Loan Specialist - Central Nebraska

Center for Rural Affairs; Grand Island (NE); On-site; USD 45,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

HSA contributions

6% retirement match

Employee Assistance Program

Paid holidays

Summer Friday hours

Vacation and sick leave

Job summary

The Center for Rural Affairs is seeking a full-time Loan Specialist to support central Nebraska communities, focusing on Grand Island and surrounding areas. You will guide borrowers through the loan process, build referral networks, and deliver technical assistance while visiting client businesses to celebrate successes.

Ideal candidates are bilingual in English and Spanish, with a passion for small business, entrepreneurship, and strategic access to capital.

Qualifications

• Strong relationship-building with diverse stakeholders across organizations.
• Proven track record of meeting ambitious goals and navigating obstacles.
• Collaborative leadership that includes others in decision-making.
• Alignment with Center’s mission and values, and commitment to community impact.

Responsibilities

• Assist, guide, and educate prospective loan borrowers through the loan process.
• Develop and maintain a referral network with local partners, bankers, and community residents.
• Gather documents, prepare and analyze loan packages for review and approval.
• Provide technical assistance to borrowers at all loan stages and maintain regular client contact.

Skills

Relationship-building

Drive to achieve results

Inclusive leadership and management

Commitment to mission and values

Job description

# Loan Specialist - Central NebraskaOctober 19, 2026Are you passionate about assisting individuals and communities with small business development and access to capital? Do you enjoy talking with people to uncover their needs and present them with financial solutions? Are you competitive and self-driven to meet goals? The Center for Rural Affairs is looking for you!The Center for Rural Affairs is seeking a full-time Loan Specialist who is bilingual and fluent in both English and Spanish to serve central Nebraska with a focus on Grand Island, Kearney, Lexington, North Platte, Columbus, and Schuyler.The ideal candidate will be passionate about small businesses, entrepreneurship, and think strategically about access to capital. They will have a proven ability to build relationships with clients, community leaders, and partners to maintain a strong referral network. They will deliver technical assistance to potential and current loan clients. They will visit current client businesses and celebrate their accomplishments. They will be committed to delivering results while helping clients navigate entrepreneurship opportunities.## Who We AreThe Center for Rural Affairs is a dynamic, energetic non-profit organization working to build a better rural future for all. We’ve done this work for more than 50 years, and we do it from rural places with a flexible work environment. The Center focuses on capital access, community capacity, and policy advocacy strategies, with work in areas of food systems, community resources, small business support, and environment and resilience. The Center’s work is rooted in our mission-aligned values. We believe that a diversity of people and ideas strengthens our work, our workplace, and our communities. We take equal opportunity seriously, and we welcome applicants from a variety of backgrounds. Additional information can be found at www.cfra.org. Check to see if our Mission and Values match yours!## What You’ll DoThe Loan Specialist reports to the Lending Services Director, works with the lending team, and is responsible for the following:* You will assist, guide, and educate prospective loan borrowers as they journey through the loan application process.* You will develop a referral network with local partners, businesses, bankers, economic development districts, and local community residents to identify and support individuals who need small business loans.* You will gather all documents needed, as well as prepare, analyze, and assess loan packages to present a loan application for review and approval.* You will provide technical assistance to borrowers in all stages of their loan relationship with the Center.* You will build a strong relationship with all loan clients, making regular contact with them in person, through phone conversations, or other methods of touching base with clients to keep them informed, gather information, or point them to resources.* You will develop the expertise to be the trusted go-to person for resources and referrals when requested by community members, organizations, Center staff, and partners.## Who You Are & Keys to Success (the must-haves)To be successful in this job, you will excel in four areas:* **Relationship-building:** You develop and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with team members, across the organization, and with a diverse group of stakeholders. You know how to build alliances and find points of collaboration even when there are competing interests.* **Drive to achieve results:** You have a track record of accomplishing ambitious goals and getting results even when there are obstacles. You set a high bar and meet it because you think three (or 30) steps ahead to anticipate hurdles and come up with pragmatic solutions. You plan backward and involve stakeholders appropriately.* **Inclusive leadership and management:** You approach leadership with a collaborative mindset of “power with” rather than “power over” and regularly include others in decision-making. You seek out those who have the experience to guide, advise, and plan how you approach the work.* **Commitment to the Center’s Mission and Values:** You are aligned with and committed to the Center’s Mission and Values. You recognize how your own identities show up in the work, and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about differences to overcome barriers. You recognize that investment in communities, people, and entrepreneurship are pathways to better outcomes.If you were here right now, you would be:* Meeting with entrepreneurs, reviewing loan applications, talking through business plans, and helping clients understand their financing options.* Analyzing financials and cash flow to assess creditworthiness and move loan requests forward in line with program guidelines.* Building relationships with community partners and internal teams to generate leads, expand lending opportunities, and support client success.* Managing active loans and tracking outcomes and supporting borrowers through repayment while contributing to reports for funders, leadership, and the board.## What Else You Should KnowThis is a full-time non-exempt position based in Grand Island, Nebraska. This position will require frequent travel by car throughout the region to build your sales and client network, meet with community partners and loan clients, and may include overnight travel on occasion. This position has a salary range of $45,000 to $69,000. (Candidates with more extensive relevant experience may be considered for a Senior Loan Specialist role with a salary range of $65,000 to $84,000.)A comprehensive benefits package will be offered that has a cash value of $10,000 to $29,500, depending on family status and tenure with the Center. Benefits include employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision coverage, employer contributions to a Health Savings Account, 6% employer matching contributions to a retirement plan, a fantastic Employee Assistance Program, 12 paid holidays plus paid time off between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day, Friday Summer Hours from May through August, and vacation and sick pay.*The Center for Rural Affairs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify, is committed to the full inclusion of all individuals, and takes steps to ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations.*## How to ApplyIf you would like to work for an organization that has a national reputation as one of the top organizations in the country working to make rural communities more vibrant, apply by sending your resume, cover letter, and three professional references by clicking here.In the cover letter, please include:How your personal and/or professional experiences have positioned you for success in this role and any additional work, skills, or expertise you want us to know about.* Please describe how your past leadership roles make you the right candidate for this role.* Let us know how you heard about this position and why you want to work for the Center.