Senior Director of Credit Administration

About Root Capital

Agriculture is the key to unlocking a better future for billions of people. But while rural families sustain the world, they struggle to sustain themselves. Root Capital is a nonprofit social impact investor that puts its money where others don't – in underserved agricultural businesses.

We provide financing and business training to agricultural enterprises in the “missing middle” - those that are too big for microloans but too small for commercial lenders. As these agricultural businesses succeed and scale, they become engines of impact that help farming families, communities, and economies to flourish.

Founded in 1999, we are the largest social investor in agricultural businesses. As both a lender and a nonprofit, our unique model allows us to go where other financiers don’t and support agricultural enterprises so they can succeed and grow. Our world-class team of experts identifies, partners with, and invests in exceptional agricultural entrepreneurs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Over 23 years, Root Capital has invested $1.9 billion in more than 750 agricultural enterprises, proving these under-served businesses are bankable and investable. We have shown that access to finance helps these enterprises succeed and fuels the economy. Root Capital’s investments and essential business and finance training have impacted 10 million farming families through job creation, financial security, and climate resiliency. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, we currently have offices in Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Peru, Ghana, and Kenya.

Position Overview           

The Senior Director of Credit Administration will lead Root Capital’s global credit administration function, which includes ensuring documentation and loan closings in accordance with approved loan terms, local regulations, and Root Capital policy and procedures, loan servicing that ensures excellent customer service, as well as compliance with loan terms, and maintenance of legal opinions related to Root Capital's lending activity in each jurisdiction where it operates. The Senior Director is a member of the leadership team of Root Capital’s Risk Department reporting directly to the Chief Credit Officer.   The Senior Director supervises two Regional Credit Administration Managers who manage the team of loan closers in Root Capital’s Cambridge and regional offices, including in Peru, Costa Rica, and Kenya. The Senior Director also works closely with Root Capital’s Treasury Department to ensure sound transaction processing and excellent customer service, as well as with Root Capital's Legal Department to manage country legal research, develop and manage relationships with regional lawyers as it relates to loan documentation, and carry out Know-Your-Customer and Anti-Money Laundering / Counter Financing of Terrorism processes.  The Senior Director supports the collection and workout function, including preparation of default notices and documentation review.  The Senior Director develops and manages Root Capital’s third-party credit administration, including loan participations, loan syndications, and administration of third party guarantees. This role works closely with the Risk Management team to develop credit policies and procedures as needed.  The Senior Director is the primary liaison for Root Capital's external auditors as it relates to the loan portfolio. This role works closely with Client Operations to support loan management system design and improvements, as well as to design and lead relevant trainings for the Lending Team.

Duties & Responsibilities

Loan Closings and Documentation (50%)

• Lead and mentor the Regional Credit Administration Manager for Latin America and Mexico and the Regional Manager for Africa and Indonesia.
• Conduct the final review of the loan documents for complex loans, ensuring the accuracy and policy compliance of approved terms and final loan documentation.
• Directly manage complex loan closings, as needed.
• Manage the loan documentation and closing process to ensure the loan documents issued by the regional Credit Administration teams are accurate and drafted in accordance with approved terms.
• Ensure the regional Credit Administration teams are properly booking and maintaining accurate records of all loans and modifications in the loan management system.
• Develop, maintain and continuously improve Root Capital’s loan closing procedures.
• Collaborate with Root Capital’s General Counsel to:
  • Ensure that Root Capital’s standard loan agreement templates in English, Spanish, French and Bahasa Indonesia, as well as locally drafted documents, are continuously updated to reflect any relevant revisions to credit policy or legal requirements.
  • Ensure the template for standard legal notices in English, Spanish, French, and Bahasa Indonesia in relation to collections and workout are updated as needed.
  • Maintain an index of standardized definitions for loan covenants and conditions.
  • Together with the regional managers, develop and manage relationships with attorneys in each region in relation to region specific legal requirements for loan documentation and loan closings to ensure that documentation is enforceable.
  • Carry out Know-Your-Customer and Anti-Money Laundering / Counter Financing of Terrorism processes and ensure Credit Administration, Risk and Lending teams are trained annually on the processes.
• Ensure the physical security of all original loan documentation.

Loan Servicing (10%)

• Oversee transaction processing in close collaboration with the Treasury Department.
• Work with regional Credit Administration teams to review all disbursement requests to ensure compliance with loan terms, policy, loan availability, as well as excellent customer service
• Develop and maintain a list of acceptable third parties related to loan closings and servicing.

Collections and Workouts (5%)

• Collaborate with the lending, collections and workout team, and General Counsel to draft and review default and other legal notices.
• Draft forbearance and/or settlement agreements per approved terms.
• Participate in regular risk review process related to problem loan portfolios.

Credit process, Compliance, and Internal Audit (5%)

• Determine, and ensure compliance with, country-specific loan documentation requirements.
• Ensure compliance with KYC checks and reports related to Know-Your-Customer and Anti-Money Laundering / Counter Financing of Terrorism policy.
• Ensure filing of loan documentation in compliance with policy and ensure the security of original loan documents.
• Manage the execution of and maintain the physical files of the original loan documents relating to the Indonesian portfolio and other loan documents executed by authorized signers in the United States.
• Oversee loan documentation exceptions to ensure timely resolution.

Legal Research (5%)

• Manage and maintain legal research related to Root Capital's legal standing, enforceability of its loan documents, and any operational requirements, legal costs, and/or risks of lending in a particular foreign jurisdiction where Root Capital has established or intends to establish lending activity.
• In coordination with the General Counsel and Regional Credit Administration Managers identify and engage local attorneys to complete relevant legal research in compliance with Root Capital Policy.

Third Party Credit Administration (25%)

• Manage the administration of third party guarantees, filing claims, and reporting.
• Develop and manage third party credit administration, including loan syndications and participations.
• Manage the development of related documentation, including servicing agreements and intercreditor agreements.

Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Experience

• 8+ years professional experience in commercial lending as loan closer, portfolio administrator, paralegal, or related role.
• Experience successfully managing teams, especially remote teams, highly preferred.
• Must be fluent in oral and written English, Spanish and French
• Bachelor’s degree in management, finance or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent analytical and quantitative skills.
• Detail oriented.
• Enthusiasm for working in a multicultural environment; experience in a global and multi-location work environment is highly desired.
• Committed to prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion and embracing transparency and authenticity in daily work life.
• Proactive approach to problem-solving with demonstrated decision-making capabilities.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to a dynamic environment.
• Experience working and communicating in a remote environment.
• Committed to practicing and supporting wellbeing and a work-home life balance.
• Passionate about Root Capital mission.
• Authorized to work in the United States, Kenya, Ghana Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia, or Peru
• Flexibility to occasionally travel locally or regionally is required according with the nature of the role, including the possibility of visiting clients in rural areas.

Preferred Competencies and Experience

• Experience working with or developing a range of credit structures strongly preferred
• Experience with agency lending strongly preferred
• com experience a plus

How to Apply

More information about Root Capital is available at www.rootcapital.org. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply using the form below as soon as possible, making sure to include a resume and cover letter that describes your interest, qualifications, language abilities, salary requirements, and how you learned of the position. Finalist candidates will be required to provide at least three work-related references.

U.S applicants: Root Capital Inc. participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government your I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For more information, see here. Learn more about your right to work.

Root Capital provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, active military or veteran status, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth, and breastfeeding and expressing breast milk), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Root Capital is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that upholds our leadership principles of: empowerment, equity, integrity, service, and transparency.