Chief Lending Officer

Who We Are

We have the fundamental belief that we, as an organization, can and will improve lives. Rooted in the centuries old credit union philosophy of people helping people, we maintain a simple premise. Those we interact with will receive equal and just treatment, devoid of intolerance, false judgment, racism, or discrimination of any kind. We must not accept less if we are to fulfill our mission, "We Improve Lives." This mission empowers us to serve the greater good and to make a difference in our world. Our cooperative structure creates a cycle of mutual assistance towards the common goal of the financial well being of members.

At BHFCU, we’re committed to improving the lives of our members every day, and we look for people who share that passion. Don’t have a ton of financial industry experience? No problem. Our onboarding includes an orientation program with ongoing training to help staff further their career at BHFCU by building on their existing strengths.

General Purpose:  Responsible for overall strategy, administration, and operation of the Consumer, Business, and Mortgage Lending Departments, Collections Department, and Indirect Lending/Underwriting Department.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Direct daily lending operations throughout BHFCU.  May delegate portion of responsibilities, when necessary, but may not delegate overall responsibility for results or any portion of accountability.  Implement and execute all President/CEO approved decisions.
• Support and promote the annual Strategic Plan, which complements the Credit Union's mission statement, and oversee budgets associated with areas of responsibility to accomplish objectives.  Maintain control over departmental expenditures versus budget.
• Remain current on changes within the legal, regulatory, economic, competitive, and technology environments that may affect the Lending function.  Ensure policies and procedures are in compliance with applicable federal and state regulations. 
• Assist President/CEO with respect to recommendations for hires, terminations, promotions, transfers, performance appraisals, training and development, and inter­pretation of credit union rules and policies for department personnel.  Conduct all personnel functions in ac­cordance with applicable statutes (e.g., EEO, OSHA, Fair Labor, etc.).
• Maintain organizational structure established by the President/CEO.  Organize staff personnel into effective, efficient work groups.  Ensure that direct reports are granted proper authority and responsibility to carry out assigned functions.  Review work systems to reduce duplication of effort and unnecessary work.
• Responsible for managing and directing people and/or resources with fairness and consistency to meet departmental goals. Promote teamwork and encourage process improvement, while creating a positive work environment where employees feel recognized and valued. Responsible for evaluating employees, determining talents and development opportunities, and working with employees to improve performance, enhance skills, or create loyalty to the credit union. Conduct timely employee performance appraisals and coaching, and effectively resolve employee issues and performance concerns.
• Assist in the establishment, maintenance, and monitoring of inter­nal controls, as well as policies and procedures for the Lending teams.  Read, interpret, review, and comply with all federal and state legislation pertaining to operations.
• Assist in the development, production, and maintenance of credit union's products, services, and leading edge delivery systems.  Develop methods and procedures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the respective delivery systems.

Other Duties/Responsibilities

• Attend Board and appropriate Committee meetings and report in areas of responsibility as requested by the President.
• Develop methods and procedures to improve effectiveness and efficiency of delivery systems and response to members’ and employees' needs.
• Assure the development of individual and department plans and budgets that are consistent with the strategic plan and overall budget.  Maintain control over departmental expenditures versus budget.
• Work closely with other department management personnel to ensure the overall operation of the credit union runs smoothly.
• Promote and maintain a positive image of the Credit Union.
• Perform specific and delegated duties as assigned by the President.

Job Knowledge

• Knowledge of credit union lending, and leading edge delivery systems.
• Knowledge of the fundamentals of the financial industry, including an understanding of the Federal Reserve System; the check clearing process; and the legal theory of negotiable instruments.
• An understanding of basic data processing system concepts, including an understanding or a conceptual grasp of systems, hardware, and EFT technology.
• Knowledgeable in personnel administration with an under­standing of wage and salary administration, performance evalua­tion, performance coaching, and training.
• Thorough knowledge of laws and regulations affecting organization's products and services.
• Working knowledge of organization's policies/procedures and Credit Union's service philosophy.
• An understanding of planning.  Should understand the basic mechanics and have a realistic working understanding of a management by objectives system.

Job Qualifications (Skills)

BHFCU is committed to working with its employees to reasonably accommodate them with the physical aspects of the position.  The following list outlines the physical considerations that are normally encountered in this job.

• Vision:   A sighted person to read and interpret financial and legal data.
• Speech/Hearing:  Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with staff, members, and vendors.
• Manual Dexterity:  Ability to perform necessary computer related input.
• Physical Mobility:  Ability to travel on credit union's behalf, travel to other offices, and the ability to work flexible hours.

Job Qualifications (Ability)

• The ability to handle multiple, conflicting deadlines.
• The ability to delegate work assignments, give authority to work independently, and monitor delegated activities to ensure completion in a timely manner.
• Ability to understand and follow complex written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to express oneself, clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to prepare and maintain confidential records and reports.
• Ability to exercise strong judgment in analyzing, appraising, evaluating, and solving problems of a difficult procedural, organizational, or administrative nature.
• Ability to analyze statistics and financial data.
• Ability to generate and analyze research data.  Working knowledge of appropriate analysis techniques.
• Ability to comprehend complex functions and procedures and to be able to disseminate that knowledge in a clear and understandable format to others.

Job Qualifications (Education/Experience)

Job requires a four year college level of language, math, and reasoning skills.  Eight to ten years’ experience in a related field with equal responsibilities is acceptable.  Formal training should be supplemented with continuing education. 

Working Conditions

Material and Equipment Involved

• In House Computer System / Networks  
• Personal Computers / Internet
• Numerous Software/Hardware products
• Telecommunication Equipment
• iPhone / iPad
• Various Software Applications

Work Environment/Physical Activities

Occasional travel to one of BHFCU’s branch locations or attendance at community events may be required. Job requires limited physical effort.  It is primarily a desk assignment.  Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.  Work creates normal fatigue daily.  Work creates moderate stress during certain periods during daily routine.  The job calls for a high degree of mental concentration to interpret and act upon a wide range of situations.  The job requires a degree of attention to details.

Notice:  This job description is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, a contract or guarantee for employment.  BHFCU adheres to all federal and state labor laws regarding termination and probationary periods.  This position is also subject to all the personnel policies of the Black Hills Federal Credit Union.  Changes may be made to this job description at any time by the President.  Black Hills Federal Credit Union is an equal opportunity employer.

Black Hills Federal Credit Union is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status or condition protected by state or federal law. BHFCU will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with a disability but who are otherwise able to perform the essential functions of the job.