SBA Business Development Officer, 7(a) Acquisitions & Commercial Real Estate

Position: SBA Business Development Officer, BDO
Focus: SBA 7(a), Business Acquisitions & Owner-Occupied Commercial Real Estate
Employment Type: Full-Time

Build Quality SBA Deals in Any Market

We are seeking an accomplished SBA Business Development Officer with a demonstrated track record of originating and closing quality SBA 7(a) loans, with a primary focus on business acquisitions and owner-occupied commercial real estate transactions.

This opportunity is designed for an experienced SBA producer who knows how to find good deals even when market conditions are challenging.

We are not looking for someone who simply generates leads or passes opportunities to credit. We want a BDO who knows their deals deeply, understands the borrower and business, can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a transaction, and knows how to structure an opportunity before bringing it forward.

The successful candidate will have an established history of SBA production, strong referral relationships, sound credit instincts, and the ability to develop high-quality opportunities through a combination of relationship building, market knowledge, disciplined prospecting, and deal expertise.

Primary lending focus includes business acquisitions and owner-occupied commercial real estate. This position will not focus on startup or restaurant lending.

What You Will Do

• Originate and develop SBA 7(a) lending opportunities, primarily involving business acquisitions and owner-occupied commercial real estate

• Build and maintain a consistent pipeline of high-quality SBA opportunities

• Develop referral relationships with business brokers, M&A advisors, CPAs, attorneys, commercial real estate professionals, bankers, financial advisors, and other centers of influence

• Identify quality transactions in both strong and challenging lending environments

• Conduct meaningful upfront evaluation of prospective borrowers and transactions before moving deals forward

• Develop a thorough understanding of each transaction, including the borrower, business model, acquisition structure, cash flow, collateral, equity injection, management experience, and repayment ability

• Structure transactions appropriately within SBA lending requirements and internal credit parameters

• Work closely with underwriting, credit, closing, and operations teams throughout the lending process

• Anticipate potential credit concerns and address issues early rather than relying on underwriting to identify fundamental weaknesses

• Clearly articulate the credit story and business rationale behind each transaction

• Manage borrower and referral partner expectations throughout the lending process

• Maintain ownership of transactions from initial opportunity through closing

• Consistently prospect for new business while strengthening existing referral relationships

• Maintain an accurate pipeline and provide reliable production forecasts

• Stay current on SBA lending requirements, market conditions, competitive activity, and changes affecting SBA borrowers and transactions

What We Are Looking For

• Demonstrated success as an SBA Business Development Officer, SBA Lender, or SBA Loan Originator

• Strong track record originating and closing SBA 7(a) loans

• Significant experience with business acquisition financing

• Experience financing owner-occupied commercial real estate

• Proven ability to generate quality SBA opportunities through an established referral network and proactive business development

• Demonstrated ability to produce even during difficult or highly competitive lending environments

• Strong understanding of SBA loan structures, eligibility, cash flow, debt service, equity requirements, collateral, and guarantor considerations

• Ability to evaluate the fundamentals of a transaction before submitting it for underwriting

• Strong financial and credit acumen

• Ability to discuss the details of individual transactions confidently with credit and senior leadership

• Strong negotiation, relationship management, and consultative selling skills

• Excellent communication and organizational skills

• Ability to independently manage a pipeline while maintaining urgency and accountability throughout the lending process

What Will Set You Apart

The strongest candidates will be able to demonstrate more than a production number.

We want to understand how you generated your business, what types of deals you closed, how you structured them, and how you navigated challenging transactions.

You should be prepared to discuss specific SBA transactions in depth, including:

• Deal size and structure

• Business acquisition or real estate transaction

• Borrower equity injection

• Cash flow and debt service considerations

• Sources of referral business

• Credit challenges or weaknesses

• How you structured the transaction to address those challenges

• Your personal role in getting the transaction to closing

• Annual SBA production and closed loan volume

Lending Focus

We ARE targeting:

SBA 7(a) business acquisitions, change-of-ownership transactions, established operating businesses, owner-occupied commercial real estate, and experienced borrowers with viable cash flow and repayment ability.

We are NOT targeting startup or restaurant transactions.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity for a seasoned SBA producer who wants to be evaluated on quality, production, deal knowledge, and execution.

If you have a history of finding strong SBA opportunities, building productive referral relationships, and successfully closing transactions when the easy deals are difficult to find, we want to hear from you.

Apply today to discuss your SBA production history, referral network, and the transactions that best demonstrate what you can do.