About the Role:

Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation (DBEDC) is seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Community Lending & Capital Access to lead and strengthen our Lending and Capital Access platform. This enterprise-level role ensures that DBEDCs lending programs are integrated, financially sound, and equity-centered, expanding access to capital for small businesses and microenterprises while advancing economic mobility in underinvested communities.

This is a lending-forward leadership role for a seasoned professional with deep experience in credit, underwriting, compliance, and portfolio management. The Director translates DBEDCs mission into an executable lending strategy, builds strong operational systems, stewards capital responsibly, and represents DBEDC within the broader CDFI and impact lending ecosystem. Success in this role is measured by portfolio health, borrower outcomes, operational discipline, and scalable impact.

What you can expect to do in the role:

Lead Lending & Capital Access Strategy, Programs & Innovation

• Partner with the CEO to set and execute an equity-centered lending and capital access strategy, with an emphasis on small businesses and microenterprises.
• Design, refine, and scale loan products, technical assistance offerings, and service delivery models responsive to community and market needs
• Ensure programs operate as an integrated pipeline from outreach through capital deployment and post-loan support.

Drive Lending Operations & Portfolio Stewardship

• Oversee loan fund operations, underwriting standards, technical assistance integration, and portfolio performance.
• Ensure compliance with CDFI, SBA, and other funder requirements.
• Apply data, CRM systems, portfolio analysis, and emerging technologies like AI to strengthen risk management and performance while keeping professional judgment firmly in human hands.

Lead, Coach & Build Team Capacity

• Lead, supervise, and develop a high-performing Lending and Capital Access team: Portfolio Manager, Senior Loan Officer(s) and Loan Officer(s), Community Outreach Coordinator).
• Set clear expectations, performance standards, and accountability mechanisms.
• Foster a culture of learning, equity, innovation, and results.

Oversee Financial & Operational Management

• Develop and manage the Lending and Capital Access department budget in alignment with organizational goals.
• Collaborate with Finance to ensure accurate reporting, forecasting, and internal controls.
• Strengthen operational systems, workflows, and documentation to support scale and sustainability.

Build Community Partnerships & Serve as a Public Leader

• Serve as a visible and trusted ambassador for DBEDCs lending and capital access work.
• Build and maintain relationships with entrepreneurs, partners, funders, and public agencies (e.g., City of Boston, SBA, CDFI Fund, Mass Development).
• Represent DBEDC in local, place-based forums and practitioner convenings that directly support neighborhood and borrower needs.

Oversee Grants, Capital Resources & Organizational Leadership

• Collaborate with Resource Development on grant strategy, proposals, reporting, and donor engagement.
• Contribute to organizational strategy and decision-making as a senior leader.
• Advise the CEO on trends, risks, and opportunities related to lending, capital access, and borrower education.

Qualifications What Success Requires

Mission & Values Alignment

• Deep commitment to DBEDCs mission and an understanding of racial equity in community development.
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership and deliver high-quality results while recognizing the impact of actions on team and organizational outcomes.
• Strong desire to learn and grow by exploring new approaches, asking questions, and applying lessons from past experiences to drive improvements.
• Comfort with change, and ability to challenge conventional thinking and propose creative solutions.

Technical Expertise

• Minimum 8 years of management experience leading teams to measurable outcomes in lending, finance, or mission-driven economic development.
• Minimum 5 years of direct experience delivering and stewarding capital, including underwriting, credit analysis, loan structuring, and/or portfolio management, preferably within a CDFI or regulated lending environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of credit policy, risk management, and compliance requirements (e.g., CDFI Fund, SBA, and funder reporting).
• Strong understanding of impact capital ecosystems, credit enhancement tools, and mission-based financing resources.
• Proven experience owning portfolio performance, including monitoring risk, addressing delinquency, and strengthening borrower outcomes.
• Demonstrated success in program design, scaling, and systems improvement within a lending or capital deployment context.
• Budget development, grant writing, and capital-related reporting experience.
• Strong data analysis skills; proficiency with CRM and loan management systems (Salesforce preferred).
• Ability to clearly communicate complex financial and lending concepts to borrowers, partners, and non-financial stakeholders.

Leadership & Collaboration Skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional work involving lending, compliance, finance, and operations with clarity and accountability.
• Strong judgment and decision-making skills, particularly in balancing mission, risk, and financial sustainability.
• Proven experience partnering with Finance on portfolio reporting, audits, and funder requirements while maintaining ownership of lending strategy and outcomes.
• Ability to identify risks, gaps, and operational breakdowns, escalate issues appropriately, and drive resolution through clear follow-through.
• Track record of improving systems, workflows, and documentation to strengthen internal controls, transparency, and scalability.
• Ability to communicate expectations clearly, align stakeholders, and hold teams accountable for results.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex lending, credit, and risk concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
• Ability to educate borrowers, partners, and internal stakeholders about access to capital, underwriting decisions, and…