What are the responsibilities and job description for the Justice Fellow position at Coastal Enterprises, Inc.?
Now more than ever, you can help build a strong and inclusive economy by helping to grow small businesses and strengthen communities in Maine.
The Justice Fellowship at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) introduces early-career professionals from communities that have traditionally faced challenges accessing capital or business ownership opportunities to the work of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) and entrepreneurship development, with a focus on rural regions and small cities.
The Fellowship program will welcome Fellows work at CEI, with a start date of September 21, 2026, through September 30, 2027. This is a one-year, full-time, benefit-eligible position with a salary of $56,000 a year and substantive opportunities for growth and networking in the CDFI industry.
You will work with a sponsoring team to develop and carry out a project that supports CEI’s work growing good jobs, livelihoods and diverse small business ownership using the tools of community development finance in rural communities. You will also experience valuable opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and networking, including attendance to the Opportunity Finance Network Conference from October 20 – 23, 2026 in New Orleans. along with members of the CEI team.
Who we are:
Headquartered in Maine, CEI is a Community Development Finance Institution that is a national leader in rural economic and business development. CEI's mission is to build a just, vibrant, and climate-resilient future for people and communities in Maine and rural communities across the country. We do this by integrating finance, business expertise, and policy solutions in ways that make the economy work more equitably.
Over 70 percent of our financing and advice goes to businesses that are expanding opportunities for people living in rural communities, communities with low-income residents, communities of color, and others who have been left behind by our economy. Learn more about working at CEI here.
What we believe:
As careful, responsible managers of the resources entrusted to us, we recognize that our decisions and actions have near – and long-term impacts on people and the planet.
We work to ensure that all people, especially those facing individual or systems barriers to opportunity, can secure a livelihood that enables them to build assets and share prosperity.
We engage diverse staff, board members, and partners who bring lived experience, community connections, and know-how to the problems we aim to solve.
We foster creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit at CEI, through our networks, and in the communities we serve.
We share knowledge, practices, resources, and partner with people and organizations to deepen our mission impact.
Who we are seeking:
You are an early career professional, interested in the intersection of entrepreneurship and community development in rural regions and small cities.
You are curious about how to apply business and technical skills in creative ways that have a real impact on people’s lives, and you are eager to boost small businesses, build good jobs, and promote environmental sustainability as part of an equitable Maine economy.
You are an agent of change who brings perspectives as well as networks and lived experiences from traditionally underserved communities.
You bring valuable professional experience and great organizational skills.
You work independently and as part of a team. You take the initiative and hold yourself accountable.
You bring diverse perspectives and approaches to the team, enjoy the opportunity to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds, sectors, and identities, and foster strong relationships with clients and colleagues.
You have lived experience as a part of authentic and accountable relationships with people with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Justice Fellowship 2026-2027 Positions Available:
Programs Fellow: This Justice Fellow explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting CEI’s work, our clients’ businesses, and economic opportunities across Maine. The Fellow would support both internal alignment (policies, norms, staff use) and external practice (how we advise and respond to clients using AI). AI is already present in our ecosystem—clients are using it (sometimes effectively, sometimes inaccurately), and staff are navigating it without shared guidance. This role would help CEI take a proactive, thoughtful approach that aligns with our mission and values.
Core Focus Areas
1. AI in Client Advising & Lending
- Document how clients are currently using AI (e.g., business plans, projections, HR materials).
- Identify risks (accuracy, bias, over-reliance) and opportunities.
- Develop practical guidance for advisors on how to respond to and work with AI-generated materials.
- Explore how CEI can support clients in using AI to strengthen their businesses (without replacing core learning and decision-making).
2. Internal AI Use & Organizational Stance
- Assess current AI use across client facing teams (Programs, lending).
- Identify where AI improves efficiency vs. where human judgment must remain central.
- Support revision of internal guidance on responsible AI use.
3. Training & Capacity Building (Staff Clients)
- Design and pilot staff training on interacting with client's AI use (starting with BDS and other client-facing teams).
- Develop simple client-facing guidance on using AI effectively and responsibly.
5. CDFI Field Scan (bonus work)
- Research how other CDFIs are using AI .
- Internally (operations, underwriting, efficiency).
- Externally (client advising and tools).
- Identify emerging practices and gaps.
6. Climate & Environmental Impact of AI.
- Document environmental impacts of AI (energy use, water consumption, emissions).
- Explore how these considerations intersect with CEI’s climate goals.
- Inform whether and how environmental impact should factor into our AI approach.
Justice Fellow: Open Project Option: We want to hear your ideas about how CEI can boost community development or reduce barriers facing entrepreneurs in Maine or rural regions nationally. Our entrepreneurial spirit goes beyond providing financing and business advice to our clients and community members. We believe in innovation, and most importantly, we believe in the power of your perspective. If the fellowship position above is not a match for you and you have an alternative proposal for how, as a one-year Justice Fellow, you could bring your perspective and community roots in a rural place to work with our team to make a lasting impact advancing economic opportunity and equity through community development finance in the rural regions CEI serves, we would welcome hearing your idea for a project that you could carry out during your one-year fellowship at CEI. Our decision to accept an “open option” Justice Fellow will be based on the potential of your proposal (please describe your project idea in one page or less), its alignment with CEI’s mission, and CEI identifies a willing sponsor for the project from the CEI team.
Preferred candidates will have:
- Associate degree or a bachelor’s degree with 1-3 years of professional level experience.
- A passion for mission-driven work in the entrepreneurship and community development fields, and an interest and curiosity about advancing these in rural regions and small cities.
- Lived experience and authentic association with communities that have traditionally faced challenges and lack of resources or opportunities; a commitment to an ongoing career in community and economic development.
- Effective communication skills, you are a great writer and have strong presentation skills to convey messages to a diverse audience.
- Strong problem-solving, research and analytical skills, and critical thinking ability.
- Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
- Attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
Justice Fellowship Compensation and other details:
This is a full-time 40-hour-per-week position with excellent benefits and generous time off including vacation, personal and sick time, and paid holidays. We work in a hybrid model, two days in the office, and three days at home. This is a one-year, full-time, benefit-eligible position at CEI with a salary of $56,000 a year and wonderful opportunities for growth and networking in the CDFI industry. Relocation assistance may be available for non-Maine based fellows. This position is based in our headquarters in Brunswick, Maine. This is a 12-month position from September 21, 2026, through September 30, 2027.
CEI’s compensation philosophy is to attract, motivate, and retain high-performing employees who are committed to the mission, values, and business success of CEI. While maintaining fiscal responsibility, we pay our employees fairly and consistently relative to the market, reward the achievement of individual, team, and organizational goals; and provide an environment for people to engage in impactful, mission-driven work. The salary posted for this role indicates our best and final competitive offer for a qualified candidate, dependent on experience level, skillset, and qualifications.
Coastal Enterprises, Inc. is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
Salary : $56,000