Program Director, Lending and Community Capital

Mid Hudson Energy Transition•Kingston, NY

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a strategic, mission-driven Program Director to lead our Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) and HELP Fund. Reporting to the Managing Director, the Director will oversee the growth and performance of two innovative and community-driven programs, HELP and the HELP Fund. This position requires a leader who can balance detail-oriented financial and compliance oversight with effective team leadership and a deep commitment to empathetic lending and community-rooted investment. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in lending, community finance, or banking; strong leadership and problem-solving skills; and a demonstrated commitment to and passion for economic, social, and climate justice. The Home Energy Loan Program (HELP): HELP provides 2% interest loans that help residents finance home energy upgrades that boost safety, health, energy efficiency, and climate resilience. Beyond financing, HELP offers wraparound project management support and includes incentives designed to empower borrowers, build wealth, enhance financial literacy, and support recovery from financial setbacks. This program is here to make energy improvements more accessible, impactful, and supportive of long-term financial wellbeing. The HELP Fund: The HELP Fund is the Hudson Valley’s first green community investment fund. It mobilizes local capital to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels while expanding access to safe, affordable, and energy-efficient housing for low- and moderate-income households. By offering a range of investment opportunities to both accredited and non-accredited investors, the Fund enables community members to invest directly in solutions that strengthen local resilience, reduce energy burden, and build long-term community wealth.

Requirements

Strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
Significant experience in lending, impact investing, community finance, or banking; including, managing loan programs, grant programs, or financial products.
Strong financial acumen, including experience with portfolio management, financial modeling, reporting and risk assessment.
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and build relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
Deep passion for and commitment to climate justice, economic equity, and community-centered work.
High level of integrity and commitment to ethical and compliant business practices.
Familiarity with regulatory frameworks governing lending and financial operations preferred.
Experience with project management software such as Asana, and CRMs such as Hubspot preferred.
Bachelor's degree in finance, business administration, economics, entrepreneurship or a related field. Master's degree preferred.

Nice To Haves

Experience with alternative or empathetic lending models
Background in nonprofit and/or mission-driven organizations
Knowledge of energy efficiency financing or green building

Responsibilities

Steward the overall vision, strategy, and execution of HELP and the HELP Fund in alignment with organizational priorities; partner with senior leadership to refine program strategy based on data, community feedback, and funding opportunities.
Translate program goals into actionable plans, ensuring strong performance, scalability, and long-term sustainability.
Ensure program design and implementation reflect best practices in equitable and empathetic lending, with a focus on expanding access for low- and moderate-income households.
Continuously seek innovative approaches to enhance HELP and the HELP Fund’s efficiency, effectiveness, and impact potential.
Oversee the full lifecycle of the HELP loan program, including origination, underwriting, servicing, and portfolio performance (delegating day-to-day operations as appropriate).
Manage the HELP Program Manager and build a growing team, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-accountability culture.
Monitor key portfolio metrics (delinquency, default, repayment trends) and guide program adjustments.
Maintain and refine policies, procedures, and systems to support efficient and compliant program delivery.
Oversee interactions with borrowers, monitor repayment schedules, and address delinquent accounts.
Collaborate with external loan administration partners (NYSERDA and our local banking partner) to ensure alignment.
Partner with senior leadership, the Development team, and the Outreach team to execute a diversified fundraising strategy spanning philanthropic, public, and private capital.
Cultivate and nurture relationships with potential and existing investors, donors, and community partners.
Support the management of fundraising events, campaigns, and donor communications to increase financial support for the program.
Contribute to the preparation of grants, presentations and materials to communicate the mission, impact, and investment opportunities of both MHET and the Fund.
Partnering with our external bookkeeper, manage the HELP Fund's financial operations, meticulously tracking donations, investments, returns, and other financial transactions.
Collaborate with financial experts to optimize investment strategies, ensure prudent risk management, and maximize returns.
Build and maintain strong relationships with our banking partner, government agencies (e.g., NYSERDA), community organizations, and contractors.
Serve as a key external representative of HELP and the Fund.
Engage the Board of Directors and relevant committees through regular updates and strategic collaboration; participate in Board meetings.
Gather feedback from community members to inform program strategy and ensure programs remain responsive to community needs.
Serve as Compliance Officer for HELP and the Fund, ensuring all HELP and HELP Fund activities comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
Assess and mitigate risks, developing strategies to maintain financial sustainability of the program.
Maintain accurate, organized, and up-to-date program policies, procedures, records and documentations in accordance with compliance policies and best practices.
Coordinate with legal, financial, and audit partners as needed.
Contribute to the development of impact metrics to evaluate the social, environmental, and economic outcomes of HELP and the HELP Fund.
Ensure clear, consistent reporting to internal leadership, funders, and external stakeholders.
In partnership with Systems team, build out dashboards, tracking and reporting mechanisms in Hubspot
Use data and analysis to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.