Climate Finance Program Manager

Job Overview
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Program Manager to collaborate with executive team members and departmental directors to design, implement, and oversee financial product strategies and lending initiatives for climate change mitigation and adaptation. This role combines financial expertise with environmental awareness and strategic planning, aligning financial activities with environmental goals, assessing the impact of lending decisions, and promoting sustainable practices. The manager oversees the climate lending program and coordinates efforts across departments to achieve sustainability goals.

Responsibilities: The following duties and responsibilities will be performed in collaboration and coordination with executive team member(s) and departmental directors across multiple departments:

• Formulate and guide comprehensive strategies to secure funding and investments for climate-friendly projects, including market analysis and investment prioritization, enhancing CCDFI’s impact on climate change, including renewable energy and possibly broader.
• Lead the planning and development of green financing products, including Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) and climate-related projects, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
• Establish clear goals, timelines, and budgets to ensure the success of program and meeting compliance. Collaborate with internal teams to identify opportunities for capital expansion and various funding incentives, including tax credits, grants, and funding incentives.
• Evaluate environmental and climate-related risks, focusing on climate-related exposures and regulatory compliance.
• Implement effective due diligence and risk management strategies to ensure adherence to relevant regulations.
• Assess potential projects to mitigate or adapt to climate change, including renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure initiatives with the goal of developing a framework and process that enables Business Development Officers and underwriters to evaluate the loans independently.
• Serve as a technical expert on greenhouse gas emissions reduction, developing and implementing training materials and mechanisms for evaluating project performance and impact while supporting stakeholders, including internal staff and project developers, on green lending, grant products, and reporting requirements.
• Foster partnerships with government agencies, financial institutions, and non-profits to promote climate initiatives and advocate for policies that promote climate finance and sustainable initiatives.
• Collaborate with CCDFI teams to enhance program implementation and develop partnerships with organizations to achieve common goals benefiting low-income communities and CDFIs.
• Support the creation of climate and environmental content for marketing materials, including website and social media platforms.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• A bachelor's degree in environmental studies, real estate, sustainability, finance, economics, business administration, or a related field is required.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in environmental finance or sustainable finance.
• Experience working on climate change-related initiatives, such as carbon reduction projects, renewable energy development, or climate adaptation strategies.
• Experience in developing and managing programs, including budgeting, capital stacking, stakeholder engagement, and performance monitoring.
• Knowledge of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, including the National Clean Investment Fund and Clean Communities Investment Accelerator
• Knowledge of the CDFI industry, New Markets Tax Credit, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, and tax credit programs related to environmental initiatives.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage cross-departmentally, build partnerships, and advocate for climate finance initiatives.
• Strong project management skills, including planning, organizing, and prioritizing tasks to oversee complex finance programs and initiatives.
• Balancing responsibilities effectively and timely manner.
• A solid understanding of environmental issues, climate science, and sustainability principles and the ability to integrate environmental considerations into financial decision-making processes.
• Proficiency in financial analysis, including financial modeling, risk assessment, and valuation techniques to evaluate investment opportunities and structuring financial instruments.
• Knowledge of the grant lifecycle from proposal to reporting, high-quality submissions and strong collaboration skills is preferred.
• Prior experience or familiarity with lending practices in Indian Country, a plus.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $125,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Environmental Studies in Lending: 5 years (Required)
• Commercial Real Estate and Lending: 5 years (Required)
• Climate Change-Related Initiatives: 5 years (Required)
• Project Strategy, Development, Implementation and Management: 5 years (Required)
• GGRF & Climate-Related Projects: 3 years (Required)

Work Location: Remote