Senior Lending Officer

United Church of Christ; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 115,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

The United Church of Christ seeks a Senior Lending Officer in Cleveland to lead CB&LF/ARC lending operations, including underwriting, closings, portfolio management, and reporting to advance mission-driven church real estate development in disinvested communities.

The role requires 3–5 years in real estate lending, knowledge of government subsidy programs (LIHTC/NMTC), strong financial analysis and leadership skills, and a commitment to the church's broader mission; collaboration with senior

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in finance or related field; MBA/JD preferred.
• 3–5 years real estate lending experience with complex community development projects; church/nonprofit lending a plus.
• Knowledge of government subsidy programs, tax credits, and development financing.
• Strong financial analysis and credit evaluation skills; ability to develop pro forma and capital stack.
• Self-starter, able to work independently and on a team; commitment to mission of the church.
• Excellent written and oral English; second language is a plus.
• Willingness to travel within the U.S. (25%–30%).

Responsibilities

• Oversees CB&LF/ARC loan operations, including supervising lending staff, originations, approvals, processing, underwriting, closings, platform management, risk management, and projections.
• Prepares lending reports for leadership and board; collaborates with auditors and controller.
• Provides oversight of Partners in Vision development services program.
• Identifies lending opportunities and coordinates with external lenders and CDFIs.
• Supports capital raising and relationships with banks, philanthropies, and investors.
• Coordinates weekly loan meetings to review pending applications and performance.
• Presents loan approval and restructuring recommendations to the Board Executive Committee.
• Advises leadership on borrower needs, loan products, and program opportunities.
• Interviews, selects, and trains staff; monitors performance.
• Develops relationships with church leaders and NMUCC staff; embodies organizational mission.

Skills

Real estate lending

Credit analysis

Financial modeling

Leadership

Team collaboration

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance or related field

MBA/JD or advanced degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Loan underwriting software

Job description

Ministry Team Church Building and Loan Fund

Reports To Chief Divisional Operating Officer

FLSA Status Exempt

Salary Grade 11

Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time

Category National and Global Ministries, Cleveland, Ohio

Starting Salary $115,000-$120,000

Description

GENERAL PURPOSE OF POSITION

The Senior Lending Officer (SLO) is an accomplished lending professional with experience in commercial real estate finance, church-owned, nonprofit-owned, and/or mission real estate projects. The SLO has a track record of experience with community and economic development finance (including affordable housing using Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs), New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC)-funded projects, public and philanthropic economic community development and housing resources and other development finance tools. The SLO is highly experienced in deploying the full range of financial tools and organizational resources to make impactful church real estate projects happen in disinvested communities (especially CB&LF/ARC’s Target Markets: Investment Areas, Black Communities).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• In collaboration with the Chief Divisional Operating Officer and Minister & Team Leader Strategic Initiatives, the Senior Lending Officer implements the current three-year Mission Implementation Strategy to successfully achieve transformational goals and maximize Fund missional impact.

• Oversees CB&LF/ARC loan operations, including supervising lending staff, loan originations, presentation of loans for approval to the CB&LF/ARC Board Executive Committee, processing, underwriting, closings, loan platform management, risk management, troubled loans, and loan projections.

• Oversees preparation of all lending reports and documents required by the Chief Divisional Operating Officer, the Controller and/or the CB&LF/ARC Board of Directors. Must work closely with the CB&LF/ARC Controller to prepare, organize, and provide documents and reports to outside auditors.

• Provides oversight to the CB&LF/ARC Partners in Vision (PIV) development services program for churches managed by AIM Development Group.

• Identifies lending opportunities, and when necessary, sell participations in loans to other mission-aligned lenders and CDFIs.

• Supports and assists the Chief Divisional Operating Officer in identifying church-owned real estate development projects, specifically for those church projects that include community facilities, affordable housing, and/or mixed-use projects that include any combination of religious, community development, housing and/or economic development purposes;

• Assists the Chief Divisional Operating Officer in raising capital, developing and maintaining relationships with new and existing banking institutions, philanthropies, investors, organizational partners, and other CDFIs.

• Coordinates weekly loan meetings with Chief Divisional Operating Officer, Controller, and lending staff to review pending applications, monitor loan portfolio performance, production goals, troubled loans and lending policies, minimize legal and financial risks;

• Presents loan approval recommendations and/or loan restructuring recommendations (prepared by the Senior Loan Administrator, Loan Finance Assistant and Underwriter) to CB&LF/ARC Board Executive Committee on behalf of churches applying for CB&LF/ARC financing;

• Advises the Chief Divisional Operating Officer on general and specific matters related to needs/concerns expressed by borrowers, observations on loan products and CB&LF/ARC programs/services, other opportunities and/or challenges identified from communications with active borrowers.

• In collaboration with the Chief Divisional Operating Officer, interviews, selects, and trains employee(s); plans, monitors and appraises employee performance;

• Develops and maintains professional and courteous relationships with church leaders CB&LF/ARC and other NMUCC staff; serves as a positive role model by exemplifying values which are consistent with the United Church of Christ;
• Initiates and strengthens relationships, in collaboration with other CB&LF/ARC staff, with potential congregations that may benefit from the Fund’s mission.

• Assume other responsibilities as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required to perform successfully in this position.

• An undergraduate degree in finance, or a related field or equivalent experience, or a combination of academic study and experience in commercial real estate, finance, or community economic development; MBA, JD or other advanced degree in relevant field (finance, planning, etc.) is preferred.

• A minimum of 3-5 years of real estate lending experience, especially with complex community development projects, or 5 years in a related field at a CDFI and/or in the community development finance division of a banking institution. Knowledge and experience in church and/or nonprofit real estate lending is a plus;

• Knowledge of government real estate development subsidy programs, tax credit programs, and other public and/or private economic and community development funding initiatives that serve distressed or underinvested communities;

• Strong work ethic, professional demeanor and willingness to cooperatively participate on a team in a mission-based organization

• Superior financial analysis and credit evaluation skills; ability to develop and/or analyze a project pro forma and/or a capital stack

• Self-starter, ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a small team

• Commitment to and theological understanding of the purpose and mission of the church in its broad range of concerns and in its ability to promote life and abundance in society is preferred; church experience as lay or clergy leader is a plus;

• Demonstrated written and oral English language skills, including ability to conceptualize and develop resources shared in print (blogs, social media posts, articles, etc.) or through public speaking. Knowledge of a second language is a plus;

• Desire and sensitivity to work in diverse racial, ethnic, cultural and religious settings with commitment to pluralism in the workplace as well as in one’s understanding of mission-driven work;

• Competency in leadership planning, development and training;

• Demonstrated human relations and supervisory skills;

• Proficient in Microsoft Office software programs, use of e-mail, other business applications and internet, and willingness to expand skill base

• Ability to travel within U.S. as necessary (25%-30%)

OTHER

• This position is Cleveland based and requires work in the office at least 3 days/week.

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for the position and is subject to review and change at any time in accordance with the needs of the ministry. Since no job description can detail all duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a position, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a position shall also be considered part of the position holder’s responsibility.

It is expected that the persons who holds this position will conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the policies of the UCC and in a manner that will reflect positively on the organization. All staff are encouraged to nurture safety within the work performed on behalf of the UCC by being attentive to self-care, education, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and the importance of referring those in need to supportive and helpful resources.

Comprehensive Benefits Package Employer paid health, dental, pension, life, and disability benefits

Application Deadline Open until filled

About the Organization

The United Church of Christ

Our faith is 2000 years old. Our thinking is not.

We believe in God's Continuing Testament.

We believe in Extravagant Welcome

We believe the church's mission is to Change Lives

EOE Statement The United Church of Christ National Setting celebrates diversity and an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to a workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the broad spectrum of our diverse society. We endeavor to recruit employees from backgrounds that vary by race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, genetic information, past, present or future service in the uniformed services, religion, or any other legally protected characteristic under applicable federal, state or local law. We are proud to be a multicultural, multiracial, open and affirming, accessible to all, equal opportunity employer.

This position is currently accepting applications.