Chief Strategy & Operating Officer
Fort Pierce, FL
Full Time
Senior Executive
Position: Chief Strategy & Operating Officer (CSOO)
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Type of Job: Full-time
Location: Hybrid Remote (SELF headquarters is in Fort Pierce, Florida; relocation stipend available)
SELF is a national award-winning non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with a mission to rebuild and empower underserved communities by providing access to affordable and equitable capital for homeowners, landlords, developers, contractors, and small businesses to support a transition towards an inclusive clean energy economy. As the nation’s first local Green Bank, SELF is at the forefront of climate equity and expanding its impact nationwide.
The Chief Strategy & Operating Officer (CSOO) is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) responsible for advancing SELF’s mission by leading strategic initiatives and ensuring operational excellence. The CSOO will oversee key operational functions, lead program development, and foster relationships with stakeholders. This role requires expertise in business operations, lending, community finance, and regulatory compliance, as well as a proven ability to drive impact through collaboration and strategic vision.
Strategic and Operational Leadership:
- Develop and implement operational strategies and key performance indicators (KPIs) in collaboration with the Executive Director.
- Oversees daily operations across all departments ensuring smooth functionality.
- Align operations with mission-based goals and scale performance for long-term sustainability.
- Collaborate with the CEO to design and execute expansion initiatives.
- Manage procurement, vendor negotiations, and oversee safety programs in compliance with OSHA, 2 CFR 200 and any other Federal or State regulations.
- Collaborate with the CEO and CFO on budget oversight, resource allocation and financial reporting
- Lead Strategic Development meetings and initiatives
- Ensure proper and regular reporting mechanisms internally and externally to ensure timely and proper reporting to all stakeholders including investors, foundations and federal and or state or local grantors.
- Oversee reporting on Federal Grants
- Oversee and ensure compliance of lending departments with regulations governing the organization including U.S. Treasury and others.
- Ensure Operations are properly set up to operate nationally and according to regulations.
- Build and maintain relationships with borrowers, clients, vendors, financial institutions, and public/private sector partners.
- Represent SELF in board presentations, conferences, and public forums.
- Oversee directors and department leads, conduct evaluations, and support leadership development.
- Interact and work with HR Department to ensure recruitment, onboarding, and personnel evaluations.
- Collaborate with HR consultants to ensure competitive compensation and benefits.
- Ensure compliance with CDFI certification and federal, state, and local regulations.
- Implement risk management strategies, including consumer protection measures and audit readiness.
- Design and monitor performance metrics to track program effectiveness.
- Interact with and oversee IT infrastructure and facilities management to ensure secure and efficient operations.
- Oversee the adoption and integration of financial and operational technology solutions.
- Manage technology budgets and promote innovative process improvements.
- Lead the development and implementation of loan programs that address community needs.
- Monitor program impact and adjust strategies based on data-driven insights.
- Collaborate with underwriting and collections teams to optimize lending processes and improve key performance measures.
- Supports new funding opportunities and scalable capital solutions with set up of proper control of data and reporting
- Support grant applications and evaluate resource allocations to enhance productivity.
- Ensures all areas report in a timely manner
- Ensures reporting meets Federal, State and Philanthropic standards
- Responsible for impact reporting including Greenhouse Gas Emission reductions; Energy Savings; Social and economic inclusion, demographics, and others.
- Lead SELF’s ESG initiatives to align operations with sustainability and social responsibility.
- Develop communication strategies to foster transparency and alignment across departments.
- Promote a positive and inclusive organizational culture.
- 10+ years of experience in lending preferrable with experience in Community Banks, Credit Unions or CDFI’s experiencing rapid growth
- Consumer/ Financial Technology (Fintech) lending experience is a plus.
- Project Finance and/or Commercial (new construction for housing; mezzanine loans, mortgage lending for large scale commercial or housing projects. and housing lending experience.
- Experience working at Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs), Green Banks, or Community Banks serving Low to Moderate Income clients and/or providing finance to builders, developers and contractors.
- Proven leadership experience with a track record of building organizational capacity and operational efficiency.
- Expertise in regulatory compliance, particularly with federal programs such as GGRF, DOE, and HUD.
- Strong financial and data analysis skills, with experience in KPI development and performance reporting.
- Exceptional interpersonal, negotiation, and presentation skills.
- Proficiency in Salesforce and Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with loan origination and servicing software.
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles.
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., business, finance, public administration);
- Master’s degree preferred.
- Location: Florida Based - Remote or Hybrid with a minimum of 30% travel for meetings or to HQ.
- Preferable within 150 miles from Fort Pierce Florida in East/ Central Florida.
- Ability to walk, stand, and sit for extended periods.
- Ability to lift and carry supplies up to 20 pounds.
- Ability to attend meetings, conferences or events with stakeholders, clients as needed.
- Salary Range: $145,000 - $175,000 (commensurate with experience)
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits.
- 403(b) retirement plan with up to a 5% match.
- 12 paid holidays, 4 weeks vacation and paid sick leave time.
- Performance-based bonuses.
- Relocation stipend for ideal candidates.
- Collaborative, mission-driven work environment.
SELF is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees and stakeholders. All employment decisions at SELF are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
As a recipient of federal funding, SELF complies with all applicable federal regulations, including Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact HR at [email protected]
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