Vice President of Lending and NMTC

National Community Investment Fund
Vice President of Lending and NMTC

National Community Investment Fund (NCIF; www.ncif.org) is an impact investor and national nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) formed in 1996 with a mission to increase access to responsible financial products and services in underserved communities. NCIF focuses on impact generation across economic opportunity, racial justice, and environmental justice issues. Total assets under management at NCIF are around $228 million, including a balance sheet of $62 million and $166 million of New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) allocations. NCIF meets its mission via the following complementary lines of businesses:

1. Equity Investing: We invest in/lend with mission-oriented financial institutions (CDFI banks, minority banks, CDFI loan funds, and others) with equity, debt, and deposits investments. NCIF is the largest investor in CDFI banks with investments in 17 institutions (>10% of sector). Selectively NCIF will invest in financial and green technology corporations that are mission aligned.
2. New Market Tax Credit Deployment: We have received $401 million in NMTC allocations and are deploying it into nonprofit and for-profit impact-oriented operating companies and real estate such as health care facilities and schools.
3. Lending: NCIF is building a portfolio of loans that are focused on supporting businesses, housing communities, education, healthcare, and other sectors that are mission aligned. To further that reach, we are launching a platform to originate and syndicate loans among the NCIF Network of Banks. We have also launched an initiative to lend to greenhouse gas reduction projects that are aligned with the EPA goals around (a) net-zero buildings, (b) zero-emission transportation, and (c) alternative energy sources (i.e., solar) in underserved communities nationally.
4. Impact Measurement: Impact measurement is the foundation of NCIF’s work and supports all our business lines. NCIF pioneered the use of Social Performance Metrics (www.bankimpact.org) and is developing a Large Language Model/Generative AI-based Data Analytics Platform to catalyze additional capital to the sector.

NCIF is entering its next phase and planning for accelerated growth over the next 5 years. To help in achieving this growth, NCIF is seeking an outstanding executive to join its growing fund management team and drive NCIF’s growth and increase its impact while building on its lending and investing efforts. The Vice President, Lending and NMTC will be responsible for developing the business in allocated areas as follows (in conjunction with other NCIF Team members):

• Originate, structure, underwrite, and close a pipeline of low-risk, high-impact commercial loans. Such loans may utilize NMTC, LIHTC, or other government programs in participation with NMTC CDEs, housing lenders, and NCIF network partners.
• Deploy NCIF NMTC allocations in real estate and business operating loans.
• Underwrite and prepare credit memoranda, close, and asset-manage from inception to exit.
• Drive, alongside other members of the NCIF team, the raising of private capital, preparing grant applications for the CDFI Fund NMTC and Financial Assistance programs or other grant programs, as needed.
• Contribute to the development of NCIF Business strategy focused on growth and impact measurement. This includes the development of new lending and investing programs, new product areas like housing and climate finance, etc.
• Represent NCIF externally with potential and existing partners, as appropriate.
• Serve as a mentor to junior members of the NCIF team around both technical credit skills and more intangible partnership skills.
• Contribute to NCIF’s continued efforts to improve systems and processes, credit standards, and impact measurement, and engage in real efforts to make a positive difference in low-income communities.

The Vice President, Lending and NMTC will have a deep passion for improving the communities and people around them and a belief in the power of capital to catalyze change. The ideal candidate will also possess the following skills:

• Passion for community and economic development;
• 10+ years total experience in lending, credit risk management, and/or capital markets (for example, public finance, debt capital markets, real estate finance); experience in a bank or a nonbank CDFI will be a strong positive;
• Knowledge of and experience with NMTC deployment, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, structuring loans through government programs, public finance, and other CDFI Fund programs (FA, Bond Guarantee, Capital Magnet Funds, etc.) will be a plus;
• Deep experience in business development and relationship management;
• Strong credit, structuring, underwriting, and portfolio management skills;
• Experience with commercial real estate and commercial lending including loan participations and co-lending with other banks would be a strong positive;
• Self-starter with the ability to form strong working relationships both internally and externally by demonstrating transparency and honesty to build relationships and collaborate with NCIF Network partners;
• Flexibility and ability to think creatively about how to increase the impact of both NCIF and our partners;
• A growth mindset, an excitement about building the business, and an entrepreneurial approach to the ways in which that growth might occur;
• Ability to represent NCIF externally as a relationship manager and on conference panels.

NCIF is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal treatment and opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation except where such distinction is required by law. NCIF has a hybrid schedule with part remote/in-office work schedules. Preference will be given to candidates who are residents of Chicago or are willing to relocate.

To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to careers@ncif.org.