Community Economic Development Associate

Job Summary

For 25 years, HOPE (Hope Enterprise Corporation, Hope Credit Union and Hope Policy Institute) has helped entrepreneurs, homebuyers, families and communities become more financially secure by providing affordable financial services; leveraging resources; and engaging in policy advocacy to strengthen communities, build assets, and improve lives in economically distressed parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

HOPE is seeking a Community and Economic Development (CED) Associate to join our team. The CED Associate will work closely with the Senior Vice President that leads HOPE's education financing and will play a crucial role in supporting the growth and improvement of high quality educational facilities, including lending to K-12 public schools (charter and traditional public schools) and other educational facilities such as early childhood centers and nonprofit organizations that support quality education in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. While this role will focus primarily on supporting activities related to HOPE's public education programs it offers an exciting opportunity for professional development and learning across a wide variety of community and economic development sectors.

The CED Associate will serve as part of the Community & Economic Development (CED) team, which facilitates investments in community infrastructure including healthcare facilities, affordable housing and fresh food retailers, HBCUs, schools and other vital community facilities, and connects communities with HOPE's resources and expertise. In addition to the Charter School Facilities Fund, the CED team manages HOPE's New Markets Tax Credit program, Deep South Healthy Food Initiative, and affordable housing development activities.

Primary & Essential Functions

Grants Management & Financing Support:

• Support HOPE's SVP of Community and Economic Development in the on-going management of $32MM in credit enhancements grants from the U.S. Department of Education, including the tracking of allocations, loan closings, and coordination with participants, lead leaders, and portfolio management on the collection of academic and financial data.

• Work alongside the SVP Community and Economic Development to manage partner relationships with school districts, charter school authorizers, charter school associations, other education support organizations, advocacy organizations, public agencies, technical assistance providers, other lenders, etc. within the education sector.

• Spearhead and build tools/leverage technology for data collection and data sharing with internal partners and external partners.

• Work with colleagues and contractors to successfully submit at least 4 annual reports, including drafting whole and pieces of the reports, coordinating preparation and gathering of various application components, and reviewing them for completeness and accuracy before submitting to funders.

• Collaborate with investor relations efforts, including assisting in grant applications and performance reporting.

Relationship & Business Development:

• Work within the CED department to support programs, which focus on financing for education and health care facilities, affordable housing, fresh food systems, rural community facilities, HBCUs, municipalities, energy efficiency projects, or other HOPE priorities.

• Attend conferences and events throughout the HOPE region to help build awareness of HOPE's mission, services, and products.

• Act as a change agent to drive HOPE's economic inclusion initiatives by integrating supplier diversity and the use of businesses owned by women and people of color in third-party contracting and vendor management for relevant products and services.

Market Intelligence and Analysis:

• Monitor federal, state, and local policies that impact HOPE's CED sectors to help inform planning, product design, and outreach strategies.

• Develop deep knowledge in specific industry sectors to inform risk measurement and analysis.

• Develop and implement procedures for analyzing economic and industry data to measure potential impact on the loan portfolio.

Communication:

• Provide direct support to the SVP of Community and Economic Development, including taking project notes, following up with stakeholders, developing project plans, and keeping internal systems updated with progress notes; preparing materials for community meetings, board meetings and assisting with other administrative tasks that support the effective functioning of HOPE and its CED team.

• Contribute to strategy and content development for projects, the website, annual/semi-annual fundraising campaigns, and other HOPE reports.

Special Projects: Performs discrete projects upon request.

What we will ask of you:

• Growth Mindset: No one is perfect, we all have weak spots and are growing together. You want to master the skill of self-improvement, and are okay working with an organization that desires to improve as well.

• Excellence: You are driven to do amazing work and complete every task to the best of your ability. We believe in striving for excellence so that the Foundation is synonymous with quality and trustworthiness.

• Humility: You ask for help when you need it, own up to your mistakes and put the needs of your colleagues and the organization above your own ego.

• Integrity: You are open and honest with your colleagues and yourself, and conduct yourself ethically.

Secondary Functions

• Work closely with other program areas of HOPE, Commercial Lending, Investor Relations, Consumer and Mortgage Department, the Hope Policy Institute, and HOPE

• Collaborate with Marketing/ Communications for full business development support and marketing materials.

• Perform general administrative duties and complete other duties as assigned

• Help support HOPE's revenue generation through increased membership and deposit growth and loan production.

Regulatory Compliance Requirements

• Must comply with provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)

• Comply with all laws and regulations as they pertain to the position, including but not limited to NCUA.

• Must comply with all provisions of the Management Official Interlocks Act

• Must comply with all provisions of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)

• Must comply with all provisions of the Fair Credit Practice Rule

• Must comply with all provisions of the Flood Disaster Protection Act

• Must comply with all provisions of the National Flood Insurance Act

• Must comply with all provisions of the Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z)

• Must comply with all provisions of the Privacy of Consumer Financial Information regulations

• Complete other duties as assigned Regulatory Compliance Requirements

• Must comply, with all provisions of the Right to Financial Privacy Act

Accountability for Business Results

• Timely submission of accurate and well written reports, program evaluations, and performance agreements

• Accurate and timely record keeping of loans, allocations, and associate program data in HOPE systems

• Successful project management of assigned activates and goals

Specified Authority Level

• None

Competencies/Skills

• Adaptability-Maintaining effectiveness in reaching set goals by adapting to changed circumstances, tasks, responsibilities, and people.

• Continuous Learning-Actively and continuously gaining insight of strengths and weaknesses in order to identify the relevant areas that need further development (with regard to skills and knowledge) and acting upon it.

• Data Gathering and Analysis-Collecting, consolidating, and using relevant information; recognizing important information; tracing possible causes of problems, and searching for practical data/solutions.

• Results Orientation-Being persistent and showing perseverance on achieving concrete and tangible results out of personal responsibility; getting optimum results from situations and being ready to take action and show tenacity in case of obstacles or resistance.

• Strategic Thinking and Accountability-Understands and processes complex information and exercises sound judgment, considering the situation, the issues, the key players, and the levels of authority involved. Proposes courses of action that further the objectives, priorities, and vision of the organization. Accepting responsibility that results in anticipation/prevention of problem areas from actions, and problem solving inside and outside the department/organization.

• Teamwork- Working as a productive member of a cohesive group toward a common goal, and contributing to team development and effective team dynamics.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required

• Three to five years of experience performing the duties described in the Primary and Essential Functions above; or an equivalent combination of education and experience

• Two or more years of experience in schools, non-profits, grant management, project management, or banking/finance in areas related to job requirements preferred