Senior Vice President of Lending

Credit Union of Southern California•Anaheim, CA

47d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Vice President (SVP) of Lending serves as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, providing strategic direction and executive oversight of all lending functions to advance the credit union’s long-term growth and financial objectives. This role is responsible for developing and executing an enterprise-wide lending strategy that optimizes portfolio performance, ensures prudent risk management, and sustains profitability across consumer, mortgage, and commercial lines of business. The SVP leverages data analytics and AI-driven decisioning to enhance underwriting, pricing, and portfolio optimization, aligning with organizational priorities and market dynamics. In close partnership with the COO and other senior leaders, the SVP establishes goals, budgets, and performance standards that support the credit union’s strategic plan. Through visionary leadership, the SVP fosters a culture of accountability, innovation, and operational excellence that delivers exceptional value to members and strengthens the organization’s competitive position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or related field OR high school diploma/GED with equivalent professional experience and relevant industry training or certifications may also be considered.
15+ years of lending management experience.
Broad and complete knowledge of consumer credit, including all laws and regulations related to lending.
Working knowledge of all laws and regulations governing residential and consumer lending (e.g., Reg Z, Reg B, FCRA, etc.).
Thorough working knowledge and experience in all phases of collections, including repossessions, bankruptcy, fraud cases, skip tracing, foreclosure, and truth-in-lending requirements.
Detailed knowledge of federal Fair Debt Collection Act and state collection laws.
Proficient in all applicable MS Office programs (i.e., Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc.)
Effective skills in dealing with supervisory agencies and affiliated associations.
Effective oral and written communication skills to interact with employees, Members and officials with tact, poise and diplomacy.
Effective managerial training and leadership skills.
Ability to audit production of collection departments and outside collection agencies.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in business/finance or related field.
7+ years of collections experience.

Responsibilities

Serves as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to long-term strategic planning, organizational development, and enterprise risk management.
Defines and executes the credit union’s lending strategy across all portfolios to achieve sustainable growth, competitive positioning, and profitability.
Partners with the COO on lending and balance sheet strategy, presenting portfolio performance, trends, and strategic recommendations.
Oversees the development of annual departmental goals, budgets, and key performance indicators aligned with the credit union’s strategic plan.
Collaborates closely with the SVP of Retail Operations to ensure a comprehensive understanding of lending processes within the branches and call center.
Provides executive oversight of all loan portfolios — consumer, mortgage, commercial ensuring sound asset quality and balanced risk exposure.
Leads development of pricing, rate, and fee recommendations, ensuring product competitiveness, profitability, and alignment with loan-to-share and income targets.
Analyzes market trends, member needs, and competitor data to recommend new lending products, pricing adjustments, or channel innovations.
Oversees and collaborates with Zest AI and other analytics partners to strengthen credit decisioning, automate underwriting, and improve risk segmentation.
Champions data-driven culture, using analytics to evaluate loan performance, delinquency trends, member behavior, and ROI of new initiatives.
Partners with Marketing and Member Experience teams to develop and execute integrated lending campaigns that drive member engagement and portfolio growth.
Provides executive direction on cross-sell strategies, promotional offers, and digital lending initiatives to expand member adoption and deepen relationships.
Evaluates campaign performance, conversion metrics, and channel effectiveness to inform future strategy and resource allocation.
Directs all lending and collection operations to ensure efficiency, scalability, and adherence to established policies and regulatory requirements.
Promotes operational improvements, including automation, centralization, and workflow optimization to reduce turnaround times and enhance member experience.
Oversees administration of credit protection programs (GAP, Debt Protection, MBI, etc.) and ensures proper management of repossessions, extensions, and charge-offs.
Maintains strong compliance culture across lending and collections, ensuring adherence to federal and state regulations (e.g., NCUA, CFPB, ECOA, FCRA, RESPA).
Leads and develops a high-performing leadership team overseeing lending, underwriting, and collections.
Promotes accountability, professional development, and succession planning across all lending functions.
Fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and member-centric service.
Provides regular performance reporting to the COO on portfolio health, delinquency trends, strategic progress, and market position.
Recommends policy changes, credit risk tolerance, and strategic initiatives based on analytics and economic conditions.
Complete understanding and active application the C.A.R.E. 4 Guide expectations and the Brand Communications Standards Accountability Philosophy.
Must be able and available to work a “hybrid” schedule, per business operations requirement, as needed
Additional duties and responsibilities, as assigned.