Washington, DC / Appalachia

Chief Investment Officer – Green Bank for Rural America

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The Green Bank for Rural America, a nonprofit subsidiary of Appalachian Community Capital, seeks a visionary and strategic Chief Investment Officer to build and lead the infrastructure to deploy green energy investments of this newly established organization, a pioneering initiative designed to accelerate financing for new energy investments in targeted rural communities, creating new opportunities for a prosperous future.

The Organization

The Green Bank for Rural America (Green Bank) is a wholly owned, nationally-operating, 501c3 subsidiary of Appalachian Community Capital (ACC), a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) serving member CDFIs across the 13-state footprint of Appalachia.

ACC was recently selected to receive a $500 million Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) award to catalyze new energy investments in rural communities that have historically been at the heart of energy production in America. This place-based effort will be a hub for investment and technical assistance to community lenders, local leaders, and workforce development partners in priority rural communities across the United States. The Green Bank has structured a robust national program that prioritizes 582 counties in Appalachia, energy communities, rural communities of color and Native communities – 30% of all US persistent poverty counties – with financing and technical assistance activities being available in all eligible rural communities nationally.

Under the GGRF award, the Green Bank will pass through 90% of funding to Community Lenders serving the target market and provide technical assistance services to community lenders and community stakeholders to ensure the program goals as outlined are met or exceeded. The goals fall into the categories of:

  • Reduction of harmful pollution;
  • Benefits to Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities, including creation of quality jobs and support for BIPOC businesses; and
  • Market Transformation, leveraging private capital for projects.

Beyond the GGRF award, the Green Bank aspires to become a self-sustaining entity to continue to provide financing for green economy investments in targeted rural communities, building the new energy economy, creating quality jobs, and improving the quality of life in rural America.

The Position

Reporting to the President & Chief Executive Officer of the Green Bank, the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) will be instrumental in managing and directing the allocation of $450 million in capitalization and technical assistance (TA) grants to approximately 50-70 community lenders. These grants are intended to finance projects that significantly reduce pollution and support investments in new energy opportunities in priority rural communities nationwide.

Key Responsibilities

  • Strategic Oversight: Ensure the success of Green Bank’s mission to support community-led environmental and economic development lending, overseeing awards to lenders and leading partnership development with private investors.
  • Program Management: Oversee awards of capitalization and technical assistance grants to lenders. Define and execute eligibility criteria, evaluation, and selection processes to ensure these awards align with Green Bank’s portfolio goals and mission.
  • Capital Strategy: Formulate and manage complementary investment strategies that effectively leverage private capital, including the development of participation facilities and/or sidecar investment funds.
  • Team Leadership: Lead and grow the investment team, which includes investment/grant officers, reporting managers, and financial structuring advisors, ensuring high performance and continuous professional development.
  • Technical Assistance Coordination: Collaborate closely with the Head of Technical Assistance to ensure that services provided meet the financing needs of community lenders and eligible projects. Oversee the Financial Structuring technical assistance team which provides support services to projects and lenders.
  • Reporting and Compliance: Work closely with the Compliance and Oversight team at Appalachian Community Capital (ACC) to ensure that all grant and investment activities are in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) terms and conditions and other statutory requirements. This includes development / implementation of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with Davis-Bacon, Build America Buy America Acts, Quality Assurance reporting and other reporting requirements.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain relationships with EPA, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) awardees, and other partners to facilitate shared services for administration, compliance and reporting.

Qualifications

Successful candidates will bring a range of skills, experience, and attributes including:

  • 10+ years of senior management experience in community development finance, investment management, banking, or financial services, with significant exposure to community investment, preferably with environmental projects.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and manage large-scale investment initiatives.
  • Experience developing participation and/or sidecar investment funds and structuring programs that utilize multiple sources of capital.
  • Strong knowledge of federal regulatory and compliance management, knowledge of EPA guidelines and environmental finance a plus.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, capable of working effectively with diverse stakeholders.
  • Strategic thinking with the ability to foresee, interpret, and respond to complex investment opportunities and challenges.
  • Proven track record in managing teams and developing investment strategies.
  • Passion for driving economic and environmental change in underserved communities, particularly in rural communities, with a keen interest in sustainable development and community empowerment.
  • Advanced degree in Finance, Business Administration, Environmental Management, or a related field preferred.

The position will be one of several senior leadership positions hired as the Green Bank is developing. Salary will be commensurate with experience, and the Green Bank will be developing a benefits package. The position will be hybrid and based in Washington, DC or other Green Bank for Rural America offices to be established in Appalachia.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is Green Bank’s commitment to treat all its employees and candidates for employment with dignity and respect and to provide a workplace that is free from discrimination, whether that discrimination is based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, ages, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, or other non- merit factors. Green Bank is committed to diversity and inclusion, and our goal is to have a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve.

Application Process

To apply, upload detailed resume and cover letter explaining qualifications and motivations for joining Green Bank by clicking here. For inquiries, contact Olive Idehen. Resume review begins immediately.