Do you have the appetite for building relationships, solving complex financing challenges, and helping developers and communities bring affordable and workforce housing projects from concept to completion?
Read on. We might be looking for you!
This role combines core lending responsibilities with specialized housing development finance expertise. The Loan Specialist will help prospective borrowers and partners understand available loan products, assess project feasibility, evaluate repayment capacity, structure appropriate financing, and navigate the lending process. The position will support a variety of housing development projects, including affordable housing, workforce housing, infill development, rehabilitation, rental housing, owner-occupied housing, mixed-use projects, infrastructure-related housing development needs, and other mission-aligned projects.
Who We Are
The Center for Rural Affairs is a dynamic, energetic non-profit organization working to build a better rural future for all. We’ve done this work for more than 50 years, and we do it from rural places with a flexible work environment. The Center focuses on capital access, community capacity, and policy advocacy strategies with work in areas of food systems, community resources, small business support, and environment and resilience. The Center’s work is rooted in our mission-aligned values. We believe that a diversity of people and ideas strengthens our work, our workplace, and our communities. We take equal opportunity seriously, and we welcome applicants from a variety of backgrounds. Additional information can be found at www.cfra.org.
What You’ll Do
The Senior Loan Specialist reports to the Chief Lending Officer and will work closely with the Associate Director of Lending & Housing Development.
• Build and grow a pipeline of affordable and workforce housing lending opportunities across Greater Nebraska.
• Partner with developers, lenders, nonprofits, and state & local governments to move housing projects from concept to completion.
• Analyze project feasibility and underwrite loans by evaluating budgets, financials, repayment capacity, and risk.
• Structure creative financial solutions by leveraging public, private, and mission-driven funding sources.
• Guide complex loan transactions from application through closing while coordinating with borrowers and key partners.
• Monitor loan portfolios and housing projects to support successful outcomes, manage risk, and maximize community impact.
Who You Are & Keys to Success (the must-haves)
To be successful in this job, you will excel in five areas:
• Relationship building: You know how to talk with people to understand their needs through conversation and inquiry. People trust you because you’re efficient with their time and have their best interests in mind. You’re able to build networks and alliances, and find points of collaboration even when there are competing interests on your time. You develop and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders and can bring in allies and partners.
• Drive to achieve results: You know how to work to your strengths to achieve your ambitious goals, and you anticipate hurdles as mere momentary inconveniences. You possess a competitive drive and are creative when prospecting clients and opportunities. You set a high bar and meet it by thinking three (or 30) steps ahead to come up with pragmatic yet innovative solutions. You have financial acumen and an affinity for the details.
• Inclusive leadership and management: You approach leadership in your work with a mindset of “power with” rather than “power over” and regularly include others with lived experience and/or expertise in decision-making. You use resources wisely and can provide clear direction to clients, partners, and contractors to leverage time and resources for impact.
• Setting and managing priorities: You have experience managing multiple projects and keeping tasks from slipping through the cracks. You use resources wisely and can provide clear direction to staff, partners, consultants, and volunteers to leverage time and talent for impact. You understand the importance of effective delegation and empower others by assigning responsibilities that align with their strengths to maximize efficiency and results.
• Commitment to social justice: You recognize the role of race, income, age, immigration status, and other identities in addressing barriers. You recognize how your own identities show up in the work, and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about difference to overcome barriers. You recognize that investment in communities, people, and entrepreneurship is a pathway to better outcomes. You’re a leader (or willing to become a leader) in incorporating the Center’s Values effectively into internal processes, external programming and communications, and work relationships, as well as identifying opportunities to build your own capacity to center these values into your work.
If you were here right now, you would be:
• Managing a dynamic pipeline of housing lending opportunities by prioritizing projects, coordinating next steps, and keeping initiatives moving forward.
• Collaborating with colleagues, developers, lenders, and community partners to create housing solutions in an evolving, mission-driven environment.
• Traveling across Greater Nebraska to build relationships, support housing projects, and connect with the communities we serve.
• Evaluating complex lending opportunities with sound credit judgment, balancing risk while identifying practical paths to successful financing.
• Thriving in a role that values adaptability, accountability, and follow-through as you help bring affordable and workforce housing projects to life.
You have experience with the following:
• Housing development finance, including construction lending, development budgets, sources and use, and layering financing structures
• Financial analysis and underwriting, with the ability to evaluate project feasibility, repayment capacity, cash flow, and credit risk.
• Public and private funding programs, such as workforce housing initiatives, tax credits, housing trust funds, and other financial tools that support community development.
• Building trusted relationships with developers, lenders, nonprofit organizations, local governments, and other stakeholders to advance projects.
• Communicating complex financial concepts clearly and practically while negotiating solutions and collaborating with diverse partners and stakeholders.
What Else You Should Know
This is a full-time non-exempt position. The position must be able to serve communities across Greater Nebraska and is expected to work from the Center’s Lyons office at least two days per week. This position will require occasional travel to meet with community partners and individuals and include both overnight and out-of-state travel on occasion.
Compensation and benefits:
This position has a salary range of $65,000 – $84,000 with top-notch benefits that have a cash value of $10,000 to $29,500, depending on family status and tenure with the Center. Benefits include a 97% employer-paid family health insurance that includes a contribution to a Health Savings Account, retirement options, a fantastic Employee Assistance Program, 12 paid holidays plus paid time off between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, Friday Summer Hours, and vacation and sick pay.
The Center for Rural Affairs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify, is committed to the full inclusion of all individuals, and takes steps to ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations.
How to Apply
If you would like to work for an organization that has a national reputation as one of the top organizations in the country working to make rural communities more vibrant, apply by sending your resume, cover letter, and three professional references by clicking here.
In the cover letter, please include:
• How your personal and/or professional experiences have positioned you for success in this role and any equity-related work, skills, or expertise you want us to know about.
• Let us know how you heard about this position and why you want to work for the Center.
Location: , ,
Salary: 65000 – 84000
Benefits:
- Dental Coverage
- Health Insurance
- Paid Time Off
Nonprofit Association Of The Midlands: Apply Here