The Organization

Self-Help (www.self-help.org) is a community development lender founded in 1980 that creates and protects ownership and economic opportunity for minority, women-headed, rural and low-wealth families through home and small business lending.  It has provided over $5.5 billion in financing to help more than 62,000 low-wealth borrowers buy homes, start and build businesses, and strengthen community resources across the country. Self-Help’s affiliate, the Center for Responsible Lending (www.responsiblelending.org), researches and advocates for state and national legislation to address predatory lending practices and policies.  Self-Help and the Center for Responsible Lending are national organizations based out of Durham, North Carolina with 7 regional offices in North Carolina, Washington DC, and California. Nationally and internationally recognized as a leader in community development lending, Self-Help is one of twelve nonprofits featured in Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High Impact Nonprofits.

The Position

The Special Assistant to the CEO will provide critical high-level project support to Martin Eakes, the President and CEO of Self-Help and the Center for Responsible Lending.  Mr. Eakes is the social entrepreneur who co-founded Self-Help and has led the organization to 30 years of expanded impact and national recognition.  The Special Assistant will work in a social-justice, activist organization on projects that involve complex business, financial, and operational issues. The position provides a unique opportunity to be intimately involved in cutting-edge work that impacts the financial services industry. 

 As Self-Help has increasingly been recognized as an expert in and key advocate for responsibly increasing access to capital in low-income communities, demand for Mr. Eakes’ time to help mobilize the public, private and nonprofit sectors has grown significantly. The multifaceted role of the Special Assistant to the CEO will include a range of responsibilities that will enable more effective leveraging of Mr. Eakes’ time.

 Principal Responsibilities

• Manage special projects designed and directed by the CEO and deemed critical to advancing his organizational priorities.  Significant portion of the project portfolio will require advanced financial analysis.
• Work with Self-Help/CRL senior managers to organize and mobilize organizational resources around new initiatives the CEO would like Self-Help/CRL to pursue.
• Support Mr. Eakes’ relationships with key collaborators, elected officials, regulators, and the media.  Prepare for and brief CEO prior to events regarding important developments and follow-up on resulting action items.
• Track and help prioritize activities within Self-Help/CRL that require Mr. Eakes’ attention.
• Examples of potential projects: forecast financials for a business unit, assist in the regulatory approval and operational integration of a credit union merger, plan senior leadership retreat, prepare a business plan for a new venture and provide analytic support on major financial and operational decisions for a team.

Desired Qualifications

• Minimum of an undergraduate degree and 2-5 years related professional experience, which could include: finance, banking, management consulting, community development, or business management.
• MBA or graduate degree in another related field preferred.
• Significant financial/analytical aptitude and experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills – ability to work effectively in varied professional, socio-economic and cultural contexts.
• A self-starter and fast learner; able to successfully multi-task and function well with minimal direction. Effective in working behind the scenes.
• Interest in and experience with community economic development programs.
• Sensitivity to issues of low-wealth borrowers and communities, and a desire to work in a racially and socially diverse organization. 
• Sincere commitment to teamwork and an interest in the development of colleagues, both important Self-Help values.
• Willingness to work hours reflective of a CEO-level position and occasionally travel.

Compensation

Competitive nonprofit salary, based on experience, plus a generour benefits package that includes health, dental, life insurance, flexile spending plan, retirement plan, paid parental leave, and domestic partners policy.

The Application

Interested individuals should send a resume and cover letter to hiringmanager@self-help.org and reference “Special Assistant to the CEO” in the subject line of your email.  Applicants are encouraged to submit their resume and cover letter before February 16, 2010.

Self-Help is an equal opportunity employer.  Women and people of color are encouraged to apply.