Relationship Manager
thinkingaheadMemphis (TN)
About the role
Relationship Manager – West Tennessee (Memphis / Jackson)Confidential Search | Mission-Driven Small Business Lender Most Relationship Manager roles ask you to maintain a book of business someone else built. This one is different: you'd be the first person on the ground for a well-established, mission-driven lender entering the West Tennessee market. If you've ever wanted to plant a flag and own the outcome, while also feeling extremely proud of the good you are putting out into your community, this is might be for you. The Organization: Our client is a well-established, mission-driven lender with decades of experience helping businesses grow through creative, flexible financing. As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Certified Development Company (CDC), they specialize in SBA 504 and Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) lending — deploying capital that helps business owners and their banking partners get deals done that traditional financing alone can't reach. They're not a bank; they're a capital partner. The organization banks call in when a deal needs more flexibility, more creativity, or a structure conventional lending can't offer. What You'll Own The West Tennessee market. You'll build relationships with banks, credit unions, CPAs, attorneys, real estate developers, and municipal officials across Memphis, Jackson, and the surrounding region. Loan program expertise. Deep knowledge of SBA 504 and LIHTC (CDFI) lending, with working knowledge of New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) as a bonus. A referral-driven pipeline. A consistent, proactive calling program that turns relationships into deal flow. Deal execution. Delivering clean, accurate credit packages and staying engaged with underwriting and closing through the full deal lifecycle. Visibility. Representing the organization at industry events and becoming a known, trusted name in West Tennessee's small business lending community.
Ideal Candidate:
ProfileSBA 504 lending experience. LIHTC or broader CDFI lending experience is a strong plus. You've built something before, or you're hungry to. This role rewards self-starters who don't need an existing book of business to succeed. You are a strong networker and are relationship driven across banking, commercial real estate, and community development circles in Memphis and West Tennessee. You bring energy, not just activity. This organization is looking for someone who elevates the people around them and is mission-driven with their work. Why This Role Genuine market-building autonomy — rare in commercial lending, where most RM roles are managing what already exists. A strong, stable, mission-driven organization with decades of track record and an established brand in the region. A product set (SBA 504 + LITC) that lets you offer real solutions banks can't structure on their own. The chance to be the name people think of first when SBA 504 or CDFI financing comes up in West Tennessee.
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