Career Opportunities

WBD has an exciting career opportunity for a Community Engagement Manager in our Madison office.

About WBD:

WBD is a nationally recognized leader in providing businesses with the capital they need to grow, succeed, and create jobs. With four offices in Wisconsin and one in Minnesota, we deploy a highly skilled team of Loan Officers who collaborate with banks and credit unions to finance commercial fixed assets. Our portfolio exceeds $1 Billion, establishing us as one of the top SBA Certified Development Companies in the USA.

As a mission-driven non-profit organization, WBD's success enables us to reinvest in mission-aligned nonprofits. Over the past three years, we have awarded over $1 Million in grants to organizations within our service areas. Our extensive network, strong relationships in the lending community, and a portfolio of approximately 1,500 borrowers position us uniquely to innovate our community engagement strategies.

Position Overview:

The Community Engagement Manager at WBD, is a new position that will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing strategies to enhance our relationships with a diverse range of stakeholder communities. Reporting to the Senior Vice President (SVP) of Strategic Engagement, this role will focus on building and nurturing engaged communities within WBD’s stakeholder groups; lenders, economic development partners, mission-driven projects, WBD borrowers, and WBD staff. The ideal candidate will be an outgoing networker and bring a blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and hands-on execution skills to this mission-centric role. This is not a fundraising position.

Key Responsibilities:

• Data Collection & Organization:
  • Manage the collection, organization, and analysis of data to inform outreach and communication strategies.
  • Develop insights from data to guide the development of community engagement initiatives.
• Network Development & Management:
  • Maintain WBD’s economic development network, including relationships with lenders, economic development organizations, and other key stakeholders.
  • Assist SVP, Strategic Engagement with developing and expanding WBD’s economic development network.
  • Assist SVP, Strategic Engagement with identifying and cultivating new partnership opportunities to advance WBD’s mission.
• Content Development & Communication:
  • Collaborate with marketing team for creation and execution of content strategies to support WBD’s communication plans.
  • Develop engaging content for various channels, including social media, newsletters, and promotional materials.
• Community Engagement Planning:
  • Lead the development and implementation of WBD’s Business Community communications plan.
  • Organize and coordinate outreach meetings for the SVP of Strategic Engagement and other key events.
• Support Marketing & Outreach:
  • Collaborate with the marketing team on strategic planning, creative brainstorming, and the execution of marketing initiatives.
  • Develop presentations and other materials to support WBD staff outreach and external engagements.
• Mission-Related Investments:
  • Identify new opportunities for mission-driven projects and work to promote and support these initiatives.
  • Share information about mission-related projects and seek ways to assist their success.
• Engagement with WBD Borrowers:
  • Assist with development of programs and resources to engage with WBD borrowers and provide them ongoing value.
• Staff Engagement:
  • Foster a sense of connection between staff across two states and keep them informed about WBD’s initiatives and successes.
• Manage work schedule according to company policies.
• Other marketing or organizational support duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree in marketing or related field required. Experience in lieu of degree may be considered.
2. 2+ years’ proven experience in community development, marketing, or a related field with a strong marketing mindset and a creative approach to problem-solving.
3. Experience with Salesforce and Adobe Creative Cloud (especially graphic design, video, and audio editing) is a plus.
4. Knowledge or experience in video operations, including the use of cameras, drones, and lighting equipment, is an advantage.

Professional Attributes Required:

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships and networks.
• A positive, welcoming and professional manner in person and on the telephone.
• Proficient with Microsoft programs, particularly Excel, Word, Power Point, and Outlook.
• Familiarity with common content development software and social media platforms.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills with a keen attention to detail.
• Confident, self-motivated, and a proactive networker who thrives in diverse environments.

Essential Physical / Mental Requirements:

1. This position typically works in an office environment and not subject to excessive physical demands.
2. Some physical effort is required to unload supplies and move equipment.
3. There is no or very limited exposure to physical risk.
4. Travel approx. 20%.

This is a full time, benefited position with health care, matching 401K, potential profit sharing, time off for volunteer activities and more.  Position range starting at approx. $70,000, salary to be commensurate with experience.

To apply, please submit a cover letter and your resume to hr@wbd.org.

We also have two other rewarding career opportunities in Madison - a full-time Loan Officer and Administrative Assistant!

WBD, one of the country’s top CDCs, is expanding its Loan Officer team in Madison, WI.  Madison, consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S., is a vibrant and growing market. WBD also has offices throughout Wisconsin and in Minnesota, and we are open to discussing opportunities across our service area. WBD is unique in that it is a non-profit, mission-driven organization, who reports to a Board of Directors rather than corporate shareholders or owners. We highly value our employees and, although we are one of the top CDCs, we are a small family-feel organization that succeeds through teamwork.

WBD Loan Officers are supported by top notch underwriting, closing and servicing teams that know how to get things done. We are committed to our mission of economic development primarily through SBA’s 504 program. Senior management is both supportive and active in keeping projects moving along as quickly as possible. In addition, WBD loan officers are supported in their markets by a focused program of outreach and marketing efforts.

WBD offers competitive pay (commensurate with experience), a generous incentive bonus program, insurance (health, dental vision, life, short-term and long-term disability), 401k match with immediate vesting, and a generous PTO policy. A leader in training and developing staff in the commercial finance industry, we are committed to professional development for every employee. In addition, WBD will pay moving expenses for the successful candidate.

Under general supervision, loan officers originate SBA 504 loans; establish and maintain relationships with financial institutions, economic development groups, centers of influence (i.e., Attorneys, CPA’s) and small business owners to generate WBD product sales. They will also serve as a business finance resource for commercial lenders in the market and for the small business community. Reach out to hr@wbd.org for a full job description.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business, economics, or related field is required.
• 2 or more years of commercial lending and relationship management experience required.
• 4 or more years of credit underwriting experience preferred. Sound understanding of credit underwriting practices required.
• Effective customer service, project management, and business development experience required.
• Experience with SBA loan programs required.

Job Requirements:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Working knowledge of SBA 504 program
• Ability to absorb, interpret, apply, and communicate technically written material such as SOPs, promissory notes, loan documents, etc.
• Business acumen - ability to problem solve effectively and manage expectations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of financial/business analysis
• Excellent time management skills (handle multiple priorities simultaneously).

To apply, forward your resume and cover letter to HR@wbd.org.

We are also seeking an Administrative Assistant.

Our Administrative Assistant position interacts internally with all levels of staff and externally with vendors to provide professional administrative services for our organization. Overall our organization’s activities support timely, consistent movement of loans through WBD’s process. This is a 32-40 hour a week position, dependent on the candidate – it could be a perfect fit for someone working around a school schedule!

Duties include providing high level administrative assistance, organizing meetings and travel, taking meeting minutes, working with office supply and equipment vendors, maintaining comprehensive and accurate records, preparing deposits, and many other support projects.

WBD is interested in candidates with:

• Effective communication skills; ability to create and edit written business materials
• Proven minute-taking ability
• Excellent, positive people skills; professional, pleasing demeanor
• Experience in office equipment / supply purchasing and office operations
• Excellent organizational and time management skills (ability to multi-task and problem-solve)
• Initiative, self-discipline, and accountability

A successful candidate will be highly organized, conscientious, and thorough. Knowledge of MS Office (especially Outlook, Excel and Word) and Adobe Acrobat is required. Specific experience in meeting coordination and minute-taking is required. Associate’s degree in business administrative services or related field is preferred. Three or more years’ related experience required; wage commensurate with experience. For more experience, this could be a Senior Administrative Assistant position.

WBD offers competitive pay, an annual bonus program, a low out-of-pocket health insurance package, insurance, 401k match, and a generous PTO policy, among other benefits. A leader in training and developing staff in the commercial finance industry, WBD is committed to a personal development plan for every employee.

WBD is one of the nation’s most successful Certified Development Companies, a non-profit, mission-driven organization assisting businesses in gaining access to capital in order to grow, create jobs and build their communities. Since 1981, WBD has provided nearly $3 Billion in financing to thousands of businesses and currently has a commercial portfolio of over $1 Billion.

Please submit cover letter with resume to hr@wbd.org.