Community Loan Officer (Rural)

Description

Are you passionate about helping small business owners access capital and  succeed beyond the loan?  

Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF) is a nonprofit business lending organization dedicated to supporting the success of small businesses in Colorado. We provide access to capital for entrepreneurs who are unable to secure traditional financing. Our primary focus includes business owners who may be low-to-moderate income, minorities, women, or veterans.  We’re committed to creating meaningful impact in Colorado’s communities by providing equitable and affordable business financing for entrepreneurs who cannot access bank loans or other financial resources. 

Why This Role Matters 

At CEF, we see our community impact through job creation, wealth building for disadvantaged populations, and the growth and success of the businesses we fund. As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), we offer loans, grants, and free business coaching to entrepreneurs to help them succeed.

Colorado small business owners and entrepreneurs seek assistance from our organization in moving towards the major step of asking for financial loans that they have not been able to find from traditional resources such as banks. 

Mission-Driven Team, Real Community Impact

The team led by the Director of Strategic Lending, specializes in offering affordable, flexible loan solutions to those who are not able to qualify for traditional financing throughout Colorado.
 

As a Rural Community Loan Officer, you will expand access to capital impact across Rural Colorado by connecting local small businesses, entrepreneurs, and community members with CEF’s resources. Your role focuses on proactive daily business development activities-building referral partnerships with local banks, financial institutions, economic development organizations and the community at large. 

CEF offers a hybrid work environment with a blend of in-person connection and opportunities to be remote. Candidates must be Colorado-based and can expect to travel to our Denver headquarters two to three days per week during the initial onboarding period.  After this onboarding period, travel requirements will gradually decrease as the Loan Officer transitions into a more remote-focused, territory-based model, while maintaining periodic on-site collaboration. 

At Colorado Enterprise Fund, we believe in a skills-first approach to recruitment and employment. This means focusing on what you can do and how you can grow, rather than traditional metrics alone. We are committed to adhering to anti-exclusion practices, removing barriers to access, and enhancing opportunities for all individuals based on merit and potential. 

Requirements

On a given day, your work will include these essential duties: 

• Daily time-blocked business development activities that will create and foster a pipeline of referral leads from new and existing business partners.
• Maintaining active working knowledge of all CEF loan solutions, programs, rates, fees, policies, and services.
• Analyzing financial statements, tax returns, and other financial documents to identify quality loans and mitigate financial risk.
• Applying the fundamentals of credit analysis, to make preliminary decisions about viable loan inquiries.
• Ability to consistently meet and exceed internal metrics for monthly lead generation activity.
• Working collaboratively within the Production Team to understand and follow workflows through all stages of the loan approval process. 
• Documenting borrower progress notes using our CRM system.
• Attending monthly Production Team training sessions. 
• Participating in public speaking presentations within the banking community and/or local economic and chamber events.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You Bring: 

• Associate’s degree preferred in Business, Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field (relevant coursework will also be considered).
• Exposure to underwriting or loan structuring in a prior role.
• At least two years of hands-on commercial or small-business lending experience.
• Demonstrated business development experience, including proven success in both cold and warm lead generation-and the skills to turn those leads into lasting relationships.
• Familiarity with rural economies and underserved markets. 
• Flexibility and agility to effectively communicate and interact across a broad range of cultures, personalities, and work styles.
• Technical proficiency in using business software applications, including but not limited to  Microsoft Office Suite,  and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems. 

  As an established CDFI, we offer the following benefits:

• Health, vision, dental and life insurance, paid parental leave, as well as 100% employer-paid short-term and long-term disability coverage. 
• CEF also offers a monthly hybrid work stipend, and a 403(b) retirement plan with employer match up to 5% of an employee’s contribution. 
• Our paid time off policies include ten (10) paid holidays per year, fifteen (15) days paid vacation to start, with an increase in year two, along with paid health and wellness time.

If this role excites you, apply online today! The application takes under 20 minutes to complete and requires a current resume. Your time is valuable, so know that we commit to reviewing every qualified application that comes through.