Director of Business Development & Community Engagement

About the role

Self-Help, founded in 1980, focuses on economic inequality and creating ownership and economic opportunity, especially for communities facing systemic barriers. The organization pursues economic justice through fair and affordable loans, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. The Director of Business Development & Community Engagement will join the Yakima, WA team to drive deposit raising, community outreach, identify commercial lending opportunities, and support economic inclusion initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement regional strategies for cultivating mission-aligned deposits to support credit union growth.
• Directly develop and maintain critical relationships with socially responsible and mission-oriented investors (high-net-worth individuals, mutual funds, SRI funds, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, foundations, banks, universities, financial advisors, etc.).
• Coach and mentor branch staff (with branch leadership) to increase productivity in deposit-raising and identify lending opportunities.
• Maintain familiarity with internal systems and understanding of products/services across the organization.
• Support preparation of proposals and reports for potential depositors/investors, including financial and impact due diligence, coordinating with credit union leadership, finance team, DPI, executive and special projects staff, and other stakeholders.
• Represent Self-Help at speaking engagements (conference panels, workshops, webinars) and serve as the “face” to external audiences to increase visibility supporting deposit and loan cultivation.
• Develop and direct targeted marketing strategy for deposit outreach with branch management and Marketing-Communications (print, digital/social media).
• Stay attuned to local social, economic, and political issues; share impact with colleagues to inform strategies/actions.
• Identify and explore collaboration opportunities; convene and facilitate groups to affect change.
• Maintain dialogue and regular contact with key depositors and loan relationships.
• Initiate and evaluate high-impact opportunities via relationship building, asset mapping, etc.; engage potential partners for mission-focused projects.
• Identify commercial business lending opportunities in key sectors (Affordable Housing, Faith Based, Charter Schools, Clean Energy, etc.) within branch footprint; identify signature real estate development projects.
• Manage existing and build new partnerships to further small business lending goals; collaborate/refer to loan funds or other CDFIs.
• Market Self-Help’s loans to referral sources and potential borrowers via 1-on-1 meetings and presentations.
• Participate and support other team/cross-team projects as needed.
• Act as a change agent to drive economic inclusion initiatives by integrating supplier diversity and use of women- and people‑of‑color‑owned businesses in third‑party contracting and vendor management.
• Perform other duties as deemed necessary.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least 10 years of experience in community development, fundraising, financial services, or related fields, or an equivalent combination of experience and related advanced degrees.
• Deep knowledge and expertise in financial services, marketing, and/or community development finance preferred.
• Strong commitment to Self‑Help’s mission: creating and protecting ownership and economic opportunity for all, especially people of color, women, rural residents, and low‑wealth families and communities.
• Preference for working in organizations that prioritize teamwork and collaboration.
• Sensitivity to and experience with issues affecting low‑wealth communities; desire to work in a culturally and socially diverse organization that values collaboration.
• Strong ability to build and/or expand networks and referral sources that lead to increased deposits and partnerships.
• Comfort presenting information orally and in writing, and responding to questions from the media and/or high net worth individuals.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated attention to customer service, and detailed follow‑through.
• Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends and travel as needed.
• Ability to demonstrate Self-Help's Core Values: Mission Before Self, Service With Excellence, Embracing & Promoting Change, Results Not Credit, Diversity as a Strength, Financial Sustainability for Mission Impact.

Pay

Salary Range: $89,500 - $111,800 - $134,200