Chief Lending Officer

Supervisor: Chief Executive Officer | Department: Lending | FLSA Status: Full time, exempt

About the Role

The Chief Lending Officer (CLO) provides executive leadership and strategic direction for WomenVenture's lending function. The CLO is responsible for developing and executing lending strategies that expand access to capital, achieve loan production goals, strengthen lending partnerships, and ensure high-quality credit decision-making consistent with the organization's mission and risk objectives. This role serves as WomenVenture's senior lending executive and primary subject matter expert on lending products, credit policy, market opportunities, and community development lending.

The CLO collaborates with the Executive Leadership team, Board of Directors, Loan Committees, investors, banks, and community partners to position WomenVenture as a leading source of accessible business capital for entrepreneurs. The role emphasizes organizational growth, lending innovation, strategic partnerships, and responsible deployment of capital with a commitment to equity and economic empowerment in underrepresented communities.

Primary Accountability

Develop and execute lending strategies that responsibly deploy capital, grow annual loan production, expand strategic partnerships, and advance WomenVenture's mission of increasing access to capital for underserved entrepreneurs.

Responsibilities

• Lending Strategy & Loan Production Leadership (35%)
  • Develop and execute the organization's annual lending strategy and production goals.
  • Establish loan origination targets aligned with strategic and impact objectives.
  • Monitor lending pipeline performance and identify opportunities to increase loan volume and client access to capital.
  • Partner with Programs, Marketing, and Finance teams to strengthen the client-to-capital pathway.
  • Identify emerging market opportunities and recommend new lending products and services.
  • Evaluate production results and adjust strategies to achieve annual lending goals.
  • Drive department performance through goal setting, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  • Champion an exceptional client experience by ensuring the Director of Lending leads a team that consistently uses established client experience tools, processes, and communication practices.
• Credit & Underwriting Governance (25%)
  • Establish and maintain credit policies, underwriting standards, and delegated lending authorities.
  • Ensure consistent and equitable application of lending policies across all lending programs.
  • Provide guidance on complex credit decisions, loan restructures, and modifications.
  • Maintain alignment between lending practices, mission objectives, and risk tolerance established by leadership.
• Capital Deployment & Lending Program Management (15%)
  • Collaborate with the CFO to align loan production goals with available capital resources.
  • Ensure compliance with lending requirements associated with grants, investors, and loan funds.
  • Monitor utilization of lending capital and recommend adjustments to deployment strategies.
  • Lead implementation of new lending programs and products, including research to understand market needs and ensuring compliance requirements are met.
• Strategic Partnerships & Business Development (15%)
  • Build and maintain relationships with banks, referral partners, community organizations, economic development agencies, SBA representatives, and CDFI peers.
  • Identify opportunities to expand lending partnerships and referral networks.
  • Secure additional lending capital and programmatic partnerships working closely with CEO, CFO, and Chief Advancement Officer.
  • Represent WomenVenture at conferences, training events, industry associations, and community events.
  • Promote WomenVenture's programs and mission within the broader business and lending community.
• Governance, Board & Committee Leadership (5%)
  • Serve as staff liaison to the Loan Committees and Board of Directors.
  • Prepare committee materials and lending recommendations.
  • Present lending production, credit quality, policy recommendations, and program performance to board committees.
  • Drive committee recruitment, training, and governance activities.
• Leadership Team & Organizational Leadership (5%)
  • Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.
  • Provide strategic guidance regarding lending trends, product development, and access-to-capital initiatives.
  • Strengthen organizational strategic planning and cross-department collaboration.
  • Develop and mentor the Director of Lending.
  • Champion organizational culture, values, and EOS implementation.
• Other duties, tasks, and responsibilities that may be assigned at any time.

Requirements

• Deep commitment to gender equity and WomenVenture’s mission.
• Minimum seven years of commercial, small business, community development, or mission-based lending experience.
• Minimum five years of senior leadership experience in lending, credit, portfolio management, or banking.
• Demonstrated expertise in portfolio management, credit risk assessment, and capital deployment.
• Experience developing and implementing lending strategy and credit policy.
• Strong understanding of loan portfolio analytics and risk management frameworks.
• Experience working with boards, investors, and external funding partners.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to mentor and develop staff and foster a positive team culture.
• Attention to detail, ability to follow complex tasks through to completion, and document actions in record-keeping systems.
• Excellent meeting facilitation skills, including the ability to effectively present information to a wide variety of audiences.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Co-Pilot, Dynamics, Excel, data security, and ability to learn proprietary industry software products.
• Ability to write effective reports and business correspondence.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business information, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.

Preferred Qualifications

• CDFI lending experience.
• SBA lending experience.
• Nonprofit leadership experience.
• Experience managing complex loan funds and multiple capital sources.
• Familiarity with impact lending and community development finance.
• Knowledge of EOS and organizational performance management systems.
• High level of engagement and confidence in finding solutions, resourcefulness, and ownership of solution implementation.
• High financial acumen; ability to interpret income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow projections; aptitude in determining relationships among sets of related data.
• Strong cultural competency and ability to collaborate across diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Familiarity with EOS, AI, and technology tools including but not limited to ninety.io, LenderFit, and DownHome.

Pay

$126,000 - 140,000

Schedule

Hybrid (60% virtual, 40% in person). Must be located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Benefits

• 18 paid holidays and 18 PTO days starting the first year.
• Paid office closure between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day (not counted toward PTO).
• Medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance.
• Paid paternity leave.
• Health savings account (HSA) and flexible spending account (FSA).
• Pre-tax transportation benefits.
• Employee assistance program (EAP).
• Retirement plan with employer match.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods and may occasionally stand. The employee may occasionally move items weighing up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

This position requires strict confidentiality regarding client information and other sensitive records.