Director, Investment Professional, Affordable Housing

RDF.Fund•Phoenix, AZ

22h

About The Position

RDF is a national Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) driven by a mission to unlock lasting prosperity in communities across the United States. RDF provides responsible and attainable financial solutions to community-based organizations focused on health, education, affordable housing, homeownership, and entrepreneurship. Founded in 1999, RDF has invested over $1.6 billion across 38 states and holds a prestigious AA- S&P rating. Our investment strategy is characterized by a high-touch, value-added approach, supporting organizations that aim to create economic prosperity and bridge wealth gaps. As a preferred debt capital partner, RDF excels in project sourcing and offers more than just capital, providing key connections, advice, structured financings, and innovative solutions. RDF operates as a non-regulated, specialty finance company with a values-based, forward-looking due diligence process that embraces complexity to capitalize on differentiated, impact investment opportunities. This position reports to the Senior Vice President of Affordable Housing and provides community development underwriting support to the Affordable Housing lending team. The Director, Investment Professional will tailor debt financing solutions for complex structured transactions, potentially involving public/private partnerships, traditional debt, grant capital, and Low-Income Housing Tax credit financing. Key responsibilities include working directly with borrowers, vetting lending opportunities, providing technical assistance, conducting due diligence and financial analyses, drafting credit memoranda, defending recommendations to credit committees, and coordinating the documentation and closing of secured and unsecured credit products.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, Real Estate, Business Administration, Urban Planning, or a related field.
Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in affordable housing and other community development finance, real estate development, investment banking, or a related field, with a proven track record of successfully sourcing, underwriting, and managing community development investments.
Familiarity with affordable housing principles and practices, with experience working on projects or initiatives that address housing inequities.
Experience working with or within underserved communities, particularly communities of color, to understand their unique needs and challenges related to access to education, healthcare, or housing.
Strong financial analysis skills, including proficiency in financial modeling, valuation techniques, and risk assessment, with experience in underwriting complex real estate transactions.
Deep understanding of community development finance mechanisms, including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC), tax-exempt bonds, and various subsidy programs.
Understanding of investment structures and financial instruments relevant to nonprofit finance.
Understanding of community development principles and practices for education and healthcare facilities financing.
Knowledge of CDFIs and their role in providing capital to underserved communities.
Awareness of policy issues affecting community development, such as charter school, healthcare, affordable housing policies and economic development initiatives.
Strong time management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and ensure timely follow-up with clients, partners, and internal teams.
Strong communication skills to effectively convey complex financial concepts to diverse stakeholders, including investors, community organizations, and government agencies.
Ability to build and maintain relationships with community partners, investors, and other stakeholders to advance health equity initiatives.
Cultural competency and the ability to work effectively with diverse communities, particularly within the Latino/Hispanic community.
Strong analytical skills with attention to detail in financial analysis, impact measurement, and reporting.
Ability to synthesize complex information and data to inform investment decisions and measure social impact.
Commitment to social justice, economic equity, and community development with a passion for serving low-income and underserved communities and advancing Raza Development Fund’s mission.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team, collaborating with colleagues across different departments and functions to achieve shared goals.
Flexibility and adaptability to work on multiple projects simultaneously in a dynamic environment.
Proficiency in relevant software applications such as Microsoft Excel, financial modeling software, and databases used for impact measurement and reporting.

Nice To Haves

Relevant certifications in finance, community development, or public health may be beneficial, but not required.

Responsibilities

Adhere to RDF’s core values, including a commitment to working in economic development endeavors with diverse, under-resourced communities.
Actively manage and monitor a portfolio of affordable housing loans and provide deep, ongoing technical assistance to new and existing client relationships.
Serve RDF’s clients as a trusted advisor throughout the full cycle of client relationships and provide high-value, technical assistance services, when necessary.
Apply knowledge of the affordable housing and community development marketplace and programs and policies affecting the community development industry.
Engage in industry groups and relevant conferences and events.
Develop and defend insightful investment theses by screening and underwriting financing requests, including analyzing community impact, historical and projected financial performance, management capacity, the feasibility of budgeted financing sources, and conducting prospect site inspection visits.
Present financing requests for approval and manage closings.
In collaboration with the loan operations team, complete post-closing financing follow-up activities, including project construction management, construction draw requests and supporting documentation, and collecting all applicable reporting requirements, monitoring borrower financial performance and compliance with loan covenants, and tracking key financial ratios, as necessary.
Maintain a group calendar of events, including industry-related events, and client groundbreakings. fundraisers; and represent RDF at those events, as necessary.
Collaborate with other industry specific teams on financing opportunities, as necessary.
Perform other tasks, as assigned.