Community Development Officer

As a leading regional bank, SouthState has been providing financial solutions to individuals, families, and businesses in the Southeast for more than 100 years. SouthState team members strive to create remarkable experiences while building meaningful and lasting relationships. We are proud to be a reflection of the communities we serve, and our team members share core values that make SouthState a great place to bank, and a great place to work.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Community Development Officer is expected to perform the specific duties and responsibilities as outlined below:
• Source new and maintain existing community development business and relationships for the Bank for your assigned assessment area.
• Through known and developed prospects, originate depository and lending relationships that fit the Banks risk profile. Provide a high level of customer service to the needs of clients seeking banking services.
• Proactively identify gaps/weaknesses in CRA and HMDA lending, CRA services and donations within the Bank’s Assessment Areas and proactively identify solutions.
• Maintain outreach log and forward monthly to Community Development Group Manager.
• Conduct joint outreach business and relationship community development sales calls with local market sales and leadership individuals and team: retail, small business, mortgage, and commercial.
• Serve as a CRA subject matter expert and representative to communities and organizations with the Bank and with the community in the Bank’s assessment areas with the objective of developing new and enhancing existing partnerships and business.
• Assist the Director of Community Engagement (CRA) in completing CRA/Community Development strategy in alignment with the Bank’s annual priorities.
• Assist with research as necessary at the request of the Bank’s Director of Community Engagement to understand a community or Bank need.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for the assessment areas that the Community Development Officer covers. Understand the CRA needs, lending gaps, services and grants/investments needs.
• Responsible for the performance context for each assessment area under their purview.
• Liaise with internal employees including but not limited to Mortgage Lenders, Commercial Lenders; Branch Employees; Small Business Bankers; Regional Presidents; Community Presidents; Market Leaders; RAMs; etc. and participate in sales meetings and joint sales calls to develop relationships, products/programs, services that will assist in meeting the needs of the Bank’s assessment areas.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on various committees and to commercial and residential mortgage lenders that are specifically originating community development and CRA residential mortgage transactions.
• Communicate frequently and serve as a conjoiner to the various lines of business on industry news, issues, trends and conduct training as necessary.
• Communicate CRA related needs, gaps, and recommended best practices up, down, and across business lines that support the goals of the Banks CRA program.
• Volunteer and set an example for teammates by serving on boards and committees of not-for-profit organizations whose primary purpose is to serve the low- and moderate-income and mission meets the definition of community development.
• Maintain strong knowledge of the Community Reinvestment Act and Fair Lending Laws and regulations.
• Source new and maintain partnerships with organizations that serve the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community. Ensure the bank has proper products, services, and delivery channels in place to service all customer demographics including low- to moderate-income (LMI) and majority minority individuals and businesses.
• Collaborate with Corporate Stewardship team to identify outreach opportunities that align with corporate social responsibility.
• Represent SouthState Bank in the community and in the Bank, always striving to provide a Remarkable Experience!
• Be involved in performing marketing endeavors/efforts via social media and other platforms.
• Continuously update skills by participating in professional training and continuing education.
• Seek opportunities to improve skills through cross-training offered by the Bank.
• Other duties as assigned