Business & Loan Counselor for Nonprofit (Bi-lingual Ukrainian language skills required) - PACE

Compensation: $62,000 to $70,000 annual plus excellent benefits
Position: Full-time, Non-exempt

*** This position is on-site at our DTLA HQ office***

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

PACE is a local community non-profit founded in 1976 originally to provide job training and placement services for the Asian Pacific Islander communities in Los Angeles. PACE has since expanded into a variety of service areas, all tailored to meet the growing and changing needs of the multi-ethnic communities in Los Angeles County. Now, in addition to job training and employment services, significant PACE programs encompass: business development; early childhood education (Head Start); financial education and asset building; housing and rehabilitation services; weatherization and energy-conservation programs; and affordable housing development. PACE serves more than 60,000 people each year with our wide scope of services with approximately 400+ staff. PACE is recognized as a leader in addressing problems of poverty and economic inequity in ethnic minority communities and has a reputation of being responsive to community needs and is known for creating innovative solutions to the myriad of challenges faced by our clients. https://pacela.org/

I. PACE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (PACE BDC)

PACE BDC promotes the growth and economic expansion of diverse Los Angeles communities through the infusion of capital and the provision of business consultation services and financial literacy training. We target low- and moderate-income residents, entrepreneurs and business owners in Los Angeles with diverse loan products as well as technical assistance focused on financial education and credit building. The PACE Business Development Center (BDC) provides no-cost advising services and low-cost educational programs to entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their small business. PACE BDC business advisors work with entrepreneurs in one-to-one sessions in the areas of management, marketing, sales, finance, accounting, and other disciplines required for small business growth, expansion, and innovation.
http://pacelabdc.org/

II. POSITION SUMMARY

PACE BDC is seeking a dedicated and experienced BUSINESS & LOAN COUNSELOR who is bi-lingual in Ukrainian language skills. Under the supervision, direction of and collaboration with Business Counselor Manager, the individual will carry out all day-to-day program activities for meeting and exceeding all program performance outcomes & requirements. Additionally, the individual will collaborate with other business counselors, loan/credit counselors and program assistants, interns, and volunteers to meet or exceed performance outcomes, requirements, and compliance. When directed, he or she will also act as the representative of PACE in cultivating and maintaining collaborative working relationships with all partners, key stakeholders, and other community partners. This is a great opportunity for individuals looking to work or continue career growth in the nonprofit sector and to serve the community.

III. RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

Working Relationships

• Actively engage and collaborate with staff of PACE BDC, community partners, consultants and other PACE departments, consultants, speakers, interns, and volunteers
• Provide clients direct counseling, one-on-one mentoring, loan packaging, access to contracts, refer to credit / loan counselor

Program Implementation:

• Outreach and Recruitment
  • Manage and improve current tracking client information and data management system
  • Report client enrollment, case notes, client service hours, and supporting documents in Salesforce CRM on an ongoing basis
  • Improve tracking and reporting clients’ data and interfacing clients with micro-team mentors
  • Establish appropriate community partnerships to increase enrollment and completion goals
  • Fulfill and exceed enrollment and completion goals of contracts through effective outreach and recruitment
• Training & Technical Assistance
  • Update and create training curriculums as needed by the Department
  • Conduct entrepreneur, microenterprise, and other business-related workshops
• Business Counseling and Business Enrollment
  • Direct outreach, via strategic partners, attending events, conducting workshops to recruit business owners and entrepreneurs
  • Providing one-on-one business counseling
  • Assist clients apply for DBA, EIN, sellers’ permit, business license, and any other required license/permits.
  • Conduct regular business assessments using successful screening tool
  • Collect clients’ facts and documents to complete business enrollment
  • Refer potential loan clients to loan counselors.
  • Support loan counselor in loan packing
  • Keep informed about PACE Finance Corporation loan products and other lending partners’ products and assist clients with loan preparation and submitting complete applications
  • Other duties assigned
• Loan and Loan Packaging
  • Provide assessment of micro/small business loan needs
  • Collect clients’ applications, facts, financial data, and all other supporting documents
  • Fill out loan application forms, prepare underwriting summary and financial forecast, and package loan
  • Making presentation on clients’ loan files to the loan committee
  • Assist in loan closing
• Procurement (Contract)
  • Establish and integrate into procurement community such as LAX, LA Port, MTA, LAUSD
  • Conduct workshop at Procurement event on access to capitals
  • Provide Certification workshop on WBE, SBE, DBE, and or 8 a Certification
  • Assist business to get contract with Lead Contractor or Contract providers
• Sustainability
  • Build and maintain constructive relationships with funders
  • Keep informed of the state and data collection for micro enterprise fields and the clients in Los Angeles
  • Monitor and assist in funding application for microenterprise and related programs

Strategic and Funding duties:

• Participate in the strategic planning to develop, market, and deliver PACE BDC and Microloans programs
• Create and distribute materials to help market the BDC and Microloan programs
• Collaborate with counselors to evaluate the Microloan products and BDC services
• Initiate and build constructive relationships with community partners to perform outreach for BDC
• Monitor and attend needed training and conference locally and nationally as assigned

IV. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS:

Education and Experience

• At least one year of work experience in providing technical assistance and training to start-up entrepreneurs, small businesses and/or microenterprises
• Minimum Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, and marketing and other related field preferred and/or minimum of 3 years of working experience in business development
• Work experience in family business, self-owned business or for-profit companies desirable
• Work experience in underwriting loans or loan packaging is desirable
• Work experience in assisting small businesses in market access or procurement is highly desirable

Skills and Abilities

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, with experience using Word, Excel, Social Media and online Marketing
• Experience working with database and client relation management (CRM) software
• Excellent, proven interpersonal, public speaking and written communications skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a proactively diverse and inclusive organization
• Ability to work with low-income individuals and diverse groups of multi-background
• Ability to make public presentation in a clear, concise, and convincing manner
• Excellent organizational and management skills
• Excellent knowledge of local businesses and resources
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced office setting.
• Proven ability to cope with conflicts, stress and crisis situations.
• Effective problem-solving and mediation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to share skills and knowledge with others
• ****Bi-lingual Ukrainian language skills required. Please indicate on your resume or cover letter whether you have Bi-lingual Ukrainian language skills as this is needed for the position ****

V. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must satisfactorily pass professional and employment verification/reference check
• Must have a valid Driver’s License, adequate automobile insurance coverage and an automobile in working condition; local travel may be required.
• COVID vaccination required; must have two-dose series of Pfizer or Moderna or a single-dose of Johnson & Johnson. Those that need a medical or religious exemption must reach out separately.

VI. APPLICATION PROCESS:

• Please upload resume and complete online application
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until positions have been filled

VII. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the Development and Marketing Director. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of the position. While performing the responsibilities of this position, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and use their hands and fingers, to handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, carry up to 30 lbs. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision