Description and Requirements
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Position : Agricultural Strategies Group Director -Investments/Agriculture
Job Location: Overland Park, KS
Department: MetLifeInvestment Management/Agriculture
MetLife Investment Management
Role Value Proposition:
MetLife Investment Management (MIM) is one of the largest institutional investors and asset managers in the world, with nearly $600.8 billion in combined managed assets, and has consistently generated superior returns for both policyholders and shareholders. The enterprise has more than 850 dedicated professionals with extensive experience and expertise in all asset classes, with a strength in public and private fixed income and private assets, including real estate. Visit us at www.metlife.com/investments to learn more.
MIM's Global Real Estate and Agricultural Investments maintains a portfolio invested in commercial real estate and agricultural mortgages, as well as real estate equities. In addition to sourcing and managing these investments, the groups are responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with key industry contacts and referral sources.
MetLife's Agricultural Finance group is one of the largest agricultural mortgage lenders in North America. Our agricultural investments are an important part of MetLife's asset-liability matching program. MetLife's Agricultural Finance portfolio is approximately $24.4 Billion. Agricultural Finance sources agricultural real estate investments through five regional offices in the U.S. and consulting offices in Mexico and Brazil.
The Agricultural Strategies Group (ASG) is seeking an exceptional person to work as an Agricultural Liaison Director. This senior person will be responsible for overall portfolio strategy, pricing, transaction approval and credit approval on new loans, as well as the active management of the overall mortgage portfolio.
The ASG Liaison Director will be responsible for the successful growth and performance of two of the five Regional Offices in the Agricultural platform. You will also participate as a voting member of the ASG loan committee, as well as evaluate and approve agricultural loans. You will be responsible for evaluating and approving agricultural loans submitted by the Regional Offices. Additionally, you will be directly responsible for approximately one third of the $24.4B agricultural portfolio. This will include review of all loan production and servicing.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership and Management:

• Responsible for a large, multi-state agricultural investment operation.
• Support a large team of agricultural mortgage originators in multiple locations.
• Maintain and leverage an active network among agricultural investment and lending professionals.

Loan Origination:

• Provide credit review and loan closing support to attain aggressive business goals.
• Leverage mortgage origination platform to source and screen potential new investment opportunities for investors.
• Partner with key stakeholders in managing financial plans and projections to maximize net investment income.
• Review and approve loan level credit administration actions.

Portfolio Management:

• Responsible for portfolio management and credit quality of agricultural loans totaling over $8 billion.
• Assist the Head of ASG in defining short-term and long-term agricultural mortgage loan strategies, including new product development and portfolio construction across various geographies and property types.
• Monitor production performance versus benchmarks and drives strategic agricultural loan origination, credit administration and portfolio management decisions.

Key Relationships:
Reports to: SVP Ag Portfolio Unit
Direct Reports : 0
Indirect Reports : 26
Key Stakeholders: Agricultural Strategies Group, Operations, Finance, Compliance, Portfolio Management Unit, Research, Valuation & Analytics, Investor Client Group, Legal, Regional Directors.
Candidate Qualifications:

• Extensive years of agriculture lending experience.
• Extensive years of real estate valuation knowledge and skills.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication; comfortable in public speaking roles. Highly professional in all circumstances as a representative of MetLife Investment Management and Agricultural Investments on a regional, national, and international platform.
• Extensive experience with underwriting successful agricultural debt deals.
• Very strong credit and analytical skills, superior knowledge of lending principles, credit procedures, collateral, and credit.
• Experience with loan workouts, including those requiring complex solutions.
• Ability to instill and deliver exceptional customer service with the highest of ethical standards to a large client base.

MetLife Success Principles

• Experiment with Confidence - Courageously learn and test new ideas without fear of failure.
• Act with Urgency - Demonstrate speed to action with agility and determination.
• Seek Diverse Perspectives - Source ideas and feedback to expand thinking and make informed decisions.
• Seize Opportunity - Drive responsible growth and identify areas for continuous improvement.
• Champion Inclusion - Foster an environment where everyone is valued, heard, and can speak up.
• Create Alignment - Partner with others across the organization with candor and transparency.
• Take Responsibility - Be accountable and act in pursuit of the right outcomes.
• Enable Solutions - Anticipate and address obstacles while managing risk.
• Deliver What Matters - Execute meaningful priorities and follow through on commitments.

Benefits We Offer
Our U.S. benefit programs are geared toward health and wellness, financial protection, and retirement savings. In addition to comprehensive health coverage including medical/prescription drug, dental, vision, and no-cost short- and long-term disability benefits also include:

• Retirement plan (cash balance pension) with a minimum monthly contribution regardless of an employee's pay and 401(k) with employer matching
• Company-paid life insurance and legal services, and discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs
• Expert support for medical second opinions, cancer care navigation, diabetes and hypertension, weight loss/fitness, joint and spine health, caregiving, and more
• Generous paid time off, including a floating cultural heritage day
• Paid volunteer time off and charitable contribution match
• Tuition assistance
• Family benefits including paid parental leave, adoption and surrogacy assistance, child and eldercare support, college advising program

Equal Employment Opportunity/Disability/Veterans
If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [email protected] . This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.
MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.
Salary Grade 15A
Benefits We Offer
Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!
About MetLife
Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the 2023 "World's Most Admired Companies" as well as the 2023 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For ®, MetLife , through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world's leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by empathy, we're inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it's #AllTogetherPossible . Join us!
Equal Employment Opportunity/Disability/Veterans
If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [email protected]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.
MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.
#BI-Hybrid