Vice President of Lending and Operations

Background

Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise was founded in 1986 as a nonprofit to help families navigate the homebuying process and become successful, lifelong homeowners. For over 30 years, we’ve used our ingenuity and innovative spirit to help over 13,000 clients, including families, individuals and small businesses, to secure loans, purchase homes and keep the homes they love. Additionally, through our revitalization and development work, we’ve been able to provide over 5,000 stable homes in diverse, urban neighborhoods with potential to thrive.

Summary

Do you dream of making a real difference in Chattanooga’s financial landscape? Are you passionate about empowering individuals and families to achieve homeownership, especially within underserved communities, and bridging the wealth gap? Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE), a Certified Development Financial Institution (CDFI), is seeking a dynamic Vice President of Lending and Operations to join our team.

Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions:

Strategic Leadership and Management: Provide strategic direction and leadership for the Homeownership Center (Lending and Operations Department), ensuring efficient and effective loan origination, processing, closing, servicing, and homebuyer education services. Develop a comprehensive business plan that attracts funding to support loan programs.

Loan Program Management: Oversee all aspects of CNE’s loan programs, including budgeting, portfolio performance monitoring, compliance, product development, marketing, and social impact reporting. Regularly evaluate the loan portfolio and ensure program compliance with funder requirements. Work with marketing team to create and implement loan program marketing strategies. Work with management and loan staff to continually build sources of loan capital and improve internal processes.

Client Management: Champion the use of CNE’s tracking systems to manage and track clients throughout their homeownership journey, from pre-qualification through to post-purchase support. Ensure that these systems are utilized to their full capabilities, generating essential data needed for comprehensive compliance reporting and operational efficiency.

Team Management: Build, lead, and motivate a high-performing team of a loan officer, processor, counselor, and construction specialist. Provide coaching, training, and ensure adherence to all compliance and organizational requirements. Carry out supervisory duties such as performance evaluations, new hire orientation/training, remedial training, team scheduling/vacation oversight, and other managerial responsibilities as needed.

Compliance and Risk Management: Ensure departmental compliance with all state, federal, local, investor, and consumer lending laws and regulations. Direct compliance activity and reporting to investors. Ensure that residential regulatory requirements are met and that loans are processed accurately. Monitor and ensure that all loan documents are safeguarded and up-to-date for audits.

Financial Management and Budgeting: Develop and oversee the lending department budget, focusing on maximizing revenue generation through loan origination and servicing while efficiently managing expenses. Manage loan program budgets and financial position. Develop a business plan that attracts capital to the CDFI for loan products. Ensure maximum efficiency in the use of loan processing software.

Community Development and Partnerships: Cultivate relationships with banks, credit unions, federal government, and other possible funding sources. Act as a liaison with local organizations for cross referrals to promote CNE services. Devise strategies for incentives for balancing loan production with loan performance. Coordinate with other staff to cross-promote organizations’ services.

Innovation and Impact: Develop new loan products, tools and processes to improve quality and efficiency of CNE lending services. Monitor and evaluate portfolio performance in terms of financial sustainability and social impact and communicate the impacts of CNE loans to funders, directors, and stakeholders.

Executive Reporting: Keep CEO, Board of Directors, and other stakeholders updated on departmental activities, performance metrics, and social impact. Make presentations to loan committee and provide guidance on loan practices.

Requirements

Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Finance, or a related field

· Minimum 7-10 years of experience in mortgage lending and operations management.

· Proven track record of success in originating and closing loans, particularly within underserved communities.

· Strong understanding of CDFI mission and community development principles.

· Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

· Familiar with homeownership counseling best practices.

· Proficiency in mortgage lending software and financial analysis tools.

· Commitment to fair lending practices and regulatory compliance.

· Experience implementing and overseeing public funding programs (HOME, CDBG, NSP) helpful

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications and may include an incentive indexed to the attainment of CNE Lending production goals.

This position has been designed as a full time, exempt position with a full CNE benefit package. CNE’s benefit package includes health, dental, and life insurance, 403B, vacation/sick, paid holidays, contribution toward licensing and training opportunities.

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Life insurance

How to Apply

To Apply: Send a cover letter and resume to [email protected]