Business Development Officer

Working Solutions CDFI ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) is a certified, nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). As the First to Believe in Small Business, Working Solutions (WS) makes affordable capital—primarily loans of $5,000-$100,000—available to start-up and early-stage entrepreneurs and provides free business consulting with every loan. WS is committed to communities that have historically not had access to capital and places an additional priority on serving lower-income individuals, BIPOC entrepreneurs, and women.

Focused on significant social impact, WS has deployed over $65 million in small-dollar capital to 3,000 small businesses in California since inception with a goal to reach $100 million in all-time deployment by FYE
2029. Headquartered in San Francisco and lending in the Bay Area since 2005, WS expanded statewide in 2024 and now serves entrepreneurs across California. WS’s financial strength, mission-aligned impact, and local and national visibility speak to its commitment to core markets and excellence in getting the job done. As an industry leader, WS is looking for a community-minded change maker to help grow loan deployment and set new sights for the years ahead.

Come be a part of this vision!

The Business Development Officer (BD) will increase WS’s lead volume and market presence , with a focus in the Silicon Valley-South Bay. The BD will generate a pipeline of prospective WS clients by: (1) building referral relationships with banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions; (2) cultivating partnerships—with a focus on Santa Clara County and San Mateo County—to increase WS’s visibility and generate leads.

The BD will work with WS’s Communications Team to harness digital outreach tools to increase lead generation and conversion rates. The ideal candidate will be a stellar partnership manager with outstanding verbal and written communication skills who is comfortable with virtual partner cultivation as well as local travel and in-person, boots-on-the-ground outreach. The BD will be a change agent who is passionate about reaching financially marginalized communities with WS products.

• Grow B2B Lead Volume :
  Cultivate relationships with banks, small business lenders and service providers, and financial institutions to promote lead generation and referrals;
• Build Ecosystem Partnerships :
  Engage community and government partners, trade organizations, and technical assistance centers to generate a high volume of mission-aligned client referrals and support organization visibility and strategic goals ;
• Expand Local Outreach :
  Deepen WS’s existing market presence— with a focus on Santa Clara County and San Mateo County and adjacent regions— through in-person meetings and presentations to reach WS’s key markets;
• Support Priority Communities :
  Build new referral partnerships and prioritize lead generation sources to maximize outreach, volume of quality leads, and conversion rates, with a focus on start-up businesses, low-income individuals, and BIPOC and women entrepreneurs with referrals to external business support resources, as applicable; and
• Maintain Data Excellence :
  Enter data into CRM daily and work across teams to watch data trends and adjust outreach strategies for improved lead quality.

• Bachelor’s degree or 1-3 years of relevant work experience;
• Spanish language fluency required;
• Availability to travel within the Silicon Valley
  - South Bay, specifically Santa Clara County and San Mateo County, and adjacent regions ; also available to travel throughout WS’s footprint across the state, including to Southern California, as needed;
• Fluency in banking and/or financial sector terminology a plus; experience in CDFI industry highly preferred;
• Strong customer service and relationship-building skills with an awareness of how to connect resources and increase referrals;
• Strong presentation skills, both in-person and in the virtual environment;
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with cultural competency to connect with a diverse audience;
• Knowledge of digital communication and social media tools a plus;
• Small…