the client is seeking a Chief Lending Officer/EVP to lead commercial, specialty, and consumer lending efforts while maintaining an existing loan portfolio and meeting production targets. This role focuses on nurturing current referral sources, developing new referral channels, and delivering a friendly, welcoming customer experience. The Chief Lending Officer/EVP will provide leadership across the lending function and partner with internal teams to support effective loan growth and portfolio management.
Key responsibilities include leading sales and lending activities for multiple lending categories; providing coaching and leadership to lenders in collaboration with credit and loan processing teams; managing lending pipelines and loan request workflows across commercial, specialty, and consumer lending; and overseeing loan delinquency and appropriate action steps for delinquent relationships. The role also involves leading an internal sales team that handles inbound referral calls for specialty loan products, maintaining calling programs for prospects and customers, supporting cross-selling of bank products and services through partnerships with commercial lenders and branch managers, participating in Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) activities, and helping monitor asset quality. The Chief Lending Officer/EVP will also support internal or external auditors with analysis of the loan portfolio.
The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in business, accounting, or finance, and an MBA is preferred. Experience will include ten years of commercial banking experience with at least five years in commercial credit review or related commercial credit experience, along with direct lending and lending/sales management experience (ideal). Consumer lending experience is also ideal, and the candidate should demonstrate strong leadership, communication, organization, and interpersonal skills, with excellent problem-solving, decision-making, multitasking, and independent work capabilities. Proficiency with Windows Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required, and the role will work closely with CEO and senior management on major sales team issues.