Community Development Officer

Role About the Role Some of the strongest Member relationships start before someone ever walks through a Financial Center door. As a Community Development Officer, you’ll be out in the community building the connections that introduce businesses, organizations, employees, and prospective Members to Southland Credit Union. This role is about more than attending events or making introductions. You’ll develop relationships with local businesses, Select Employee Groups (SEGs), community organizations, and referral partners, looking for ways to create lasting partnerships and connect people with financial solutions that support their goals. You’ll represent Southland in the community, lead financial wellness education, and help turn strong relationships into meaningful membership growth. If you enjoy meeting people, building trust, and creating partnerships that benefit both the community and the organization, this role gives you the opportunity to make those connections a meaningful part of your work. Major Duties and Responsibilities Building Relationships That Open Doors You’ll spend much of your time developing and strengthening relationships throughout Southland’s communities. That means identifying businesses, organizations, SEGs, and referral partners where there may be an opportunity to build a relationship, introduce Southland’s services, and create a long-term connection. You’ll also meet with prospective and existing Members to understand their financial goals and connect them with solutions that support their financial well-being. By listening first and approaching these conversations from a consultative perspective, you’ll help create relationships that extend beyond a single interaction. Your work will also include developing referral networks and following up on opportunities, partnerships, and business development activities. You’ll maintain accurate records and pay attention to results and trends so you can identify where outreach is working and where there may be opportunities to strengthen the strategy. Bringing Southland Into the Community A significant part of this role happens outside the Credit Union. You’ll represent Southland at community events, networking functions, employer presentations, and financial wellness workshops. These are opportunities to introduce people to Southland, share useful financial information, and build relationships with the organizations and communities around us. You’ll partner closely with Financial Center teams and internal departments to generate referrals, strengthen existing Member relationships, and support business development initiatives. You’ll also collaborate with Marketing and Community Engagement leadership to execute campaigns and outreach strategies that increase awareness and engagement. The role requires flexibility because community relationships don’t always happen during traditional business hours. Local travel of up to approximately 70% is required based on business needs, community events, networking opportunities, and partner visits, with a primary territory that includes areas surrounding our locations in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Downey. Occasional evenings and weekends are also part of supporting community outreach, networking events, and organizational initiatives. Turning Community Connections Into Growth Success in this role means building relationships that last and creating meaningful connections between Southland and the communities we serve. You’ll monitor business development results, analyze trends, and use what you learn to identify opportunities to improve outreach and growth strategies. You’ll also be a trusted representative of Southland. Whether you’re meeting with a business partner, presenting to a group, leading a financial wellness workshop, or connecting with a prospective Member, the way you show up matters. Strong communication, follow-through, sound judgment, and genuine relationship-building will help you build credibility and create positive experiences. All outreach and business development activities must also be conducted in accordance with Credit Union policies and applicable regulatory requirements. Knowledge and Skills What Helps You Succeed Experience Two or more years of progressively responsible experience in business development, outside sales, relationship management, financial services, banking, credit union operations, or a related field. Experience building professional relationships, generating new business opportunities, and achieving growth objectives. Experience presenting to groups, networking within the community, or managing business partnerships is highly valued. Education Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Marketing, Communications, or a related field preferred. An equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience will also be considered. You’ll Be at Your Best in This Role If You: Enjoy meeting new people and building relationships based on trust. Know how to listen to different audiences and connect their needs with appropriate financial solutions. Are comfortable networking, presenting, and speaking to groups. Can identify new opportunities and turn initial conversations into meaningful professional relationships. Stay organized while managing multiple partnerships, events, follow-ups, and business development activities. Can look at market trends and business development results and turn those insights into action. Are comfortable working independently and using sound judgment and initiative. Build productive relationships with both external partners and internal teams. Are comfortable using Microsoft Office, CRM systems, reporting tools, and other business applications. Have the flexibility to travel locally and participate in occasional evening and weekend events. Why Southland? Southland has deep roots in the Southern California communities we serve. As a c