Organization Description Hmong American Partnership (HAP) is a social service and community development organization whose mission is to empower the community to embrace the strengths of our cultures while achieving our potential. HAP accomplishes its mission by: • Improving the lives of individuals and families in our diverse communities by providing culturally sensitive social services. • Strengthening neighborhoods by providing housing, community, and economic development opportunities. • Promoting the rich heritage of our ethnic communities. HAP’s vision is to reach out to the world with profound social, economic, and educational transformation.
Primary Function of the Position
This position works closely with HAP staff and external partners to strengthen our clients’ abilities to create, expand, and launch new businesses and enterprises.
Under the guidance of the Director of Economic Prosperity, the Business Specialist assists HAP’s lending and business operations by providing personalized support by replying to internal and external inquiries, processing account information, maintaining account records, and communicating regularly with clients regarding education opportunities, events, and products.
The position will be working with other Economic Prosperity team members to provide a cohesive, culturally mindful approach to small business lending and the economic development of under-resourced communities. The Business Specialist will support the underwriting business credit process for existing and prospective customers by assessing credit quality and potential loss to minimize risk.
This position is responsible for discussing outstanding balances on customer accounts while maintaining good customer relations. This position will help with outreach initiatives and the implementation of meetings and workshops.
The candidate must demonstrate a strong work ethic, as well as integrity, accountability, and high performance. The best candidate for this position is someone willing to learn about business development processes and understands the unique challenges of the Hmong, Southeast Asian, immigrant, and refugee populations and individuals who are English Language Learners and/or English as a Second Language.
Essential Functions The following requirements represent those encountered while performing the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform basic functions. • The employee is regularly required to stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, phone, and keyboard. • Must be able to remain in a stationary position for sustained periods in an indoor setting • Ability to tolerate moderate noise levels (i.e., shared open office space with computers, phones, printers, and light traffic). • Must have the ability to move about the office to access files and office equipment • Must have access to reliable transportation for occasional travel for meetings at other HAP office locations, events, and offsite meetings. • Occasional moving or lifting of boxes or files up to 20 pounds. • Able to focus on data, analyze the information and draw conclusions. • Frequent interactions with coworkers and participants requiring the ability to communicate effectively. • Frequent communication via email requiring the ability to read and write in English fluently. • Frequent preparation and analysis of figures.
HAP is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Our organization will not discriminate against or harass any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, familial status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, or status with regard to public assistance.
Individuals with disabilities in need of accommodation should contact us at hr@hmong.org.
Responsibilities
Position Responsibilities
Loan Administration and Account Management • Ensure that all appropriate account documentation is obtained and maintained. • Assist ongoing communication with each loan applicant from the application to the final approval. • Prepare and review loan closing documents. • Notifies Accounting of delinquent accounts per policy and coordinates efforts across teams to collect on past due balances. • Inform clients about missing paperwork and payment due dates following the Lending Policy and HAP compliance policies. • Ensure all past-due accounts receive communications per the current collections policy. • Records information about the financial status of the client/borrower and the status of collection efforts.
Community Outreach and Business Development • Coordinate client/borrower engagement activities, e.g., responding to inquiries and requests on accounts, requesting more information from clients, etc. • Proactively manage client expectations through ongoing communication and regular updates. • Coordinate with the ECP team to ensure clients experience wraparound support and unified communication regarding their questions and issues. • Distribute outreach services and materials to promote HAP’s lending services and products. • Promptly return calls from clients, borrowers, and partners. • Interacts with internal and external customers with diplomacy and professionalism during customer contact to achieve high customer satisfaction while handling a high volume of contacts.
Loan Servicing • Enter complete and accurate data into Downhome Loan and other software systems to document client communication, such as case notes on all interactions, meetings, payments, and activity related to the lender-client relationship. • Provide accurate and timely record keeping, data entry, and reporting. • Assist in the collection of all necessary reporting data to provide accurate, timely, and quality-focused outcomes reporting for stakeholder (client, funder, Board of Directors, business) reports and presentations • Other duties as needed to accomplish program goals and outcomes and to meet the strategic objectives of HAP Economic and Community Development initiatives. • Adhere to all compliance policies and procedures while maintaining a high level of confidentiality following HAP’s Privacy Policy.
Qualifications
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities • Desire to support clients and community members to start, own, or expand their businesses. • Strong computer skills and experience in Office 365 and Microsoft Office, e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Teams. • High level of attention to detail and quality of work. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills when working with clients and community members. • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment. • Excellent customer service and conflict resolution skills. • Willingness to participate in outreach activities, e.g., distributing flyers, proactively connecting with partners or organizations, setting up and staffing resource tables/events, etc. • Knowledge of how to find community resources to support clients/borrowers. • Excellent time management skills. • Demonstrated ability to work and communicate effectively with people of diverse ethnic, economic, and cultural backgrounds. • Team player. • Position requires flexible scheduling, including occasional weekends, late evening events, and travel within the 7-County Metropolitan areas surrounding Minneapolis and Saint Paul. • Must have a reliable car, a valid driver’s license, automobile insurance, and the willingness to use a personal vehicle for work-related travel.
Education and Experience • High School Diploma required. • Knowledge of the Hmong, Southeast Asian, and other immigrant and refugee cultures, languages, and traditions required. • Experience or interest in entrepreneurship preferred. • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, or a similar field desired but not required.
Hmong American Partnership
2nd Floor
Saint Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota 55103
US
