Vice President of Lending and Operations

Summary:

Do you dream of making a real difference in Chattanooga's financial landscape? Are you passionate about empowering individuals and families to achieve homeownership, especially within underserved communities, and bridging the wealth gap? Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE), a Certified Development Financial Institution (CDFI), is seeking a dynamic Vice President of Lending and Operations to join our team.

At CNE, we're committed to growing our mortgage origination business while fulfilling our CDFI mission. As our VP of Lending and Operations, you'll play a key role in shaping this growth, crafting strategies to expand access to affordable lending options and achieve operational excellence. Your leadership will be essential in designing and implementing innovative loan programs specifically tailored to meet the diverse needs of Chattanooga residents.

With a focus on narrowing the wealth and income gap, you'll lead efforts in managing the lending processes, optimize operational efficiency, and design innovative lending programs tailored specifically for our community. Your strategic vision and expertise will empower our team to effectively navigate challenges, foster partnerships, and maximize impact across our lending portfolio.

Leveraging your financial services and operations management expertise, you'll collaborate closely with internal stakeholders and external partners to identify new opportunities and address the evolving market dynamics. Your dedication to excellence and social responsibility will drive meaningful change, empowering individuals and families to build wealth, stability, and a brighter future for generations to come.

If you're ready to turn your passion for financial empowerment into transformative action, join CNE as we pursue our mission of building a more inclusive and prosperous Chattanooga for all. Together, we can make homeownership a reality for every aspiring homeowner, enriching lives and strengthening communities, one loan at a time.

Essential Job Functions:

Strategic Leadership and Management: Provide strategic direction and leadership for the Homeownership Center (Lending and Operations Department), ensuring efficient and effective loan origination, processing, closing, servicing, and homebuyer education services. Develop a comprehensive business plan that attracts funding to support loan programs.

Loan Program Management: Oversee all aspects of CNE's loan programs, including budgeting, portfolio performance monitoring, compliance, product development, marketing, and social impact reporting. Regularly evaluate the loan portfolio and ensure program compliance with funder requirements. Work with marketing team to create and implement loan program marketing strategies. Work with management and loan staff to continually build sources of loan capital and improve internal processes.

Client Management: Champion the use of CNE's tracking systems to manage and track clients throughout their homeownership journey, from pre-qualification through to post-purchase support. Ensure that these systems are utilized to their full capabilities, generating essential data needed for comprehensive compliance reporting and operational efficiency.

Team Management: Build, lead, and motivate a high-performing team of a loan officer, processor, counselor, and construction specialist. Provide coaching, training, and ensure adherence to all compliance and organizational requirements. Carry out supervisory duties such as performance evaluations, new hire orientation/training, remedial training, team scheduling/vacation oversight, and other managerial responsibilities as needed.

Compliance and Risk Management: Ensure departmental compliance with all state, federal, local, investor, and consumer lending laws and regulations. Direct compliance activity and reporting to investors. Ensure that residential regulatory requirements are met and that loans are processed accurately. Monitor and ensure that all loan documents are safeguarded and up-to-date for audits.

Financial Management and Budgeting: Develop and oversee the lending department budget, focusing on maximizing revenue generation through loan origination and servicing while efficiently managing expenses. Manage loan program budgets and financial position. Develop a business plan that attracts capital to the CDFI for loan products. Ensure maximum efficiency in the use of loan processing software.

Community Development and Partnerships: Cultivate relationships with banks, credit unions, federal government, and other possible funding sources. Act as a liaison with local organizations for cross referrals to promote CNE services. Devise strategies for incentives for balancing loan production with loan performance. Coordinate with other staff to cross-promote organizations' services.

Innovation and Impact: Develop new loan products, tools and processes to improve quality and efficiency of CNE lending services. Monitor and evaluate portfolio performance in terms of financial sustainability and social impact and communicate the impacts of CNE loans to funders, directors, and stakeholders.

Executive Reporting: Keep CEO, Board of Directors, and other stakeholders updated on departmental activities, performance metrics, and social impact. Make presentations to loan committee and provide guidance on loan practices.

Qualifications:

· Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, or a related field

· Minimum 7-10 years of experience in mortgage lending and operations management.

· Proven track record of success in originating and closing loans, particularly within underserved communities.

· Strong understanding of CDFI mission and community development principles.

· Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

· Familiar with homeownership counseling best practices.

· Proficiency in mortgage lending software and financial analysis tools.

· Commitment to fair lending practices and regulatory compliance.

· Experience implementing and overseeing public funding programs (HOME, CDBG, NSP) helpful

Salary: Compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications and may include an incentive indexed to the attainment of CNE Lending production goals.

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

To Apply: Send a cover letter and resume to mguilfoil@cneinc.org.

CNE is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Life insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person