Application Guide

How to Apply for Capital Deployment Manager

at Project Equity

🏢 About Project Equity

Project Equity is a mission-driven nonprofit that champions employee ownership as a tool for economic justice and wealth building, particularly for working people and people of color. Their Employee Ownership Catalyst Fund directly finances business transitions, making them a unique blend of impact investor and community development lender. Working here means you'll be at the forefront of preserving local businesses and creating equitable wealth.

About This Role

As Capital Deployment Manager, you'll be the linchpin of the Catalyst Fund's lending operations, from sourcing and underwriting deals to managing the portfolio and reporting to investors. This role is impactful because every loan you help close preserves jobs and builds long-term wealth for employee-owners, directly advancing economic justice.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with reviewing new deal inquiries and prioritizing outreach, then diving into financial modeling for a potential ESOP loan—running cash flow projections and stress tests. Afternoon could involve a call with a business owner exploring employee ownership, followed by updating investor reporting on portfolio performance. You'll also coordinate with legal and advisory teams to finalize closing documents.

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🎯 Who Project Equity Is Looking For

  • Has 2+ years of loan execution experience at a loan fund, CDFI, or bank, with a track record of underwriting and closing debt transactions.
  • Possesses advanced financial modeling skills (e.g., building cash flow projections, debt service coverage ratios, and sensitivity analyses) specifically for small business or impact lending.
  • Demonstrates strong project management abilities, able to juggle multiple deals, due diligence requests, and investor reporting deadlines simultaneously.
  • Is deeply passionate about employee ownership and economic justice, and can articulate how their work aligns with Project Equity's mission.

📝 Tips for Applying to Project Equity

1

Tailor your resume to highlight loan execution experience: list specific deals you've underwritten, including deal size, structure, and impact metrics (e.g., jobs preserved).

2

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your past work to employee ownership or community wealth building, even if indirectly (e.g., lending to small businesses or cooperatives).

3

Prepare a sample financial model or case study showing how you'd underwrite a hypothetical ESOP transaction—this demonstrates your technical fit.

4

Research the Employee Ownership Catalyst Fund's portfolio and mention specific deals or sectors (e.g., manufacturing, services) that align with your experience.

5

Since the role is part-time, clarify your availability and how you'll manage competing priorities, showing you're organized and committed to impact.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Emphasize your passion for economic justice and how employee ownership aligns with your values.', 'Highlight specific loan underwriting experience, especially with CDFIs or mission-driven funds, and quantify your impact (e.g., deployed $X million in capital).', 'Demonstrate understanding of the unique challenges in financing employee ownership transitions (e.g., complex legal structures, valuation nuances).', 'Show enthusiasm for working in a small, remote team and your ability to take initiative and manage multiple tasks independently.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read Project Equity's website and blog to understand their model, the Catalyst Fund's investment criteria, and recent case studies of businesses they've helped transition.
  • → Review the field of employee ownership: learn about ESOPs, worker cooperatives, and the challenges of business succession planning.
  • → Look into other CDFIs or impact funds focused on employee ownership (e.g., Shared Capital Cooperative, RSF Social Finance) to understand the competitive landscape.
  • → Check the company's annual reports or impact metrics to see how they measure success (e.g., jobs retained, wealth built).
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through a recent loan underwriting you led: how did you assess risk, structure the deal, and ensure mission alignment?
2 How would you evaluate a potential ESOP transaction for the Catalyst Fund? What financial and non-financial factors would you consider?
3 Describe your experience with investor reporting: what metrics did you track, and how did you communicate portfolio performance?
4 How do you prioritize competing demands when managing multiple deals and reporting deadlines?
5 Why employee ownership? How does this role fit into your career goals in impact investing?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't submit a generic application: this role requires specific loan fund experience, so avoid applying if you lack that background.
  • Don't overlook the part-time nature: ensure you can commit to the hours and avoid implying you'll treat it as a side gig.
  • Don't ignore the mission: failing to express genuine passion for employee ownership or economic justice will signal a poor fit.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Project Equity!

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