Chief Lending & Investment Officer

Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) seeks an experienced and talented Chief Lending & Investment Officer to strategically lead RCAC’s complex lending portfolio and engage as a thought partner with the executive team to advance RCAC’s mission at a time of unprecedented growth and mission impact. The CLIO will bring deep understanding of community development financing institutions, an enterprise-wide perspective to organization planning and decision-making, an engaging and collaborative approach to team leadership, and experience with rural communities. 

THE ORGANIZATION 

Founded in 1978, RCAC partners with and co-creates vibrant, healthy, and enduring rural and Indigenous communities by providing training, technical and financial assistance, economic resources, and advocacy so those communities can achieve their goals and visions. RCAC collaboratively builds the capacity of organizations that serve underserved communities in 13 western states (including Alaska and Hawaii) and Pacific Islands by working in partnership with small rural and Indigenous communities and other local agencies to provide tools and resources necessary to improve their quality of life. RCAC’s wide range of services to rural communities include technical assistance and training for environmental infrastructure; affordable housing development; economic and leadership development; community resilience and disaster planning; and community development finance.

RCAC created its Loan Fund in 1988 and was later certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). As of September 30, 2025, RCAC closed 1,953 loans which totaled $1,059,281,714 and leveraged more than $3.551 billion for projects in rural communities. These loans supported 176,805 individual water and wastewater connections for rural citizens; 18,363 housing units; 11,726,256 sq. feet of community facility space; and created or retained 33,725 jobs. RCAC currently has 384 loans under management, totaling more than $151,703,951. Additionally, RCAC manages 49 loans totaling more than $39 million on behalf of other lenders and investors.

Headquartered in West Sacramento, RCAC has an estimated annual budget of approximately $65 million, more than $200 million in total assets, and net assets of more than $85 million, and is deepening its impact through two significant unrestricted grants received in 2021 and 2025. Governed by a twelve-person diverse Board of Directors from eight different states, RCAC employs a staff of 280, many of whom work remotely across RCAC’s 13-state footprint. For more information, please visit RCAC’s website at https://www.rcac.org/.

THE POSITION

Reporting to Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Lending & Investment Officer (CLIO) is a new position in RCAC’s infrastructure and serves on the executive leadership team that includes the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Lending & Investment Officer, and Chief Impact and Policy Officer. Leading a team of 24, the CLIO will provide strategic direction in growing and implementing RCAC’s loans for affordable housing, water and wastewater infrastructure, community facilities, small business, household wells, and septic systems. 

Key Responsibilities

The CLIO will step into an organization with a reputation for excellence in the community development space, strong financial health, and a culture that values collaboration and innovation. In addition to leading a strong team, the CLIO will provide organization-wide leadership and contribute to decision making at a high level. Key priorities for the position include:

• Lending Leadership: Responsible for leading RCAC’s lending strategies as well as setting and meeting RCAC’s annual lending goals. Manage RCAC’s complex loan portfolio, overseeing the entire loan lifecycle from origination and underwriting to closing and servicing. Identify opportunities to design and implement new products to respond to market changes, community needs, and increased organizational capacity. Collaborate with the rest of the organization to maximize synergy and community impact.
• Strategic Leadership: In alignment with RCAC’s strategic goals for mission impact, develop and implement strategic plans, lending policies, and new loan products for the CDFI. Collaborate with executive team to expand the loan portfolio management to drive community impact.
• Capital Raise & Deployment: Support RCAC’s work to secure investment capital from government entities (e.g., CDFI Fund), banks, foundations, and private sources. Develop and manage investment strategies that effectively leverage capital. Represent RCAC on panels and at workshops regarding lending, loan products, community development finance, and underwriting. Assist and advise loan applicants by educating them on the loan process, responding to questions and requests and following up regarding incomplete documentation.
• Risk Management & Compliance: Identify, monitor, and mitigate loan portfolio risks. Monitor loan performance from closing through repayment, including managing delinquencies, restructurings, and workouts. Ensure compliance with internal policies, investor requirements, and federal/state regulations, including providing loan and impact data for various compliance reports and various funders. Maintain RCAC’s AERIS rating.
• Policy & Advocacy: Act as subject matter expert on RCAC’s lending activities to further RCAC policy goals and as a resource to RCAC’s Policy team.
• Relationship Management: Collaborate with the executive team and across RCAC to build opportunities for the loan fund to be one of multiple products and services that support clients and communities. Serve as a thought partner on the executive team, using an enterprise-wide decision-making lens. Represent RCAC at conferences and other meetings.
• Team Leadership: Lead and grow the Loan Fund team, ensuring high performance and continuous professional development.

RCAC uses a range of technology and software platforms to support its work including SharePoint, Unanet, Microsoft Office, Lanteria, Teams, and OneDrive. The organization is converting to Abrigo (Sage Works), CLCS.

Experience and Attributes 

Successful candidates for this position will bring a variety of experiences and attributes including:

• 10+ years senior management experience in community development finance, investment management, banking, or financial services, with significant exposure to community investment and nonprofit lending.
• Demonstrated relevant experience with Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and strong knowledge of federal regulatory guidelines and compliance management; deep knowledge of community and economic development lending and related issues.
• Commitment to understanding the rural and Indigenous West and its diversity of needs, and a passion for contributing to a mission in service of rural community development is a plus.
• Record of success in capital raising and working with investors.
• Effective relationship management skills; presence in the CDFI industry and ability to network and represent an agency at relevant conferences, meetings, and other industry events.
• Experience with organization-wide leadership, with the ability to think through strategic issues and decisions with a mission impact/organization-first lens.
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills including ability and willingness to balance strategic, lending, and organizational responsibilities, as well as provide creative and flexible solutions that mitigate risk.
• Accountable, dependable, and high integrity.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, capable of working effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire teams; ability to manage a remote Experience in mentoring/coaching team members in support of professional development.
• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally in the Western region and nationally for conferences.
• Degree in Finance, Business Administration, or related field a plus.
• Proficient in the use of tools, such as Microsoft Office, CRM systems, project management software, or data management platforms.

BENEFITS AND PERKS 

RCAC is looking for mission-driven changemakers who share its vision. Starting salaries are negotiable based on job responsibilities and your experience.  Based on current job market value, the initial compensation for this position will be in the range of $217,500-230,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits and additional HR services are provided through a PEO (Professional Employment Organization). RCAC offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes robust paid time off, a “rest and reset” week at the end of December, full range of health and other insurances, a 403b retirement program with an employer contribution, a wellness program, and more. RCAC advances a combination of home office and corporate office work model through its West Sacramento headquarters. The position is hybrid with the expectation that the new CLIO will travel to West Sacramento regularly in the initial months and across the Western region or to annual conferences.