Community Lending Associate

HR Strategy Group•Baltimore, MD

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund (NIIF) is seeking a Community Lending Associate to play a vital role in delivering capital and supporting inclusive development in Baltimore City. NIIF is a place-based, non-profit loan fund with a mission to mobilize capital and leverage partnerships that support community development, drive economic opportunity, and promote growth in Baltimore’s historically disinvested neighborhoods. As part of a small, collaborative team, the Community Lending Associate will have the opportunity to originate, underwrite, and close a wide variety of transactions and perform impact measurement and evaluation activities as part of our lending efforts. Successful candidates will demonstrate a genuine passion for community development, affordable housing, and CDFIs, with curiosity about how they drive impact in underserved neighborhoods. They should also possess a positive, roll-up-your-sleeves attitude, flexibility, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Requirements

Strong interest and/or experience in affordable housing, community development finance, lending and investment, banking, or another relevant field.
Commitment to social justice consistent with the mission and goals of NIIF.
A self-directed, hands-on, highly resourceful individual and flexible team player.
Familiarity with general accounting principles, including the ability to read a balance sheet and income statement.
Highly proficient in MS Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Two (2) years professional experience in an office environment.

Nice To Haves

Coursework and/or a degree in a relevant subject (e.g., real estate, accounting, business, urban planning, or public policy).
Familiarity with basic underwriting or credit analysis concepts.
Experience managing datasets and/or analyzing and displaying quantitative information. (Current tool is Airtable.)
Experience and knowledge of city, state, and federal housing programs, as well as market participants including Community Development Financial Institutions.

Responsibilities

Support community development lending efforts by working with prospective borrowers to identify and cultivate lending opportunities, collect relevant information, and participate in customer calls and site visits.
Evaluate potential borrowers / projects, including mission alignment, management and operational capacity, organizational structure, and financial feasibility.
Move proposals through the closing process by performing diligence and financial analysis, reviewing conformity relative to NIIF Investment Policies, drafting credit memos, and presenting loan recommendations to NIIF’s Investment Committee.
Support the Lending Team with pipeline tracking, record maintenance, and interaction with Closing / Funding team.
Assist the Lending Team and Construction Lending Specialist with monitoring construction projects and related draws.
Assist Impact Director in collecting, analyzing, and reporting project impact data.
Manage survey-based project impact measurement tool and the impact database.
Prepare impact assessments for prospective projects and loan closings, as well as periodic impact reports.
Support operational tasks, including procurement, internal / external communications, and information technology systems.
Assist with board and committee meetings and materials.
Provide additional administrative support, as needed.