Program Officer - Lending

Position Description

The Jacksonville office of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) seeks a skilled lending professional with a passion for strengthening communities to fill the position of Program Officer for Lending. The Program Officer will serve as the primary business developer and originator of loans that support LISC Jacksonville's community development priorities - affordable housing, community economic development, equitable neighborhood development, and financial opportunity. This position reports to the local Executive Director and is responsible for the sourcing, underwriting, and administration of LISC's pre-development, acquisition, construction, permanent, and bridge financing loans for real estate development in Jacksonville, as well as working capital loans and lines of credit.

Primary activities will include: identifying project opportunities, vetting of projects and assessing financing needs, structuring creative financing solutions, providing technical assistance to current and prospective local borrowers, developing key relationships and partnerships with other local CDFIs, national LISC teams, and LISC affiliates, as well as informing the local lending strategy. The Program Officer will also collaborate with other local LISC non-lending staff who are engaged in complementary activities to address our community development priorities.

Responsibilities

• Build effective working relationships with current and prospective borrowers, with national LISC teams, and with LISC affiliates.
• Meet with current and prospective borrowers to build a pipeline of loans in Jacksonville, which may include such asset classes as affordable housing, commercial and mixed-use real estate, community facilities, educational facilities, lines of credit and working capital loans.
• Serve as primary originator and initial underwriter for local financing transactions
• Work with borrowers and national LISC staff as necessary to assess feasibility, structure financing transactions, conduct due diligence and financial analyses, draft credit memoranda, and present loan recommendations to LISC's local and national Credit Committees and the LISC Board of Directors, as applicable.
• Work with local and national LISC staff to provide technical assistance to community development organizations on the full-cycle of activities related to lending and real estate development, including providing technical assistance (direct and through referrals) and identifying appropriate LISC resources, as needed.
• Work with national LISC Lending and Legal staff to manage timely loan closings, including coordinating the preparation of commitment letters, negotiating key business terms, and reviewing due diligence items and loan documents for consistency with key business terms.
• Assist national LISC Asset Management staff to manage the Jacksonville loan portfolio, including requesting project updates, analyzing financial statements, reviewing disbursement requests, and monitoring loan payments and covenant compliance.
• Assist Executive Director with supervision of other local LISC staff, interns and consultants who are engaged in local LISC lending activities; providing guidance and work management
• Participate fully in local LISC staff meetings and activities and develop an understanding of colleagues' activities supporting affordable housing, community economic development, equitable neighborhood development and financial opportunity.
• Assist other local LISC staff with structuring and review of recoverable grants, as needed.
• Develop and manage relationships with other strategic partners, including for-profit and nonprofit financial institutions and local, state, and national governmental subsidy programs, that could support potential complementary capital and permanent financing structures for LISC borrowers.
• Work with local and national LISC staff to provide capacity building support to partners to position their organization to implement real estate developments and other projects in need of capital investment.
• Represent LISC at conferences, trainings, and events.
• Prepare reports and findings for the LAB, investors, funders and other stakeholders, as needed.
• Work with local and national LISC staff on new initiatives as called upon to do so.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university required or relevant related work experience can be used as proxy.
• Minimum of at least five years of relevant experience in lending, finance, affordable housing, community development or related field. Proven track record of delivering results.
• Familiarity with Jacksonville neighborhoods and the local real estate market preferred, as well as with city, state and federal housing, commercial and mixed use financing programs.
• Knowledge of financing products such as predevelopment, acquisition, construction, bridge and permanent loans; lines of credit.
• Experience with working with lower-income communities preferred, as well as with community-based, resident-driven neighborhood revitalization.
• Ability to evaluate financial statements.
• Ability to identify financing opportunities and to creatively solve problems.
• Capacity to work on multiple tasks and projects, prioritize a challenging workload, be positive and solution-oriented.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others and demonstrate flexibility and poise in dealing with a diverse range of individuals and organizations.
• Commitment to working in a small team with a desire to learn from colleagues, supporting and encouraging each other in the pursuit of excellence.
• Excellent judgment, maturity, integrity, professionalism, interpersonal and managerial skills.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills are essential. Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, particularly Microsoft Excel, is strongly preferred.

Compensation

LISC offers a competitive salary ($65,300-$81,600) and excellent fringe benefits.