Director, School Lending and Underwriting

Agupdate; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Equitable Facilities Fund (EFF) in New York, NY seeks a Director, School Lending and Underwriting to lead the underwriting process for high-impact charter schools. You will balance credit quality and impact while guiding a growing loan portfolio, with cross-functional collaboration and special projects.

The ideal candidate has 6+ years in CDFI/commercial lending or related fields, a finance degree, and a commitment to equity.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in CDFI lending, commercial lending, investment banking, charter school financial management, impact investing, or related field.
• Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, or related field.
• Commitment to addressing inequities in education and finance.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion through professional, investment, academic, or community experience.
• Experience conducting financial, operational, and programmatic due diligence of charter schools.
• Ability to manage team members and complex workflows.
• Advanced quantitative and financial analysis skills, including building and assessing financial models.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills and adaptability for a growing organization.
• Customer-service orientation and collaboration across teams.
• High integrity and authenticity, with humor.
• Willingness to travel 25%-35% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Deal Analysis and Underwriting: Manage underwriting for 10-12 transactions annually; lead through the process and delegate tasks to associates.
• Process and Relationship Management: Serve as the primary contact for schools; collaborate with Lending, Outreach, and Asset Management teams.
• Systems Development: Lead ongoing development of systems and procedures, including AI integration.
• Organizational Excellence: Contribute to planning, strategy, and cross-functional team building.
• Special Projects: Lead or support projects to advance mission and represent EFF at conferences.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Credit analysis

Financial modeling

Due diligence

Team leadership

Relationship management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or finance

Tools

AI tools

Job description

About Equitable Facilities Fund (EFF)

Equitable Facilities Fund (EFF) is a national nonprofit social impact fund that transforms how high-impact public charter schools access the capital they need to grow and thrive. We believe schools should spend more on students, not on financing their buildings. We provide school leaders with affordable, flexible facilities financing and the support of a team with deep expertise in both education and complex financial transactions. By dramatically lowering the cost and barriers to capital, EFF helps schools invest more resources where they can have the greatest impact: in students, educators, and the communities they serve.

To date, EFF has committed over $2 billion to schools serving more than 145,000 students, predominantly in communities historically furthest from opportunity. Our loans have generated over $350M in savings for schools, which serve predominantly low-income students of color.

The Opportunity

The Director, School Lending and Underwriting will play a critical role in EFF's efforts to ensure that every high-impact charter school serving historically marginalized communities has a pathway to affordable financing. Reporting to the Partner and Principal, School Investments, the Director will manage the lending process and develop investment recommendations that adeptly balance credit quality and impact while supporting the growth of the loan portfolio. The Director will also lead cross-functional and special projects that advance the Underwriting team and the broader organization.

The ideal candidate will enjoy entrepreneurial, multifaceted work, relationship-building, and relentless problem-solving, and possess expertise in mission-driven lending and investing with specific experience working with charter schools.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Deal Analysis and Underwriting: Manage the structuring, underwriting, and preparation of 10-12 transactions annually for Credit Committee approval. Conduct comprehensive credit analysis, lead each transaction through the underwriting process, and delegate deal-specific responsibilities to associates. Collaborate closely with other Directors and Vice Presidents across the Underwriting team to ensure rigorous, consistent, and efficient execution.

Process and Relationship Management: Serving as key point of contact for schools throughout the underwriting process and interfacing with EFF's Lending and School Outreach and Asset Management teams to ensure all school borrowers (new and repeat) have a positive experience. The Director will also build deep underwriting expertise and sector knowledge in 3-5 key geographic markets, leading deals there, including interacting with local intermediaries and stakeholders.

Systems Development: Leading the ongoing development and refinement of systems and procedures, including the use of AI, to optimize EFF's lending practice.

Organizational Excellence: Participating in organizational and cross-functional team‑building, strategic planning, and goal‑setting processes.
Special Projects: Depending on skills and interests, lead and support special projects designed to advance EFF's mission and efforts to serve more schools, including representing EFF at conferences and on panels.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

6+ years of relevant professional experience in CDFI lending, commercial lending, investment banking, charter school financial management, impact investing, or a related field. Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, or a related field. Unwavering commitment to EFF's mission to address educational, financial, and racial inequities. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through professional, investment, academic, or community experience. Examples may include work with a CDFI, affordable housing developer, credit union, social impact fund, foundation PRI program, university impact investing initiative, nonprofit organization, or nonprofit board or committee. Experience conducting financial, operational, and programmatic due diligence of charter schools. Demonstrated ability to manage team members and complex workflows. Exceptional quantitative and financial analysis skills, including the ability to develop and assess financial models as needed. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong, creative problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt and pivot in support of a growing organization. Customer-service orientation and demonstrated ability to collaborate across functional teams. High degree of integrity and authenticity, complemented by a good sense of humor. Willingness to travel approximately 25%-35% of the time.