Careers

Position Title: Chief Lending Officer

Reports to: CEO, Oweesta Corporation

Job Level: Exempt

Location: Remote

Hours: Full Time

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Lending Officer (CLO) is the newest member of the Executive Team and will participate in strategic and organizational planning to meet mission and impact goals. The CLO will lead the Lending Team and is responsible for continued process improvements to support ongoing scale and new product development in response to continued market needs. The Lending Team underwrites, negotiates, and coordinates the closing of loans and comprises a Director of Lending, who will report to the CLO, and the Lending Officers and Associates who report to the Director of Lending. All OC teams work collaboratively, and as such, the Lending Team works closely with other teams, including Finance (Accounting, Operations, Portfolio Management), Programs (Technical Assistance and Training), and Capitalization (Communications, Development, and Investments).

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (“Must-Haves”)

  • Minimum 10 years of experience in commercial lending, credit, or banking, focusing on Native lending or Indian country, including at least 5 years in senior leadership, strategic financial planning, and understanding the funding structure necessary to meet the expansive needs of Native communities
  • Proven track record of success in senior non-profit leadership roles, with a deep understanding of community and economic development in Native American contexts, including a nuanced grasp of the CDFI sector, its regulatory environment, and innovative approaches to support growth in Native communities
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic lending programs that align with Oweesta’s mission and the unique needs of Native communities, including evaluating and enhancing lending policies focusing on compliance and Native lending practices
  • Exceptional communication skills, with a strong emphasis on relationship-building, including the capacity to effectively engage with funders and stakeholders and direct involvement in developing narratives that align lending activities with funder expectations and community impact goals
  • A commitment to fostering a culture of excellence and accountability within the lending department, emphasizing cultural competency, and aligning lending practices with the economic landscapes of Native communities; A demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop a high-performance remote lending team

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter to sandy@oweesta.org by March 30.


Position Title: Chief Programs Officer

Reports to: CEO, Oweesta Corporation

Job Level: Exempt

Location: Remote

Hours: Full Time

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Program Officer at Oweesta Corporation oversees programmatic staff and is responsible for developing policies, workplans, and budgets. This role requires managing programs that impact national policy on access to capital for Native communities, maintaining partnerships, and representing the organization at various levels. Essential duties include leading strategic efforts, developing products and services, marketing Oweesta’s services, and ensuring programs are impactful and sustainable. The ideal candidate should have experience in community and economic development programs, particularly within Indian Country, and possess strong leadership, advocacy, and relationship management skills.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (“Must-Haves”)

  • Proven experience in leading community and economic development programs within the non-profit sector, particularly within Indian Country, underpinned by a strategic vision that aligns with Oweesta’s mission and the evolving needs of Native communities
  • Demonstrated ability in managing multiple complex programs, focusing on adapting these to the unique dynamics of Native communities and ensuring they support sustainable economic empowerment
  • Exceptional team and project management ability, with a track record of developing innovative policy and program solutions that effectively address the unique challenges and opportunities within Native communities
  • Advanced skills in data evaluation and monitoring to align with evolving funder expectations, ensuring programs deliver measurable outcomes and impact. This includes the capacity to communicate program success in a manner that meets funder requirements and supports future fundraising efforts
  • Strong advocacy and relationship management skills, capable of engaging diverse audiences, building strategic partnerships, and enhancing Oweesta’s visibility and impact within Indian Country and beyond. This entails a deep understanding of Native non-profit ecosystems and the ability to articulate the importance of Native community development to various stakeholders
  • Leadership capabilities that facilitate cross-departmental collaboration, particularly with fundraising and lending teams, to ensure program objectives are fully integrated with Oweesta’s overall strategic goals and operational execution; A demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop a high-performance remote lending team

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter to sandy@oweesta.org by March 30.


Position Title: Programs Officer

Reports to: Chief Programs Officer, Oweesta

Job Level: Exempt

Location: Remote

Hours: Full Time

POSITION SUMMARY

Oweesta is the longest standing Native CDFI intermediary offering financial products and development services exclusively to Native CDFIs and Native communities. Specifically, Oweesta provides training, technical assistance, investments, research, and policy advocacy to help Native communities develop an integrated range of asset-building products and services, including financial education and financial products. Oweesta is currently seeking a qualified applicant for the following position.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Provide quality training and technical assistance in various areas of organizational development for Native CDFIs and nonprofits.
  • Contributes to the development, delivery and tracking of wholesale and customized training/technical assistance products and services, particularly Native CDFIs, for Oweesta’s target market(s) with Native communities.
  • Provides logistical, programmatic, research and planning support for training and technical assistance projects and programs, including Native financial institution development and related physical, legal and social infrastructure.
  • Pursues private and public contract and grant-based proposals to deliver products and services.
  • Works with the training, technical assistance and contract management (including numerous consultants) staff to facilitate smooth delivery of training and technical assistance within budgetary requirements.
  • Works with Communications and other Oweesta staff to market Oweesta’s other services and products to potential and existing clients.
  • Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferred
  • Minimum two years’ experience with Native nonprofit organization and/or other community/economic development NGO–preferred in the financial institution/CDFI development field.
  • Experience in Native community/economic development helpful.
  • Preferred two years’ experience providing facilitation, client service, contract fulfillment, consulting, presentations and event planning in similar organization/field.
  • Preferred two years staff and/or consultant supervision experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, and PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Strong written and verbal communications skills required.
  • Excellent computer skills.
  • Ability to think independently while working in close-knit office environment.
  • Some awareness of the complexities and challenges of community development finance and small business development in Native communities.
  • Strong business and customer service skills required.
  • Ability to work constructively with diverse constituents and as a participant on multi-disciplinary teams required.
  • Ability to travel frequently required.
  • No extraordinary physical requirements beyond ability to travel. Job involves normal physical requirements for an office position. Oweesta supports and complies with ADA.

Oweesta offers competitive salaries and benefits including health, dental, life and disability insurance, a Simple IRA pension plan with employer match and half-day Fridays during the summer months.

To Apply: Please email your resume, cover letter, and three references to Vincent Grant at Vincent@oweesta.org by March 15.


Position Title: Executive Assistant

Reports to: CEO, Oweesta Corporation

Job Level: Exempt

Location: Remote

Hours: Full Time

POSITION SUMMARY

To assist the CEO and Executive Team to ensure the overall efficient and effective management of the operations of the Oweesta Corporation. This role includes supporting communications, fundraising, scheduling, and other administrative functions. Is a key member of the Oweesta Corporation leadership team responsible for working together to secure the long-term future for this national Native community development financial institution.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:

CEO and Executive Team Support Responsibilities

  • Coordinate complex scheduling and calendar management, as well as content and flow of information to senior executives in various time zones.
  • Answering and redirecting company telephone calls.
  • Prepare and produce documents, including high-level proofreading, editing and formatting.
  • Manage and coordinate incoming electronic communication and the flow of information to appropriate executives.
  • Perform research and project support tasks.
  • Liaising with internal and external stakeholders on various projects and tasks.
  • Coordinate Oweesta Corporation resources (both staff and material resources) and logistical preparations for meetings, presentations, etc.
  • Coordinate travel arrangements and conference attendance for Executive staff.
  • Orchestrate planning system to ensure that senior executives’ priorities are met, organizational goals are achieved, and operations run efficiently.
  • Manage electronic filing system.
  • Develop PowerPoint presentations.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Board of Directors Support Responsibilities

  • Schedule quarterly and special meetings.
  • Prepare materials for quarterly board meetings and finance committee meetings.
  • Type and send meeting minutes for board and committee meetings.
  • Prepare and update board orientation materials.

Administrative Responsibilities

  • Support the CEO and the Oweesta team with grant requests and public relations activities.
  • Implements aspects of the organization’s strategic plan relevant to the responsibilities of this position.
  • Collaborate with IT to troubleshoot any technological disruptions.
  • Performs other related duties as required.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferred.
  • At least 3 years relevant administrative experience.
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills with excellent attention to detail.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality of information related to the company.
  • Experience working with Tribal communities or diverse communities preferred
  • Proficiency with Microsoft suite products packages, (Word, Outlook, Access, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Knowledge of online communication products; PowerPoint, Mail Chimp, Doodle Poll, Survey Monkey, Asana.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must be available to work a flexible schedule as requested by the CEO.
  • Work schedule might involve some evening and weekend work.
  • Might be asked to travel for multiple days in a row.

Oweesta offers competitive salaries and benefits including health, dental, life and disability insurance, a Simple IRA pension plan with employer match and half-day Fridays during the summer months.

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter to Vincent Grant, Vincent@oweesta.org.