Senior Manager, Lending and Strategic Partnerships

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Manager, Lending and Strategic Partnerships for the MAP Lab supports the MAP Lab’s efforts to drive growth in minority businesses through mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships. The Senior Manager works closely with the Director of the MAP Lab to identify and execute on acquisition opportunities, focusing on sourcing debt financing solutions to optimize deal structures; leverages expertise in the SBA 7a loan process, as well as other debt products, to ensure efficient capital allocation for MBDA portfolio clients; works closely with internal and external stakeholders across the organization and partnerships to accomplish this work; plays lead role in supporting the Inclusive Opportunity strategy of increasing the number of minority-owned businesses generating over $5M in annual revenues. 

MAP (Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships) Lab is an initiative that will help scale minority-owned businesses through mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and franchise transactions. The intent is to identify and institute effective support processes that will reduce barriers for minority businesses. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

• Support and lead day-to-day operations of MAP Lab and other minority business growth initiatives, including administering to partners statewide, nationally, and chambers of commerce.
• Support and lead M&A Deal Flow: Assist in managing the end-to-end process of mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, including identifying acquisition targets, conducting due diligence, and structuring transactions
• Debt Sourcing & Financing: Lead efforts to secure debt financing for acquisitions, with a strong emphasis on the SBA 7a loan process, including application management, lender negotiations, and compliance.
• Relationship Management: Develop and maintain strategic relationships with banks, credit unions, SBA lenders, and other financial institutions to support the firm’s acquisition strategy.
• Financial Analysis & Reporting: Conduct financial analysis on potential deals, assess the feasibility of debt financing, and prepare detailed financial models to support decision-making.
• Capital Structure Optimization: Work with the MAP team to optimize the capital structure of acquisitions and existing portfolio companies to drive value creation.
• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate joint ventures, partnerships, and other collaborative growth initiatives that align with the firm’s strategic objectives.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, economics, or related field
• 5 – 7 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), debt financing, investment banking, or private equity.
• Proficiency in SBA 7a loan processes, or other loan underwriting experience, including the application process, structuring, and compliance.
• Proven experience managing complex transactions, including acquisitions, debt structuring, and strategic partnerships.
• Experience in scaling minority-owned businesses or working in economic development

PREFERRED SKILLS: 

• Familiarity with the private equity space, particularly in sourcing and closing lower-middle market deals.
• Proven project management skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a focus on presenting to senior executives, lenders, and stakeholders.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects simultaneously.