NHFC Director of

Position Title:    NHFC Director of Lending                              Reports To:        Chief Executive Officer           

ABOUT NHFC

NeighborWorks® Housing Solutions (NHS) is a one-stop-shop for finding and maintaining safe, affordable, high-quality housing and growing financial skills and resources.  We provide the answers and support individuals and families need. Our services include rental assistance; emergency financial help; shelter and homelessness prevention; first-time homebuyer education and counseling; financial coaching; foreclosure prevention; affordable residential and small business loans; and construction and management of high-quality rental housing across Southern Massachusetts. A charter member of the national NeighborWorks® America network, NHS is a full-service NeighborWorks® Homeownership Center with locations in Quincy, Brockton, Kingston, New Bedford, Fall River and Taunton.  Neighborhood Housing Finance Corporation is a designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).

SUMMARY

This position has responsibility for directing the continued growth and operations of Neighborhood Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) Lending.  The selected candidate will focus on cultivating new partnerships, assessing lending related business opportunities, building a strong customer-centric team, ensuring organizational readiness to implement new product offerings as well as successfully managing current lending programs. The Director of Lending will be tasked with ensuring that department goals are achieved; all aspects of NHFC Lending meet compliance standards and will lead efforts to deliver superior lending services to NHFC customers.  This role will work collaboratively with external partners and NHFC’s other lines of business to identify potential customers and community needs and implement products that will be beneficial to them. The selected candidate will oversee all lending activities; ensure expedited, high quality service delivery throughout the loan process and will develop and implement an inclusive business and marketing plan. In addition, the role will be responsible for all reporting and maintaining CDFI transaction level reporting and certification. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identifies and creates new business lending opportunities and partnerships related to forwarding the organization’s mission of community stabilization and economic development.
• Directs and manages all facets of NHFC’s Lending activities and ensures attainment of department goals.
• Performs all functions within the lending team including underwriting and processing of 2^nd mortgage and down payment loans as needed to ensure adherence to service level commitments.
• Designs and executes an outreach and marketing plan that results in a significant increase in customer leads and conversions.
• Represents NHFC’s broader mission and programs through network and community outreach opportunities.
• Takes the lead in ensuring full compliance and adherence to certifications related to lending operations including CDFI annual renewal.
• Works with financial institutions, foundations, investors, public entities and other stakeholders to expand the availability of mortgage, down payment, home repair and other community lending resources available to NHFC’s customers.
• Maintains a critical focus on national trends and legislation and takes responsibility for incorporating requirements into all facets of NHFC’s lending policies, procedures and operations.
• Actively seeks funding opportunities that will enhance NHFC’s lending line of business and takes a lead role in the contribution of in-house performance data and external market data related to lending in the creation of grant appeals.
• Works closely with the Accounting Department to ensure timeliness and accuracy of lending funds available balance, loan repayments and reimbursement billing to external partners.
• Works with NHFC staff to collect and maintain accurate client and program files.
• Cultivates and maintains strong relationships with NHFC’s lending partners.
• Ensures accurate and timely production of all compliance and administrative reporting.
• Educates lender partners on NHFC’s products and protocol to expedite smooth closings.
• Hires, trains, and manages all lending staff including loan officers, processors and administrative team members and ensures their adherence to all compliance and organizational requirements.
• Manages and tracks customers through all stages of lending pipeline, overseeing all activities and workflow of lending staff and ensures timely and accurate processing of loans.
• Responsible for the creation and use of program specific notes and deeds in accordance with lending guidelines.
• Pre-qualifies customers and originates mortgage loan for client based on the appropriate mortgage, down-payment and closing cost assistance programs based on individual needs and readiness.
• Cross qualifies customers for grant and/or loan programs administered by NHFC’s other lines of business such as realty and home repair according to state/federal/local/private funder guidelines.
• Oversees NHFC’s resubordinating and reconveyance processes.
• Acts as a liaison with local organizations for cross referrals.
• Assesses potential lending products and related services and determines suitability for inclusion within NHFC Lending’s program offering.
• Demonstrates sales ability and exceptional customer service skills.
• Takes responsibility for developing and overseeing the lending department budget with a focus on maximizing revenue generation and appropriately managing expenses.
• Keeps Chief Executive Officer, CDFI Board of Directors and other interested parties updated on an ongoing basis.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

A state of Massachusetts NMLS/Safe Act endorsements are required as are a minimum of (5) five years of management experience with increasing responsibility with a nonprofit, real estate or lending organization.

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in a professional working environment is required as is prior experience in successfully managing lending operations. Management experience within the mortgage (preferably wholesale and/or community lending), consumer and/or small lending arena or financial industry. Management of realty services and/or housing counseling operations is a plus.  Business lending arena or financial industry and grant writing experience are preferred.

Business development is a significant component of the position. The ability to demonstrate success in growing a lending operation is critical. The candidate must have excellent customer service skills, strong organizational skills and the ability to multi-task. Excellent verbal, written communication and presentation skills are required. The candidate must also have a strong knowledge of Microsoft Office products, specifically Excel and Word, lending software The Mortgage Office, MERS, AMIS, Yardi, TPO Connect and Simplifile, Point, Loan Ledger, etc.), and exposure to customer relationship/client management systems. The selected candidate must be self-motivated, demonstrate initiative, have a strong entrepreneurial mindset, and adhere to high ethical standards. The successful candidate must share NHFC’s mission and have a strong desire to provide access to high quality affordable loan products to our customers. Extensive experience meeting the loan needs of low to moderate income and first-time buyers is key.

• Strong knowledge of and experience with layering down payment assistance programs
• Familiarity with HUD income limits, guidelines and regulations
• Advanced knowledge of business and/or consumer lending and financial programs, real estate principles, community stabilization or nonprofit housing work experience
• Experience implementing and overseeing public funding programs (HOME, CDBG)
• Ability to quickly build a rapport with customers and partners of diverse backgrounds
• Bilingual preferred

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY

NeighborWorks Housing Solutions is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. At NeighborWorks Housing Solutions we provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

This position has been designed as a full-time, exempt position with a full NHFC benefit package. NHFC’s benefit package includes health, dental, and life insurance, 403B, vacation/sick, paid holidays, contribution toward licensing and training opportunities.