Senior Lending Officer

Background

UMEZ is an independent not-for-profit corporation and a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with over $80 million in assets. We provide flexible capital to strengthen under-resourced communities in Upper Manhattan and beyond, facilitating increased job creation, corporate alliances, strategic investments, and small business assistance.  We have invested more than $250 million, leveraging over $1.5 billion in private capital investments in the neighborhoods that we serve.  This funding has created nearly 12,000 direct jobs thus far.

UMEZ’s working capital and real estate financing advance the economic development of communities throughout New York City.  Small businesses, such as restaurants, bakeries, retail stores, and professional services, use our loans to expand operations, and real estate developers and nonprofit organizations access our financing to construct and renovate under-utilized buildings and properties for retail space, offices, and community services.

In addition, our grantmaking programs strengthen the capacity and stability of workforce development and arts and culture nonprofit organizations in Upper Manhattan.  Our workforce opportunity investments play a catalytic role in bolstering the workforce development ecosystem, while facilitating strategies to support residents’ access to training and employment pathways.  Through our cultural investments, we support cultural organizations and artist-driven projects that grow the local economy and foster the unique identities of communities across Upper Manhattan.

 

Summary

Job Title: Senior Lending Officer

Reports to: Senior Vice President & Chief Lending Officer

 Summary:

UMEZ is implementing a strategic growth plan to expand our lending activities, and we are seeking individuals to join our team and help us achieve this growth plan.   The Senior Lending Officer will play a key role in this work.  Working with the Senior Vice President, they will lead efforts to explore and identify market opportunities, develop partnerships, and build networks that will drive sustainable growth in line with UMEZ’s mission and goals.

The Senior Lending Officer will be involved in all aspects of the lending process and be responsible for building a portfolio of viable and impactful projects.   Working closely with the Business Investments Team, the Senior Lending Officer will be responsible for conducting research and outreach to identify and develop new lending opportunities, cultivating new relationships and managing existing ones, and actively promoting UMEZ’s products and services. This position requires a commitment to UMEZ’s mission of community development through financial services.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Include the following and other duties as may be assigned:

 

Analyze potential markets and develop partnerships and referral networks to benefit our growth plans Identify communities, organizations, and projects that would benefit from UMEZ’s financing products Manage loans through the full loan lifecycle, including identification and vetting of opportunities, due diligence, underwriting, credit approval, and closing Recommend appropriate loan terms by conducting risk management assessments to evaluate creditworthiness Conduct site visits Prepare financial and narrative analyses and recommendations, present transactions to approval bodies Provide one-on-one counseling on financing and loan application processes and credit criteria Assist with borrowers’ efforts to secure adequate funding; strategize on viable sources and provide referrals Attend and represent UMEZ at conferences, events convenings, and meetings to cultivate community partnerships and promote lending activities.

 

Requirements

Undergraduate degree required, advanced degree in business, finance, or related field preferred Minimum of 5-7 years’ experience in business or real estate lending, including prior CDFI experience Excellent business development and network-building experience Strong interpersonal and communications skills with experience engaging borrowers and community partners Strong financing and financial analysis skills, including underwriting, risk assessment, and debt-structuring experience Experience managing the closing process and working with loan documents Advanced writing and oral presentation skills High level of proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.) Familiarity and experience in New York City community or economic development

Personality Characteristics:

An energetic and resourceful person with a commitment to community development and community finance A self-starter who can work both independently and collaboratively, as the situation requires A strategic thinker and creative problem solver who also has an appreciation for the details

Compensation and Benefits

Language Skills	English, and Spanish, a plus but not necessary
Education	Undergraduate degree in business or a related field
Supervisory Responsibilities	This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
Salary Range   Employment Type	The salary range for this position is $130,000 – $145,000, with final compensation based on relevant skills and experience.   This is a full-time position
Benefits	The benefit package includes medical, dental and vision insurance as well as a 401K plan.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should email or mail a resume and cover letter to:

Danessy Pico

Director of HR Operations

55 West 125^th Street, 11^th Floor

New York, New York 10027

[email protected]

Attn: Senior Lending Officer

No Phone Calls or Faxes Please