Economic Development Assistant Jobs in Tulsa, OK

About Tulsa Housing Impact Fund (THIF):

Tulsa Housing Impact Fund is dedicated to fostering equitable community and economic development through strategic housing investments. Our mission is to drive measurable impact by deploying capital, strengthening partnerships, and advancing initiatives that expand access to quality housing in Tulsa.

We are seeking a dynamic, highly organized, and strategic professional to serve as a Loan and Business Development Officer for the Tulsa Housing Impact Fund.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Loan Officer, Affordable Housing Development Lending/Origination is responsible for driving loan originations, structuring financing solutions, and managing transactions from sourcing through closing in support of Tulsa Housing Impact Fund’s (THIF) mission and capital deployment goals. This role is externally focused and plays a critical part in building relationships, developing a strong deal pipeline, and executing complex affordable housing transactions. The Loan Officer will serve as the primary deal lead, working closely with borrowers, underwriting partners, and internal staff to ensure transactions are effectively structured and efficiently closed. The Loan Officer will also play a key role in structuring projects with multi-layered capital stacks, including grants, philanthropic investments, subordinate debt, and senior debt.

PROFESSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

This role is suited for an entrepreneurial and relationship-driven professional who thrives in a production-oriented, mission-driven lending environment. The ideal candidate brings experience in real estate finance, affordable housing, community development lending, or impact investing, and is comfortable navigating complex transactions with multiple stakeholders and funding sources.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong business development and relationship management skills
• Ability to structure and advance complex, multi-source housing transactions
• Experience managing a pipeline of deals across various stages
• Strong communication and coordination skills across internal and external partners
• A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset

• Familiarity with affordable housing programs, layered financing, and CDFI lending environments is strongly preferred.

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & PIPELINE MANAGEMENT (45%)

A significant portion of time will focus on sourcing opportunities and building a strong lending pipeline, including:

• Develop and execute a business development and outreach strategy aligned with THIF’s lending priorities
• Build and maintain relationships with developers, nonprofit partners, community organizations, and other stakeholders
• Source new lending opportunities and maintain a robust pipeline of prospective deals
• Track and manage pipeline activity from initial engagement through closing
• Conduct initial screening and project vetting for feasibility and alignment with THIF’s mission and capital strategy
• Represent THIF at industry events, site visits, and community engagements

DEAL STRUCTURING & TRANSACTION EXECUTION (40%)

The Loan Officer will lead the structuring and execution of lending transactions:

• Structure financing solutions for affordable housing projects, including those with complex, multi-source capital stacks, such as:
  • Grants
  • Philanthropic investments
  • Subordinate debt
  • Senior debt
• Work directly with borrowers to align project capital needs with THIF lending products and partners
• Lead transactions from early-stage discussions through closing
• Coordinate closely with internal or third-party underwriters, providing necessary documentation, borrower context, and deal insights
• Facilitate communication between borrowers, underwriting, legal counsel, and capital partners
• Identify risks, bottlenecks, and structuring challenges and develop solutions to move deals forward
• Prepare deal summaries and materials for internal review and approval processes

PROJECT OVERSIGHT & SITE VISITS (10%)

• Conduct site visits for prospective, active, and completed projects (pre- and post-closing)
• Monitor project progress and maintain borrower relationships throughout the loan lifecycle
• Provide updates to internal teams on project milestones, risks, and performance

COLLABORATION & PORTFOLIO SUPPORT (5%)

• Coordinate with asset management and operations teams on portfolio monitoring and borrower relationships
• Support ongoing engagement with existing borrowers and partners
• Assist with additional organizational projects and initiatives as needed

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in lending, real estate finance, affordable housing development, or community development finance as a loan officer
• Demonstrated experience in business development, deal sourcing, and pipeline management
• Proven ability to support or lead complex real estate transactions, particularly those involving multiple stakeholders and layered financing
• Strong understanding of affordable housing development processes and local market dynamics
• Excellent relationship management and communication skills, with the ability to engage developers, nonprofit partners, and community stakeholders
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deals simultaneously
• Ability to work collaboratively with underwriting, legal, and capital partners to move transactions to closing
• Must have proficiency with Microsoft Office, Salesforce, and pipeline tracking tools

Preferred:

• Deep experience in Tulsa’s housing, real estate, or community development ecosystem
• Familiarity with multi-source capital stacks, including grants, philanthropic funding, subordinate debt, and senior debt
• Experience working with or alongside CDFIs, mission-driven lenders, or public-private partnerships
• Established relationships with local developers, nonprofits, public agencies, and community stakeholders in Tulsa
• Experience conducting site visits and managing projects across the development lifecycle

Location & Travel Expectations:

• Must be based in Tulsa, OK
• Deep familiarity with Tulsa neighborhoods, development activity, and local stakeholders is required
• Regular local travel for site visits, borrower meetings, community engagement and Board meetings as needed

Why Join THIF:

This is a unique opportunity for a Tulsa-based professional to play a leading role in shaping and financing impactful housing developments in their own community. As Loan and Business Development Officer, you will directly influence which projects move forward, how they are structured, and how capital is deployed, while building strong relationships across Tulsa’s housing ecosystem.