Senior Lead Credit Risk & Approval Officer

Wells Fargo Bank•New York, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Wells Fargo is seeking a Senior Lead Credit Risk & Approval Officer to join its Risk team covering Multifamily Capital in the Commercial Real Estate business. The role provides independent, holistic credit leadership and oversight, including business loss forecasting and reporting for quarterly business reviews and relationship concentrations. It monitors loan underwriting and portfolio management performance, analyzes new business prospects, and supports strategic initiatives. The officer may present the business’s credit risk position to senior management. The position provides credit oversight for a business unit financing multifamily, senior housing, affordable housing, manufactured housing, student housing, and co-op properties through balance-sheet, FNMA, Freddie Mac, and FHA agency products. It balances commercial judgment with disciplined risk management to protect portfolio quality while supporting business growth. Coverage includes screening, underwriting, portfolio management, CRE reporting, policy, delegated-authority relationship management, staff management, credit process administration, and ad hoc projects. The position reports directly to the Credit Risk & Approval Director. The role leads complex cross-functional initiatives, manages staff and credit processes, supports regulatory and internal reviews, and engages with customers and the local real estate community. It exercises independent judgment on complex structuring, pricing, and risk decisions while receiving strategic direction from leadership and working with a high degree of day-to-day autonomy. The position offers a hybrid work schedule and requires willingness to work onsite at the posted location in New York, NY. It is not eligible for visa sponsorship and is subject to FINRA background screening and ongoing regulatory requirements. The posted base salary range is $215,000 to $355,000; employees may also be eligible for incentive opportunities.

Requirements

7+ years of Credit Risk & Approval experience, or equivalent demonstrated through work experience, training, military experience, education, or a combination of these.
Willingness to work onsite at the stated location as part of the hybrid work schedule.
Successful completion and clearance of a FINRA background check and compliance with ongoing regulatory requirements.

Nice To Haves

Extensive commercial real estate lending experience.
Knowledge of GSE multifamily lending products, including FNMA, Freddie Mac, and FHA.
Knowledge of affordable housing and associated tax credits, including Low Income Housing Tax Credit investments.
Prior real estate loan workout experience.
Knowledge of the commercial real estate capital markets industry and related products and services.
Deep understanding of Wells Fargo’s Commercial Real Estate lending philosophy and credit culture.
Ability to serve as a thought leader in a large matrix organization.
Consistent success making sound business and credit decisions and ensuring team alignment with business strategies and risk appetite.
Demonstrated success making deals and building relationships.
Success developing, growing, and grooming future Wells Fargo business leaders.
Ability to work independently and across various lines of business in challenging work environments and time frames.
Knowledge of or experience in the local markets or business units.

Responsibilities

Monitor and review loans, underwriting, and portfolio management performance for Credit Risk & Approval.
Evaluate structuring, pricing, and documentation across complex, large-scale, and longer-term transactions.
Make timely, well-reasoned credit decisions, recommendations, and approvals to maintain credit quality and portfolio health.
Identify opportunities to approve loans and partner on structuring, pricing, and documentation for larger transactions.
Involve appropriate internal and external team members in the deal approval process.
Identify and manage portfolio trends, risks, and concentrations.
Ensure timely and accurate portfolio monitoring and reporting, risk-rating and grading changes or certifications, problem-loan management, and non-accrual and loss identification and forecasting.
Support business units in preparing for and achieving satisfactory audit and regulatory or internal examination outcomes.
Lead complex cross-functional initiatives with broad organizational impact.
Reinforce Wells Fargo’s credit culture and strengthen team member engagement across the business platform.
Train and develop team members and build a diverse leadership pipeline.
Manage staff and administer screening, underwriting, portfolio management, and CRE reporting processes for the business unit.
Provide a commercial perspective that balances market realities with appropriate risk management.
Participate in customer relationships by attending customer meetings.
Build market expertise by engaging with the local real estate community and relevant industry organizations.
Collaborate with peers, colleagues, managers, and internal and external stakeholders to resolve issues and achieve shared goals.
Independently analyze complex business, operational, and technical challenges and exercise judgment on structuring, pricing, and risk decisions.
Follow applicable risk and compliance policies and procedures, fulfill risk and compliance obligations, and escalate and remediate issues appropriately.