Director - Lending

The Director of Lending is responsible for daily oversight and operational management of the credit union's consumer lending, underwriting, and credit card operations. This role ensures sound underwriting practices, regulatory compliance, service excellence, and overall portfolio performance. The Director leads a team of lending professionals, fosters a high-performance culture, and drives lending strategies that align with the credit union's mission and financial objectives.

This role includes partnering with branches, dealerships, and lending associates to ensure loans are decisioned in a timely manner. Maintains efficient consumer, underwriting, and credit card procedures for the department and branches. Ensures the documentation and processing of consumer and indirect loans is compliant with all consumer lending regulations. Ensures effective and efficient operations, including managing the credit union's indirect lending portfolio, making sure the product is consistent with the credit quality, volume, growth, and mix as defined by credit union policies.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute lending strategies across consumer loans, underwriting, and credit card offerings.
• Directs and monitors centralized lending for the credit union, through direct reports to ensure that the credit union meets established goals and objectives with respect to lending operations. Oversees goal tracking on a monthly basis and coaches staff as appropriate. Monitors product delivery, quality and takes prompt and effective action to resolve problems internally and externally.
• Oversee day-to-day operations for consumer lending (auto, personal, unsecured) and credit card programs.
•  Ensure efficiency and consistency in underwriting, processing, funding, servicing, and member communication across all loan types.
•   Drive continuous process improvement to enhance speed, accuracy, and the member experience.
•   Provides current product knowledge and training to staff on an on-going basis in the areas of consumer lending; participates in creating or recommending loan campaigns, contests and promotions to generate growth in the indirect and merchant lending portfolios.
•  Manages the credit bureau dispute process, including preparing procedures and form letters and training staff members as needed for direct disputes to RadiFi and disputes made to the credit bureaus through E-Oscar. Take steps to improve the accuracy of credit reporting information by working on rejection reports and various projects involving the loan portfolio.
•   Manage the full lifecycle of the credit union’s credit card program, including issuance, limit management, promotions, and servicing.
•  Collaborate with marketing on member engagement strategies, balance transfer campaigns, and rewards programs.
•   Develops underwriting policies and department procedures to ensure efficient and accuracy of loan approval and processing; develops required reports to track the growth, quality, and efficiency of consumer and credit card operations.
• Recruits, motivates, trains, and develops a lending staff committed to the service and productivity standards of the credit union.
• Keeps abreast of competition and industry-related trends, making appropriate recommendations as needed.
• Oversee the Quality assurance program ensuring timely reports are provided and feedback given.
• Develops/prepares/reviews dealer reports to determine whether dealer performance meets credit union credit standards.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Work Environment

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Requirements

Perform primarily sedentary work with limited physical exertion and occasional lifting of up to 30 lbs. Must be capable of climbing / descending stairs in emergency situation. Must be able to operate routine office equipment including telephone, copier, facsimile, and calculator. Must be able to routinely perform work on computer for an average of 6-8 hours per day, when necessary. Must be able to work extended hours whenever required or requested by management. Must be capable of regular, reliable and timely attendance. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus.

Must be able to perform job functions independently or with limited supervision and work effectively either on own or as part of a team. Must be able to read and carry out various written instructions and follow oral instructions. Must be able to speak clearly and deliver information in a logical and understandable sequence. Must be capable of dealing calmly and professionally with numerous different personalities from diverse cultures at various levels within and outside of the organization and demonstrate highest levels of customer service and discretion when dealing with the public. Must be able to perform responsibilities with composure under the stress of deadlines / requirements for extreme accuracy and quality and/or fast pace. Must be able to effectively handle multiple, simultaneous, and changing priorities. Must be capable of exercising highest level of discretion on both internal and external confidential matters. Must be able to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area circumference and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Acknowledgment

Nothing in the position description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This Job description is not a contract and should not be constructed as a guarantee of employment for any period of time.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against employees or applicants based on race color, religion, sex/gender, national origin, disability, age, or any other category protected by law.

This Job Description is not a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities comprising the position.

    Knowledge and Skills:

Experience

Must possess five to eight years of experience within a credit union or financial institution, including a minimum of three to five years in a managerial or supervisory role overseeing a lending/underwriting team within a credit union or financial institution. Prior experience with managing credit card operations is preferred.

Education

(1) A bachelor's degree, or (2) achievement of formal certifications recognized in the industry as equivalent to a bachelor's degree, or (3) substantial job-specific skills gained through relevant work experience. Degree preferred in business, finance, accounting, or a related field.

Interpersonal Skills

Work involves extensive personal contact with others and is of a personal or sensitive nature. Motivating, influencing, and/or training others is key at this level. Outside contacts become important and fostering sound relationships with other entities (companies and/or individuals) becomes necessary and often requires the ability to influence and/or sell ideas or services to others.

Other Skills

• Knowledge of Consumer Lending policies, procedures, products, and services.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Experience with Symitar and/or arc OS is a plus.
• Project management and Implementation skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to plan and prioritize workload for self and others.
• Excellent interpersonal communications skills.
• Leadership skills to motivate team members to reach and surpass department goals related to production and quality control (Titles, Imaging, insurance claims, loan file reviews and QC).
• Work well under pressure while handling multiple projects and priorities. Highly Desired: General knowledge of court attachments, bankruptcy, foreclosure, legal action, credit reporting and credit disputes, and tax reporting.