Lending/Loan Operations

Opportunity Finance Network; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental

Vision

FSA

401k matching

Disability & life insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Paid time off

Job summary

IRC's Center for Economic Opportunity in the United States seeks a Deputy Director, Lending and Partnerships to lead underwriting and lending operations, oversee data analysis, and support partners delivering credit services in low-income communities.

The role emphasizes strong team leadership, policy development, and collaboration with external partners to expand loan volume while maintaining rigorous underwriting standards.

Qualifications

• Strong commitment to economic equity and serving low-income communities.
• Ability to build, motivate, and develop a high-performing team.
• Demonstrated experience managing nonprofit loan portfolios and credit risk.
• Knowledge of loan documentation, compliance, and credit protections strategies.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily lending operations, including underwriting oversight and loan committee preparation.
• Supervise and mentor loan officers and origination staff on product fit and borrower engagement.
• Maintain credit quality and ensure alignment with mission and policy standards.
• Coordinate with servicing to ensure smooth transitions from origination to portfolio management.
• Develop and refine lending policies and credit guidelines in collaboration with leadership.

Skills

Credit risk assessment

Team leadership

Financial analysis

CDFI experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, economics, or equivalent experience

Tools

Loan management systems

Job description

Company: IRC's Center for Economic Opportunity

Job Function: Lending/Loan Operations

Posted on: July 13, 2026

Background

Background

The IRC’s Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) is a certified community development financial institution (CDFI) and 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in 2011, and a non-controlled subsidiary of the International Rescue Committee (IRC). CEO’s primary mission is to unlock access to credit to help create a fair financial system where low-income people can realize their potential to build better lives. CEO specializes in making small-dollar consumer and commercial loans to refugees, immigrants, and other low-income individuals through a robust national network of lending partners operating across 25+ states. We seek a dynamic leader to help drive our lending operations and deepen our community partnerships.

Summary

The Deputy Director, Lending and Partnerships oversees daily operations of CEO’s underwriting and lending activity, lending and borrower data analysis and technical support to CEO’s lending and service delivery partners. Reporting to the Director of Credit Strategy, this individual co-leads the lending team, manages key institutional and community relationships, and helps drive loan production while ensuring quality underwriting standards and mission alignment. This role is ideal for a strategic, mission-driven professional who is equally comfortable building partnerships with service organizations, ensuring data-driven operations and managing fast-paced, borrower-centered lending in low-income communities.

Responsibilities

Lending Operations

• Manage day-to-day lending operations, including pipeline management, underwriting oversight, and internal and external loan committee preparation.
• Supervise and mentor a team of loan officers and origination specialists providing guidance on loan product fit, underwriting, partner support and borrower engagement.
• Review and approve loan applications, term sheets, and loan recommendations prior to credit committee presentation.
• Ensure loan production and deployment goals are met while maintaining strong credit quality and mission alignment.
• Manage the loan pipeline tracking system; provide regular reporting on volume, product mix, and projected closings to senior leadership.
• Coordinate closely with the servicing team to ensure smooth transitions from origination through closing and into portfolio management.

Credit Quality & Underwriting Standards

• Maintain and support updating of lending policies, underwriting guidelines, and credit standards in coordination with senior leadership.
• Ensure consistency and rigor in underwriting across all loan products and borrower types.
• Identify opportunities to refine product structures or develop new products in response to market needs and community demand.
• Support the credit committee process, including preparing and presenting materials and facilitating decision-making discussions.

Partnership Development & External Relations

• Cultivate and manage strategic relationships community-based organizations that generate referrals, lending as a service agreements and co-lending opportunities.
• Oversee delivery of high-quality training and technical support to CEO’s lending partners, ensuring rapid and effective uptake of CEO’s business systems and procedures.
• Co-develop, in close coordination with leadership and external relations, a partnership strategy that expands the organization’s referral network, increases loan volume, and deepens community trust.
• Manage formal partnership agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), and co-lending or participation loan arrangements with partners.
• Collaborate with the external relations team to support grant applications, CDFI Fund awards, and funder relationships that require lending data, program descriptions, or partnership documentation.

Business Development & Market Strategy

• Identify underserved market segments, geographic gaps, or product needs, and recommend strategies to expand lending reach.
• Lead outreach campaigns and marketing efforts in coordination with communications staff to promote loan products and raise awareness among target borrowers.
• Support the organization’s annual lending goals and strategic plan by supporting the development and implementation of business development work plans.

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

• Supervise, coach, and evaluate a team of lending and partnership staff; foster a collaborative, accountable, and mission-driven team culture.
• Assist in the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of new lending team members.
• Lead or participate in cross-departmental initiatives related to systems improvement, product development, impact measurement, and organizational learning.

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure lending activities comply with applicable regulatory requirements, investor covenants, and CDFI Fund program requirements.
• Contribute to CDFI Fund reporting (AMIS, Transaction Level Reporting) and other external compliance reporting as needed.
• Support impact measurement by ensuring accurate tracking of borrower demographics, loan purpose, job creation, and other mission-related metrics.

Requirements

• Genuine commitment to economic equity and serving low-income communities.
• Ability to build, motivate, and develop a high-performing team.
• Strong capacity to assess credit risk, interpret financial data, and make sound recommendations balancing strong commitment to borrowers’ interests with CDFI sustainability.
• Sound decision-making, especially in cases of hardship, complex circumstances and balance of short- and long-term interests of the CDFI.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, economics, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in CDFI loan servicing, credit risk management, or portfolio management, with at least 3 years in a supervisory role.
• Demonstrated experience managing nonprofit loan portfolios.
• Strong knowledge of loan documentation, credit analysis, compliance, and credit protections strategies.
• Knowledge of small business lending and borrower-centered financing.
• Experience with loan management systems.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills.
• Commitment to CDFI’s mission and the communities we serve.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay Rate : $90,000-$115,000/yr

Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Benefits : We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.