Community Development Jobs in New Jersey (NOW HIRING)

Peapack Private Bank & Trust is a well-recognized, high-performing boutique bank and a leader in wealth, lending, and deposit solutions. We provide a broad range of sought-after products and services designed to help our clients establish, maintain, and grow their legacy through an innovative approach to private banking.

What makes Peapack Private different from our competition? As an institution with over 100 years of history, we have always believed in putting the well-being and needs of our employees and clients first. We are proud to be recognized by American Banker for the eighth consecutive year as one of the nation’s “Best Banks to Work For.” Our secret sauce, in a word, is our culture.

We value a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and safe workplace. Our one-team culture goes to great lengths to show all employees that they are valued members of the organization. We treat one another like family and communicate across the Bank in a transparent and frequent manner, respect and consider feedback from all levels, and operate with a philosophy grounded in hospitality and genuine human kindness.

There are multiple ways to build relationships and get involved; from joining one of our Cultural Ambassador sub-committees (focused on Wellness, Employee Fun, Diversity & Inclusion, or Environmental Awareness), to participating in community service activities through our Volunteerism outreach, to joining LIFT (Leading Inspiring Females Together), a committee focused on enriching the lives of women. Simply put, our culture is amazing.

 Position Summary:

The Community Development Associate supports the Bank’s Community Development program and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) initiatives. This junior-level role assists in building and maintaining community partnerships, coordinating outreach activities, and supporting compliance-related reporting.

The position will have a strong emphasis on expanding the Bank’s presence in Ocean and Monmouth Counties, while also contributing to broader initiatives across New Jersey, New York City, and Long Island.

This role is not remote and there is a strong preference for it to be based in Lakewood or Princeton.

Responsibilities:

Community Outreach & Relationship Support

• Assist in developing and maintaining relationships with nonprofit organizations, housing agencies, and community groups serving low- and moderate-income communities.
• Support outreach efforts and partnership development specifically in Ocean County and Monmouth County, with flexibility to assist in other markets.
• Represent the Bank at community events, workshops, and local meetings alongside senior team members.
• Help coordinate and execute financial literacy programs, including first-time homebuyer seminars and community education workshops.

Program Coordination

• Assist in executing community development programs, events, and sponsorships.
• Assist in coordination of events such as venue scheduling, materials preparation, attendance tracking, and follow-ups.
• Support affordable housing and homebuyer education initiatives in partnership with local agencies.

CRA & Compliance Support

• Maintain records of community development activities for CRA tracking and reporting.
• Assist in compiling data for CRA, Fair Lending, and internal reporting requirements.
• Support preparation for audits, regulatory exams, and internal reviews.

Administrative

• Assist with preparing reports, presentations, and materials for internal stakeholders.
• Work with internal departments including Mortgage Lending, Retail Banking, Marketing, and Compliance to support community initiatives.

 Key Behavioral Expectations

• Operate with agility and adaptability, responding effectively to changing priorities and business needs
• Demonstrate curiosity and a learning mindset, continuously seeking to improve and grow
• Utilize AI and technology tools responsibly to enhance productivity and decision-making
• Show ownership and critical thinking, using sound judgment to solve problems and deliver results
• Deliver white-glove hospitality, providing thoughtful, proactive, and personalized service in every interaction

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred (Finance, Business, Public Administration, Social Services, or related field preferred).
• 1–3 years of experience in community development, banking, nonprofit, marketing or related field preferred.
• Familiarity with CRA or community development programs is a plus.
• Experience working with nonprofits, housing organizations, or community groups.
• Bilingual (Spanish or other languages) is a plus.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Comfortable attending and supporting community events (occasional evening/weekend availability required).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Benefits Overview:

We offer a competitive compensation package, a generous paid time off program, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, maternity/paternity leave, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more.  We also offer participation in an Employee Stock Purchase Program and a 401K with a generous match.

The approximate pay range for this position is $50,829 to $60,000, plus an opportunity to earn performance-based incentives. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Final compensation may vary based on factors including, but not limited to knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as geographic location.