Community Investment Operations Specialist

Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 56,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K and Pension

Health insurance

PTO 5 weeks

11 paid holidays

Work from home options

Casual dress code

Job summary

Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago seeks an Operations Specialist to ensure regulatory compliance and to support AHP-related grant processes. You will optimize workflows, build tools, and provide technical guidance to members and sponsors across Illinois and Wisconsin.

The role emphasizes customer success, data analysis, and cross-team collaboration in a fast-paced environment, with a strong focus on affordable housing finance and grant administration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; postgraduate education may substitute for work experience.
• 2–4 years of affordable housing finance, community development, or related experience.
• 2–4 years of direct customer success or customer service engagements.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with federal regulations and program policies for the AHP General Fund.
• Provide quality customer service and technical assistance to AHP users (eligibility, project feasibility, scoring, submissions).
• Analyze and track grant performance and disbursements; build tools to create efficiencies.
• Support reporting of operational events and SARs as needed; participate in UAT and system improvements.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Team collaboration

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Urban Studies, Public Administration or Policy

Tools

Tableau

SQL

Excel

Access

Job description

At the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, employees come first - that’s why we offer a highly competitive compensation and bonus package, and access to a comprehensive benefits program designed to meet the needs of our employees.Collaborative, in-office operating modelRetirement program (401k and Pension)Medical, dental and vision insuranceLifestyle Spending AccountCompetitive PTO plan11 paid holidays per yearWho we areFHLBank Chicago partners with our members in Illinois and Wisconsin to provide them competitively priced funding, a reasonable return on their investment in the Bank, and support for their community investment activities. We are one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks created by Congress in 1932 as a government sponsored enterprise to support mortgage lending and community investment. We are member owned and member focused. Our members include banks, credit unions, insurance companies and CDFIs (Community Development Financial Institution).What it’s like to work hereAt FHLBank Chicago, we bring people together. Our regular All-Staff meetings keep employees informed and our values drive the work that we do. Our Buddy Program pairs new hires with tenured employees to guide their onboarding. Our Employee Value Proposition is honed by listening and identifying the needs and priorities of our valued employees. We volunteer and identify ways to strengthen our communities. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and culture clubs create connections around shared interests and experiences. We offer live and on-demand professional development opportunities to grow your skillset and your career.What You’ll doThis role will be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal regulations and program policies as well as performing a key customer success role supporting operational processes for grants awarded through the Bank’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP) General Fund Community Investment program. The Operations Specialist will assist in optimizing processes, developing tools to streamline existing processes, and building reports.How you’ll make an impact:Increase Member engagement with AHP by providing technical assistance with AHP Online application process for Members and Sponsors.Support creation of new housing units and support of local organizations district-wide through review of and lifecycle support for AHP projects.Enhance Community Investment Operations team skillset with affordable housing finance and grant-making expertise.What you can expect:Provide quality customer service and technical assistance to program users of the AHP related to program eligibility, project feasibility, scoring commitments, system issues and all other support related to application submissionProvide quality customer service and technical assistance to program users, including guidance for submitting requests, supporting documentation, and ongoing certifications and/or reportingPerform comprehensive analysis of multi-family rental and owner-occupied projects for regulatory and programmatic compliance during the full AHP application lifecycleAnalyze and track grant performance and disbursements of awarded funds. Build and maintain tools to create efficiencies around existing processes and proceduresSupport the reporting of operational occurrences, events, and other reportable issues related to AHP round activity in Community Investment operations, ensuring any SARs are filed as neededMake recommendations and updates to existing AHP General Fund program policies, procedures and user guidesAssist with system support through data analysis, reporting, and participation in user acceptance testingOther duties as assigned, including supporting other Community Investment programs during high volume timesWhat you’ll bring:Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Urban Studies, Public Administration or Policy. Post graduate education may substitute for work experience.2-4 years’ experience in affordable housing finance, community development, or community economic development.2-4 years’ experience with direct customer success or customer service engagements.Familiarity with local, state, federal, and/or community development programs, grant application processes, and how they are used in various financing structuresAdvanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and AccessWorking knowledge of Tableau and SQLPossess excellent written and verbal communications and ability to tailor messaging to different audiencesAbility to take initiative in a fast-paced work environment, work effectively under pressure, either independently or as a member of a team.Cultivates strong relationships, can work across teams and departments.The PerksAt FHLBank Chicago, employees come first. We offer a highly competitive compensation and bonus package, and access to a comprehensive benefits program designed to meet the needs of our employees. Our retirement program includes a 401K and Pension. Our generous PTO plan provides five weeks of vacation for new employees and 11 paid holidays per year. We offer work from home options and a casual dress code at our beautiful new space in the Old Post Office. Step into your future with us.Salary Range:$55,825.00 - $83,725.00The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we may also consider your experience, and other job-related factors. In addition to the base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package which can be found here: https://hrportal.ehr.com/fhlbc