ACCION OPPORTUNITY FUND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Compensation

Full Description

THE ORGANIZATION: Accion Opportunity Fund is an unparalleled financial services non-profit that provides small business owners across the country with access to capital, networks, and coaching. We offer accessible options for these determined business owners. For over 30 years we have deployed over $1 billion in over 35,000 loans and served 4 million business owners with educational resources. Our client base is nearly 90% from underserved communities. In addition to providing loans, educational resources and support networks to small businesses, we also conduct original research, advocate for policy changes, and finance community construction projects in low-income neighborhoods through our New Market Tax Credit program. AOF is on a journey to both scale our impact and become financially sustainable while offering access to responsible and affordable financial services. We're building a better system for underserved small businesses and a workplace where passionate problem-solvers, data-driven thinkers, and small business champions thrive. For more information about us, visit https://aofund.org/ ROLE SUMMARY: Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF) is seeking a highly driven Director, Lending Partnerships & Channel Growth, to lead business development and expand our network of SBA brokers, ISOs, and referral partners that drive small business loan originations. This role is focused on indirect origination through third-party channels and is responsible for recruiting, onboarding, and managing partners that deliver consistent and high-quality applications. The ideal candidate brings an existing network of SBA brokers and referral partners, with a proven track record of building and scaling broker channels in SBA and partnerships in small business lending. This is a sales and business development role focused on partner acquisition and activation—not borrower-facing loan packaging. You will play a pivotal role in driving AOF's SBA and small business loan growth by developing strategic relationships that expand our reach and help more small business owners access affordable capital through trusted partners. JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Business Development & Growth • Lead and execute the partner acquisition strategy to expand AOF’s SBA broker and referral partner network. • Source, evaluate, and onboard new SBA brokers, ISOs, and referral partners that align with AOF’s mission and credit profile. • Leverage existing relationships and networks in SBA, fintech, and equipment financing ecosystems to accelerate channel growth. • Negotiate and structure partnership agreements that deliver consistent production and align with organizational goals. • Identify emerging market opportunities and strategic segments for SBA loan origination growth. Broker and Partner Engagement • Serve as the primary relationship manager for key brokers and referral partners, driving performance, engagement, and retention. • Develop onboarding and training programs to activate new partners and increase production quality. • Build scalable partner enablement tools, co-branded materials, and communication strategies to improve submission volume and conversion. • Manage ongoing performance reviews with partners to ensure pipeline consistency and accountability. Performance & Accountability • Own production targets tied to SBA and small business loan originations through partner channels. • Track and analyze partner performance, referral volume, and loan conversion metrics. • Collaborate with internal teams—credit, operations, and analytics—to optimize partner processes and results. • Conduct quarterly business reviews with high-performing partners to assess impact and growth opportunities. Cross-Functional Collaboration • Partner with Marketing to develop outreach campaigns and digital engagement programs targeting SBA brokers and small business lending aggregators. • Collaborate with Lending, Credit, and Operations teams to ensure smooth pipeline execution from referral to funding. • Provide insights to senior leadership on channel performance and opportunities for market expansion. MUST HAVES QUALIFICATIONS: • 5+ years in business development or partner acquisition within SBA or small business lending, focused on building and managing broker and referral networks that drive originations • 8+ years in business development, partnerships, or sales with proven success in acquiring and scaling referral partnerships. • Proven experience recruiting, onboarding, and managing SBA brokers, ISOs, or referral partners that drive loan originations. • Established network of SBA brokers, third-party originators, and lending aggregators strongly preferred. • Strong knowledge of SBA programs (7(a), 504, Community Advantage) and fintech lending models. • Demonstrated success meeting or exceeding origination or channel production targets. • Excellent relationship-building, negotiation, and communication skills. • Strategic thinker with a hands-on, results-oriented approach. • Highly organized and able to manage multiple partnerships and projects concurrently. • Comfortable working independently in a fast-paced, remote-first environment. NICE TO HAVES: • Familiarity with HubSpot, Salesforce, and Asana. PERKS AND BENEFITS: Our mission is what motivates us to come to work each day. We know that happy employees are productive employees, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes: • Competitive salary commensurate with experience. • An environment that values work-life balance and monthly remote work reimbursements. • 100% company-funded Medical, Dental, Vision, Life & Disability coverage for employees (Based upon your plan selection). 90% company-funded dependent coverage (Based upon your plan selection) as well as Flexible Spending Accounts. • Voluntary benefits with payroll deduction for Supplemental Life & AD&D insurance and legal plans. • Tax deferred & Roth 403(b) Retirement Plan with employer match. • Unlimited paid vacation days, 12 paid holidays, 1 floating paid holiday, 10 Sick days, and paid parental leave. We are an equal opportunity employer and committed to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion at Accion Opportunity Fund. AOF does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. Salary Range*: $114,000-156,400 base + 10% Target Bonus • Please note that the above salary range is a national range, and compensation is dependent upon the candidate’s experience and skill level.