reinvestment Fund increased our commitment to improve our understanding and support of HBCUs by leading national convenings with industry experts and stakeholders including HBCU presidents. We also began to develop a public policy framework to advocate for equitable funding to HBCUs and are currently deep into fundraising a $25 million HBCU Brilliance Fund (HBCU Fund) to demonstrate the type of technical and financial support that will position HBCUs to make critical investments in their facilities, financial stability and long-term growth to better serve their institutional missions.
Reinvestment Fund is currently hiring a Senior Director, HBCU Brilliance Fund within the Lending and Investments department. In coordination with internal team members across the organization, this individual will take the lead on all aspects of cultivating client relationships through the complete lifecycle of a loan from client acquisition, underwriting, closing and relationship management, for the HBCU Brilliance Fund. While the HBCU Fund pipeline is ramping up, the Senior Director, who will be an integral member of the Southeast region originations team, will work on other community development loans in the region, such as for affordable for-sale and rental housing. Loan responsibilities will also include leverage source loans for New Markets Tax Credit Transactions.
This position will be responsible for a volume of loan originations that are aligned with the HBCU Brilliance Fund priorities, but more importantly for ensuring that the loans and relationships are consistent with the mission of Reinvestment Fund. The Senior Director, HBCU Brilliance Fund will report to Reinvestment Fund’s Regional Director, Lending and Investments for the Southeast region.
Responsibilities
- Lead Reinvestment Fund’s HBCU Fund lending including building financing pipeline in concert with strategy co-developed with other internal stakeholders and Regional Director, Lending and Investments, and a to be created HBCU Fund advisory board.
- Independently structure loans, negotiate loan terms with potential borrowers, underwrite and close potential HBCU fund loans and other community development loans as assigned. This position will have a particular focus on underwriting transactions located in the Southeast but may also have regular opportunities to work across geographies as demand requires.
- Effectively communicate with and manage relationships with key internal and external partners, including HBCU Fund investors, consultants, HBCU institutions, United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and other industry partnerships, and Reinvestment’s Finance and Communications and senior leaders.
- Co-develop with Lending leadership including Managing Director, Credit and Portfolio management, new underwriting guidelines to better reflect the financial realities of the schools to thoughtfully improve their access to debt capital.
- Support colleagues responsible for overseeing technical assistance related to financing and capital improvements as school leaders seek to transform their campuses and communities.
- Prepare credit approval memos and present to approval authorities, including Senior Management as required under Loan Policy.
- Manage the closing process, including working with Loan Closer and external counsel, and the collection, review, approval and execution of all closing items, often within short timelines, for new loans.
- Review and interpret third party due diligence reports, including appraisals, market assessments, plan and cost reviews, and environmental reports to determine transaction viability, and appropriate loan structure.
Requirements
Successful Candidates will have the Following:
Originations requires a high level of independent, analytical work, strong interpersonal skills and good judgment. Staff juggle several projects at a time and regularly adjust priorities based on new deadlines. Staff are expected to be flexible and accountable to the team. They are supported by a collaborative, collegial environment and responsive management.
Qualified candidates should have experience working with HBCUs, Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) or other similar scale higher education institutions, experience in commercial lending or community and economic development as well as outstanding organizational skills. And experience with New Markets Tax Credits, Federal and State Historic Tax Credits, and other public financial incentive programs for community development is preferred.
The successful candidate will have a track record of working collaboratively on projects and will have a demonstrated affinity for working in a team setting yet be able to successfully work independently and maintain a bold spirit. He or she will be passionate about using finance as a tool to change people’s lives for the better.
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with different abilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and Experience
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree or J.D. a plus. Strong preference for candidates that have had an HBCU or MSI experience themselves or familial experience.
- 5-7 years of lending experience, with at least 3 years of community development, real estate underwriting and structuring responsibilities required.
Specialized Skills
REQUIRED
- Must have the ability to inspire and co-lead internal and external stakeholders including a diverse group of advisors to support a shared framework for our HBCU Fund program.
- Experience creating and communicating complex business and financial analysis including formal writing and oral presentation to decision-makers.
- Experience reviewing construction budgets, project plans, appraisals, inspection reports and other real estate documents.
- Ability to effectively synthesize information, organize logical arguments and summarize key points.
- Experience performing analysis and modeling in Excel.
- Ability to draw conclusions from financial and market data to make sound recommendations regarding credit risks.
- Must be an effective communicator (both written and verbal) to a diverse audience, including experience presenting to large groups.
- Must share a commitment to advancing racial equity and anti-racism and willingness to engage in that work to advance Reinvestment Fund’s mission.
PREFERRED
- Experience working with borrowers to problem solve and structure loans that meet potential borrower and project needs as well as mitigate our risk and maximize capital sources available.
- Experience reviewing legal documents such as leases, mortgage notes, contracts, etc.
- Experience working with diverse people and community-based organizations.
- Experience with affordable housing subsidy programs, New Markets Tax Credits, historic tax credit programs and other economic development tools.
Compensation and Benefits
Reinvestment Fund offers a competitive salary based on experience and skills, as well as an excellent benefits package including employer-paid health, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match, flexible spending accounts (medical, dependent care), commuter benefits, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, and EAP program.
Reinvestment Fund uses E-Verify to validate all new hires’ ability to legally work in the United States. Reinvestment Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reinvestment Fund does not discriminate in hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, national origin, non-job related disabilities, or status as a veteran.
Reinvestment Fund, Inc. has an affiliate, RF Impact Advisers, Inc. (“RFIA”) that is a state-registered investment adviser. In order to advance compliance with and prevent violations of federal and state securities laws and to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest, RFIA has adopted a Code of Ethics to govern certain conduct of its staff, including certain staff of Reinvestment Fund because Reinvestment Fund is an advisory affiliate of RFIA. As part of this Code of Ethics, there are specific personal reporting and other requirements and disclosures of personal financial and/or securities transactions information. For certain individuals this reporting will extend to your household members. You may be subject to a background check.
COVID-19 Vaccination Policy: We value the safety and well-being of our Reinvestment Fund Community, which includes staff and beyond. As such, our team has chosen to require all staff, interns, and contractors to be fully vaccinated (1-2 Primary Shots and 1 Booster) as a contingency of employment.
How to Apply
Thank you for your interest in Reinvestment Fund and Its Senior Director, HBCU Brilliance Fund.
To Apply:Senior Director HBCU Brilliance Fund
At Reinvestment Fund, you’ll be part of a talented and passionate team of communicators and business development staff, lenders, portfolio managers, analysts, grant program managers, accountants, and policy researchers who bring their unique talents to our mission. Reinvestment Fund is currently undergoing a multi-year race, equity, and inclusion organizational change process, and we are seeking candidates who share a commitment to advancing racial equity and anti-racism and are prepared to engage in that work.