Director of New Construction Lending

The EMAC Group • Greater Chicago Area, IL

43d

About The Position

Our client, a well-capitalized bank with a growing retail mortgage platform, is seeking a Director of New Construction Lending to lead and scale its construction-to-permanent and new construction mortgage strategy. This role sits at the intersection of production, risk management, builder relationships, and operational execution. The right leader understands both the sales engine and the banking discipline required to grow new construction lending profitably and responsibly. This is not a single-market role. It is a leadership position designed to bring structure, consistency, and scalable growth to the bank’s construction lending efforts across retail markets.

Requirements

• Current or recent mortgage banking or bank-based lending experience
• Demonstrated success with construction and construction-to-permanent lending
• Strong understanding of credit, risk, and regulatory expectations in a bank environment
• Proven ability to lead through influence , working across sales, credit, and operations
• Experience supporting or managing loan officers originating construction loans
• Professional presence with the ability to build trust with internal stakeholders and external partners
• Strategic thinker who can balance growth initiatives with disciplined execution

Responsibilities

• Own the new construction and construction-to-permanent lending strategy within the retail mortgage division
• Partner with retail sales leadership to develop and support loan officers originating construction loans
• Build and manage builder, developer, and Realtor relationships , ensuring alignment with bank credit standards
• Collaborate with credit, risk, underwriting, and operations to ensure sound loan structures and smooth execution
• Establish guidelines, training, and best practices for construction lending across markets
• Provide leadership oversight for pipeline management, draw processes, and lifecycle execution
• Serve as the internal subject-matter expert on construction lending products, policies, and market trends

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed