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

Work from home

Casual dress code

Five weeks vacation

11 paid holidays

401K and Pension

Job summary

Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago is seeking an Operations Specialist to ensure compliance with federal regulations and manage operational processes for Affordable Housing Program grants. You will optimize workflows, build reporting tools, and provide technical assistance to members throughout the AHP lifecycle.

Ideal candidates bring a Bachelor’s degree and 2–4 years in affordable housing finance or community development, with strong Excel, Access, Tableau, and SQL skills and the ability to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Urban Studies, Public Administration or Policy.
• 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 and grant processes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and Access.
• Knowledge of Tableau and SQL.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with federal regulations and program policies for AHP General Fund Community Investment.
• Assist in optimizing processes, develop tools, and build reports for AHP projects.
• Provide technical assistance to Members and Sponsors during the AHP lifecycle.
• Analyze grant performance and disbursements and develop efficiencies across processes.
• Support reporting of operational events and SARs as needed.

Skills

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Access

Tableau

SQL

Strong communication

Initiative

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Excel

Access

Tableau

SQL

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 model
• Retirement program (401k and Pension)
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• Competitive PTO plan
• 11 paid holidays per year

Who We Are

FHLBank 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 Here

At 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 Do

This 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 submission
• Provide quality customer service and technical assistance to program users, including guidance for submitting requests, supporting documentation, and ongoing certifications and/or reporting
• Perform comprehensive analysis of multi‑family rental and owner‑occupied projects for regulatory and programmatic compliance during the full AHP application lifecycle
• Analyze and track grant performance and disbursements of awarded funds. Build and maintain tools to create efficiencies around existing processes and procedures
• Support 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 needed
• Make recommendations and updates to existing AHP General Fund program policies, procedures and user guides
• Assist with system support through data analysis, reporting, and participation in user acceptance testing
• Other duties as assigned, including supporting other Community Investment programs during high volume times

What 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 structures
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Access
• Working knowledge of Tableau and SQL
• Possess excellent written and verbal communications and ability to tailor messaging to different audiences
• Ability 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 Perks

At 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 - $83,725.00
The 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