Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management (Functional Lead – West Region/Upper Middle Market)

KeyBank•Superior, CO

3d•$128,000 - $268,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management – Functional Lead (SVP PM – Functional Lead) is a senior‑level individual contributor within the Banking Group Portfolio Management (BGPM) team. This role is responsible for leading Commercial and Industrial (C&I) underwriting for complex, high‑value corporate credit transactions, with a primary focus on the upper end of the middle market, while serving as a senior technical expert and on‑the‑job coach to Portfolio Managers (PMs) across experience levels. This role will specifically support a regional Commercial Portfolio Management team focused on the West Region. As such, the SVP PM – Functional Lead is expected to bring a strong understanding of regional dynamics, client needs, and market practices relevant to West Region commercial clients. The role requires flexibility and availability to work effectively across U.S. time zones in order to support deal teams, Credit discussions, and business partners aligned to the West Coast. The SVP PM – Functional Lead maintains a deliberately smaller than typical client portfolio to enable meaningful time commitment to pre‑screening new opportunities, directing and prioritizing workflow, reviewing underwriting quality, coaching PMs in real time, and attending Credit decisioning meetings in support of less‑experienced PMs. While this role does not have direct reports, it operates as an extension of portfolio management leadership—providing hands‑on expertise, mentorship, and risk leadership through influence rather than formal authority. The SVP PM – Functional Lead partners closely with Portfolio Management leadership, Credit Risk partners, and sales teams to deliver Key’s balance sheet to clients while upholding a strong risk culture and effectively managing risk‑reward tradeoffs. This role is expected to carry themselves with credibility and judgment in senior forums, influence vertically and horizontally, promote best practices, and positively impact underwriting quality, decisioning outcomes, and portfolio health across the platform.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or business, or equivalent work experience (required)
Minimum of 10 years of corporate credit underwriting, banking, or financial services experience, including significant experience with Commercial and Industrial (C&I) lending transactions, negotiating term sheets and credit-related legal documentation, lending to private equity-owned portfolio companies, and complex syndicated structures (required)
Advanced financial analysis and modeling skills across a variety of corporate lending structures, including secured and unsecured cash flow lending
Extensive experience leading or supporting left‑lead and administrative agent roles in syndicated transactions
Deep knowledge of credit policy, leveraged cash flow (LCF) analysis, risk rating practices, and approval processes
Proven ability to challenge assumptions, assess creditworthiness, and develop well‑structured underwriting recommendations
Extensive experience in negotiating credit agreements and leading deal teams through complex documentation processes
Strong understanding of banking and investment banking products, services, and current market dynamics
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex credit and risk concepts in senior‑level forums
Ability to plan, prioritize, multi‑task, manage time effectively, and operate independently with limited direction
Demonstrated ability to coach and guide others through technical expertise and influence rather than positional authority
Strong collaboration and influencing skills, with the credibility and executive presence to operate effectively in senior forums
Sound judgment, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to developing others while maintaining disciplined risk standards
Ability to occasionally operate a motor vehicle with a valid driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

MBA (preferred)

Responsibilities

Lead and execute underwriting for complex, multi‑faceted corporate credit transactions, including left‑lead and administrative agent roles, in alignment with Key’s credit culture and risk appetite.
Pre‑screen new opportunities and provide early‑stage credit perspective to Portfolio Management leadership and business partners.
Evaluate and recommend appropriate deal structures to deal team members and Credit Risk Management, balancing client objectives with sound risk‑return considerations.
Attend and actively participate in Credit decisioning meetings to support less‑experienced PMs, providing real‑time guidance, context, and senior‑level credit perspective.
Maintain ownership of a focused portfolio of complex client relationships, monitoring financial performance, covenant compliance, liquidity, earnings trends, and emerging credit risks.
Proactively identify potential problem credits and partner with Credit Risk Management and Asset Recovery, as appropriate, to protect the bank’s position.
Ensure assigned assets are appropriately risk rated at all times, with timely rating changes and accurate system reporting.
Review underwriting materials prepared by PMs and provide actionable feedback to elevate analytical rigor, clarity, and consistent risk identification.
Coach PMs through complex deal execution, documentation negotiations, and approval processes without formal people‑management responsibility.
Support Portfolio Management leadership with deal triage, workflow prioritization, and informal development of PM talent.
Promote underwriting best practices, leveraged cash flow (LCF) determination standards, and consistent adherence to Credit Policy.
Lead analysis and negotiation of credit agreements, guarantees, pledges, and collateral documentation for complex transactions.
Guide PMs in working effectively with outside counsel to ensure documentation accurately reflects approved terms and mitigates risk.
Demonstrate an enterprise mindset by partnering with sales leaders, Credit Risk, and other stakeholders to support Key’s relationship banking model.
Influence outcomes across teams through credibility, expertise, and judgment rather than formal authority.
Assist in process improvement initiatives, onboarding of new PMs, and knowledge sharing across BGPM.
Coordinate or assist with ad hoc data requests as required by senior management or risk partners.
Perform other duties as assigned; duties, responsibilities, and/or activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Comply with all KeyBank policies and procedures, including acting professionally, conducting business ethically, avoiding conflicts of interest, and acting in the best interests of Key and its clients.