Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Lending Manager of the HIAS Economic Advancement Fund, the Loan Officer plays a critical role in empowering refugee entrepreneurs by providing them with tailored financing solutions, training and technical assistance to help launch, stabilize, and grow their businesses. This involves proactively identifying new clients, building trust-based relationships with refugee business owners, understanding their unique financial and operational challenges, and delivering personalized guidance throughout the lending process. The Loan Officer conducts in-depth assessments of applicants’ financial needs, evaluates business viability, and structures loans that balance accessibility with sound risk management practices. Operating in a virtual capacity across multiple geographic markets, the Loan Officer ensures that refugee entrepreneurs, regardless of location, have equitable access to financial resources and guidance they need to succeed.

HIAS Economic Advancement Fund (EAF) is a non-profit organization and emerging CDFI loan fund that provides refugees and other forcibly displaced entrepreneurs access to capital so they can launch and grow their businesses. EAF works alongside HIAS resettlement partners that are local Jewish and secular service agencies working on the ground in communities across the country to help refugees settle and integrate into their new communities. Our partners are the local presence in each community we serve, providing entrepreneurial refugees business technical assistance, financial education and assistance accessing capital to launch or grow their businesses through EAF.

EAF was founded in 2022 by HIAS, the Jewish humanitarian organization that provides critical services to refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced people around the world. What began as a microenterprise development program of HIAS in 2017 serving two geographic markets, has since developed into an emerging CDFI serving entrepreneurial refugees in 14 U.S. cities who would otherwise have difficulty obtaining loan capital from banks and other conventional lenders. While deeply affiliated with HIAS, EAF is a relatively new organization in a rapid growth trajectory, giving its staff members the opportunity to be part of the foundational development of EAF, including developing systems, processes, and new forms of support for refugee owned businesses.

Preference for employee to be remote from Cleveland, Ohio. We are also open to candidates to work remotely in one of the following locations where HIAS is registered: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. Employees are also eligible to work in-person in HIAS office locations in either Silver Spring, MD or NYC, NY.

Note, this is a temporary position that starts ASAP and ends December 31, 2026, with possible extension. The salary range for this position is $60,000-73,000.00.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Works closely with HIAS affiliate partners and other refugee-serving organizations to identify and engage prospective clients across multiple geographic markets virtually.
• Assists clients in navigating digital tools and platforms to access services, complete loan applications, and participate in training sessions.
• Conducts comprehensive intake assessments to understand clients’ business needs, growth goals, and financing requirements, tailoring support to each entrepreneur’s unique circumstances.
• Facilitates one-on-one and group virtual training sessions on key topics such as financial literacy, business planning, marketing strategies and navigating business challenges.
• Provides individualized guidance to business startups, helping them create realistic business plans, develop detailed budgets, and forecast cash flow.
• Assists clients in preparing and reviewing loan applications, focusing on applicants with non-traditional credit profiles.
• Organizes and reviews loan application materials to ensure accuracy and completeness, identifying missing documentation and proactively requesting additional information as needed.
• Builds trust and maintains strong relationships with refugee entrepreneurs through culturally sensitive communication.
• Maintains consistent communication with clients, addressing inquiries promptly, providing guidance, and monitoring their progress toward business milestones.
• Tracks technical assistance activities and client outcomes using internal databases, ensuring data integrity for reporting and program evaluation.
• Develops and maintains a robust referral network of business-support organizations within each geographic market to enhance services and resources for clients.
• Identifies at-risk loans early and collaborate with clients to develop effective remediation strategies.
• Seeks out and participates in training programs appropriate to EAF’s work as an emerging CDFI and non-profit lender.
• Supports additional initiatives, projects, and responsibilities as directed by the Lending Manager or organizational leadership.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Undergraduate degree in business administration, finance, economics, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 2-3 years of experience in small business lending, community development, or financial services, ideally with a CDFI or nonprofit organization.
• Demonstrated understanding of U.S. business climate, business systems and business development, with experience in business counseling strongly desirable.
• Experience working with underserved populations, particularly refugees or immigrant communities, is highly preferred.
• Knowledge of business development resources and challenges faced by small business owners, particularly those in refugee and immigrant communities.
• English fluency required; fluency in one or more languages spoken by refugee communities (e.g., Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian, Swahili, Arabic, Spanish, or others) is desirable.
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work independently in a virtual environment while maintaining close communication with the team.
• Flexibility and adaptability to work across different time zones and respond to the evolving needs of refugee business owners.
• Proficiency in virtual communication tools (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams) and outcomes tracking software.
• A commitment to EAF’s mission and its impact on its community.
• Travel, to include travel to insecure operating environments, may be required.

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