AVP, Manager of Paralegal Services
About The Position
The AVP, Manager of Paralegal Services leads and manages the Commercial Lending paralegal team supporting complex commercial loan transactions. The role provides management oversight of loan documentation and serves as a senior subject matter expert in commercial loan documentation, collateral perfection, legal due diligence, and closing requirements. It oversees documentation generation and review, closing coordination, due diligence, compliance with regulatory and internal requirements, and operational workflow management. The AVP partners with Commercial Lending, Credit Administration, Relationship Management, Legal Counsel, and Operations to support accurate, timely, and compliant loan closings. As the documentation subject matter expert within the commercial lending department, the AVP independently reviews and administers commercial loan documents, entity review, collateral perfection, title and lien analysis, and closing due diligence to support documentation accuracy, regulatory compliance, and enforceability of the Bank's commercial loan portfolio. The position reports to the VP, Commercial Loan Manager and supervises paralegal(s).
Requirements
- 8–10+ years of commercial lending documentation, commercial loan closing, legal documentation, or commercial paralegal experience supporting CRE, C&I, SBA, ABL, Participation, Master Line, and Construction loan structures.
- 2–4+ years of management or supervisory experience.
- Experience in a commercial bank, financial institution, commercial loan servicing organization, or law firm supporting complex commercial credit transactions.
- Advanced experience reviewing and negotiating commercial loan documentation and collateral structures, with the ability to independently identify documentation deficiencies and legal risks.
- Advanced knowledge of legal and loan documentation requirements for commercial real estate, C&I, construction, ABL, SBA, and participation lending transactions.
- Ability to independently manage and direct staff on multiple complex transactions from documentation through closing and post-closing.
- Extensive knowledge of commercial loan structures, collateral perfection, title and lien requirements, UCC filings, and closing documentation.
- Strong understanding of commercial lending regulations and banking operations.
- Exceptional analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency in commercial loan systems, documentation platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.
- Borrower-centric mindset.
- Ability to use standard equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers.
- Manual dexterity and ability to sit for longer periods.
- Ability to work schedules that meet the needs of the Bank.
- Occasional local travel for Bank purposes.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, legal studies, business administration, finance, or a related field.
- Paralegal certification.
- Prior experience in a regional or community bank commercial lending environment.
Responsibilities
- Oversee preparation, review, and coordination of documentation for CRE, C&I, SBA, ABL, Participation, Master Line, and Construction loan transactions.
- Review legal documentation for completeness, accuracy, conformity with approved credit terms, and compliance with bank policies, regulatory requirements, and legal standards.
- Maintain quality-control processes to minimize documentation exceptions and operational risk.
- Ensure required due diligence items are obtained, reviewed, and accurately documented before closing.
- Monitor closing pipelines and ensure transactions are completed within established timelines.
- Manage multiple complex transactions and competing deadlines, and serve as a primary escalation point for complex closing and documentation issues.
- Collaborate with Relationship Managers, Portfolio Managers, Credit Officers, Legal Counsel, the Commercial Loan Manager, and Operations teams to facilitate transactions.
- Build and maintain relationships with borrowers, colleagues, attorneys, title companies, and other external stakeholders.
- Lead, supervise, mentor, and develop commercial lending paralegals and promote a high-performing, engaged team culture.
- Establish performance goals, conduct evaluations, and provide ongoing coaching and professional development.
- Develop, implement, and maintain procedures, workflows, and controls for loan closing activities.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, service quality, and risk management practices.
- Monitor department metrics, service-level agreements, and operational performance indicators.
- Participate in system enhancements, testing, and process automation initiatives.
- Promote a collaborative, customer-focused, and compliance-oriented culture.
- Perform other related or unrelated duties as assigned.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
