Senior Vice President, Credit Ratings - CMBS/Real Estate
About The Position
Morningstar DBRS is seeking an accomplished senior credit professional with deep commercial real estate and structured finance expertise to join its Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) team as a Senior Vice President. This role is intended for individuals with significant, hands-on credit experience gained at a rating agency, lending institution, or other credit-focused platform, who are capable of exercising independent judgment on complex transactions. The Senior Vice President will serve as a senior transaction lead and people manager, with primary responsibility for the analytical rigor, credit quality, and execution of CMBS ratings. This position plays a critical role in upholding DBRS Morningstar’s analytical standards, mentoring junior professionals, and engaging with senior market participants.
Requirements
- Minimum of 15 years of progressive commercial real estate credit experience, with substantial exposure at a rating agency, lending institution, private credit platform, or comparable credit-focused organization.
- Demonstrated depth of experience in CMBS, structured credit, or securitized real estate products.
- Strong understanding of commercial real estate valuation, cash flow analysis, and credit risk drivers across market cycles.
- Proven ability to exercise independent credit judgment and defend recommendations before senior committees.
- Established experience managing and mentoring analytical teams in a performance-driven environment.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex analyses for senior audiences.
- Advanced proficiency in Excel and financial modeling; comfort working with large datasets.
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, real estate, accounting, or a related discipline required; advanced degrees preferred.
- Ability to travel domestically within North America approximately 10–20%.
- Valid driver’s license and passport; ability to complete international travel as required.
Nice To Haves
- advanced degrees preferred
Responsibilities
- Provide senior leadership and oversight for the analysis and rating of CMBS transactions, including SASB, Conduit, CRE-CLO, and Agency executions.
- Serve as the primary lead analyst and senior credit decision-maker on complex and high-profile transactions, exercising independent judgment consistent with DBRS Morningstar methodologies.
- Manage, mentor, and develop a team of analysts, establishing analytical standards and ensuring consistent application of rating criteria.
- Act as the primary client-facing representative, engaging with issuers, lenders, investors, and intermediaries.
- Evaluate credit risk through detailed property-level, loan-level, and structural analysis, including cash flow modeling and downside stress testing.
- Determine stabilized and transitional net cash flows across all major commercial property types and loan sizes, from small-balance to large institutional exposures.
- Assess transitional business plans, sponsor quality, capital structures, reserve mechanisms, and execution risks.
- Prepare and present comprehensive credit recommendations to senior credit committees.
- Oversee the drafting and quality control of presale reports, final rating reports, and analytical publications.
- Ensure adherence to internal policies, regulatory requirements, and publishing standards.
Benefits
- 100% 401k match up to 6% of salary
- Stock Ownership Potential
- Company provided life insurance - 1x salary + commission
- Comprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision) including potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions (up to $500-$2,000 annually) for specific plans and coverages
- Additional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annual
- Company-provided long- and short-term disability insurance
- Trust-Based Time Off
- 6-week Paid Sabbatical Program
- 6-Week Paid Family Caregiving Leave
- Competitive 8-24 Week Paid Parental Leave
- Adoption Assistance
- Leadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship Opportunities
- Annual Flex Stipend - $1000 annually to cover personal education & well-being expenses
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Charitable Matching Gifts program
- Dollars for Doers volunteer program
- Paid volunteering days
- 15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
