Summary / Objective

To respond to growing client interest in customized debt and equity investment funds, Avivar is creating Avivar Capital Fund Management, LLC (AFM). AFM will have two groups: Debt Capital Solutions and Equity Capital Solutions. The Manager of Loan Underwriting plays a critical role in advancing Avivar's mission by overseeing all credit underwriting activities specifically within the Debt Capital Solutions (DCS) function.

This role ensures the underwriting team meets annual lending and investment goals while responding to community needs in a rigorous, efficient, and impact-focused manner. The Manager fosters team cohesion and capacity, promotes a client-centered approach to lending and investment activities, and works collaboratively across departments to strengthen internal processes. The position also contributes to the development of new products and strategies aligned with community priorities and requires strong attention to detail, particularly with respect to complex federal and state regulations, credit agreements, notes, guarantees, and collateral documentation.

Comprehensive knowledge of inclusive and sustainable community development-focused commercial lending and portfolio management is required, including origination, processing, closing and asset management.

Essential Functions

• Lead and manage Avivar's underwriting team, ensuring rigorous, high-quality loan analysis that balances community needs with fudiciary responsibilities.
• Oversee underwriting activities across loan and catalytic capital programs, maintaining credit quality, and advancing portfolio growth.
• Partner with senior leadership on loan structuring, risk mitigation, and the development of new lending products responsive to community needs.
• Provide direct management, coaching, and professional development support to underwriting staff.
• Collaborate with business development, loan administration and portfolio management teams to ensure smooth and efficient processes.
• Drive strategies to achieve annual lending and capital deployment goals in alignment with Avivar's mission and strategic plan.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with lending partners, CDFIs, and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to budgeting, revenue planning and staffing needs for the Debt Capital Solutions team.
• Support continuous improvement of systems and processes related to underwriting, compliance and portfolio management.
• Advance Avivar's committment to racial equity and economic justice through community-centered lending practices.
• Underwrite select transactions and maintain a small portfolio of borrower relationships; represent Avivar as a subject matter expert at conferences and industry events.
• Maintain and update loan tracking data in SalesForce in line with Avivar's data policies.
• Prepare reports and documentation to meet internal, external and investor compliance requirements.
• Contribute to special initiatives such as industry research, product development, process improvement, impact tracking, funding applications or policy analysis.
• Uphold and model Avivar's values of integrity, trust, excellence and humility in all internal and external interactions.
• Collaborate across teams to support monitoring, compliance and reporting needs.

Desired Qualifications

Education and Prior Work Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree required (Finance, Business, Economics, Engineering or related field). MBA is strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience working on complex real estate lending and underwriting (including affordable housing), deal structuring, and risk mitigation.
• Demonstrated experience leading staff and managing a department or program.

Finance / Accounting / Investment Knowledge:

• Familiarity and experience with community real estate financing programs like New Market Tax Credits (NMTCs), Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs), Historic Tax Credits (HTC), and Program Related Investments (PRIs).
• Experience and/or strong interest in CDFIs, impact investing and community and economic development.
• Proven ability to cultivate and maintain diverse relationships; experience with lenders, investors, philanthropic organizations, and government agencies is a plus.

Communication Skills:

• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Exceptional client management and client service skills.
• Expertise or lived experience in issues of racial and economic equity and the intersection of social justice with community economic development strongly preferred.
• Experience living, working, or organizing in the communities served by Avivar.

Other Skills & Characteristics

• Advanced Micosoft Excel skils and high proficiency with PowerPoint, Word, Outlook and SharePoint.
• Exceptional project management skills, including the ability to create work plans and oversee junior staff in carrying out tasks.
• Ability to think and work independently in a fast-paced, team-based environment with minimal supervision.
• Ability to take initiative and work proactively.
• Exceptional team player with a positive attitute and ability to collaborate effectively, including providing timely input and responses to ongoing team efforts and initiatives.
• Excellent problem solving and analytic abilities.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Will manage at least one direct report.

Work Environment

Avivar is currently a virtual operation with frequent online meetings and remote offices. The full team aims to gather in-person once per year, with project teams gathering periodically at client meetings and industry conferences.

Position Type & Expected Hours of Work

This position is full-time, exempt. The position wil report directly to the Managing Director, Debt Capital Solutions. The base salary range for this position is set at $105,000-$129,000 annually, commesurate with experience and qualifications. Avivar also offers a competitive benefits package including health, retirement and paid time-off, consistent with our commitment to supporting a diverse and inclusive team.

Travel

The individual must be willing to travel, on average, one week per month, which may be more concentrated in certain seasons.

Physical Demands.

• Remaining in a seated position for extended periods of time.
• Entering text or data into a computer or other machine by means of a traditional keyboard. Traditional keyboard refers to a panel of keys used as the primary input device on a computer, typographic machine or a 10-key numeric keypad.

Reasonable accommodates may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

For more information on our programs and services, please visit our website at www.avivarcapital.com.