Small Business Lending Manager

Northwest Bank•Erie, PA

23h•Onsite

About The Position

The Small Business Lending Manager leads and oversees a centralized small business lending platform, supporting originations through the financial center banking system and Small Business Bankers. This role is accountable for driving high-quality, consistent production outcomes through clearly defined performance metrics, service-level standards, and disciplined execution across the end-to-end loan lifecycle. The Manager is responsible for establishing, monitoring, and continuously improving measurable production, quality, and cycle-time metrics, ensuring loans are originated efficiently, accurately, and in alignment with risk appetite and profitability objectives. This includes the development and maintenance of a straight-through, scalable loan origination process that balances speed, quality, and control. A core focus of the role is ensuring strict adherence to all applicable regulatory, legal, and compliance requirements, including internal policies, procedures, and operational risk management controls. The Manager ensures strong compliance governance, audit readiness, and consistent application of credit policy, while proactively identifying and addressing emerging regulatory, operational, and portfolio risks. The role provides leadership and direct supervision to all small business underwriters, ensuring appropriate staffing levels, skill development, and performance management aligned to quality, accuracy, and productivity expectations. The Manager makes sound, risk-based credit decisions, reinforces underwriting discipline, and promotes accountability through ongoing quality reviews and portfolio analytics. Additionally, the Small Business Lending Manager maintains a proactive portfolio management mindset, monitoring credit quality, concentration risks, and performance trends to support sustainable growth and early risk identification. The role partners closely with internal stakeholders, including Retail Banking, Loan Operations, and Small Business Loan teams, to ensure alignment, transparency, and continuous improvement across the small business lending ecosystem.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree Business, Finance, or related subject preferred
8 - 12 years Commercial Lending/Banking experience preferred
8 - 12 years Management experience preferred
Extensive knowledge of regulatory/compliance issues
Ensure compliance with Northwest’s policies and procedures, and Federal/State regulations
Navigate Microsoft Office Software, computer applications, and software specific to the department in order to maximize technology tools and gain efficiency
Work as part of a team
Work with on-site equipment

Nice To Haves

Significant strength in Scoring and OCR technology preferred
Strength in developing/refining scoring models and other technology based initiatives

Responsibilities

Participate in developing Northwest strategic initiatives and objectives
Work closely with Small Business Executive Director to align end to end lending process and communication strategy
Determine customer expectations and develop methods to improve customer service
Oversee and approve career development and key appointments
Develop service and delivery enhancements, manage SLA's
Achieve/demonstrate greater department efficiencies
Remain cognizant of prevailing economic conditions and markets
Manage partnership with other Business lines to ensure a cohesive business development team
Provide for enhanced customer service
Ensure growth in revenue producing products and services
Plan and oversee expansion of Small Business Lending Department
Partner with senior leadership to identify and develop technological advancements
Maintain comprehensive process to evaluate the creditworthiness of loan applications
Cultivate relationships with outside business partners
Develop specific measurable departmental goals and targets
Assure underwriting administration is sufficient to properly mitigate credit risk
Develop relevant statistics and related reports
Understand and engage in Business lending related public relations/community involvement programs
Ensure ongoing administration of all Small Business loans in accordance with industry standards and bank policy
Oversee appropriate staffing levels within Small Business Lending
In partnership with senior management engage in regular policy review and recommend updates accordingly
Continually improve lending practices / procedures
Monitor / improve measured risk based credit decisions
Evaluate and interpret lending / related economic trends
Oversee small business loan delinquency to minimize loss exposure
Oversee the administration of all Small Business loans
Coordinate the risk rating of all small business loans with Credit Administration
Coordinate small business lending activities with credit activities
Partner with internal stakeholders
Recommend lending authority for all small business Underwriters to the Credit Committee
Make recommendations on all proposed small business loans
Participate in Senior Loan Committee as necessary
Ensure small business loan interest rates are appropriately assigned
Improve quality control systems and standards
Recommend / develop fee-generating alternatives
Recommend / develop improvements to procedures
Establish increased productivity and profitability
Recommend/develop product enhancements
Identify and resolve compliance issues
Communicate guidance within business unit staff and management
Identify risks and implement controls to minimize risk
Communicate identified risks to Chief Compliance Officer
Supervise reviews and monitor programs for compliance
Attending compliance training events to stay current with regulations
Provide compliance training within business unit
Report business unit’s state of compliance to the Chief Compliance Officer
Attend and participate in Management Compliance Committee Meetings
Ensure compliance with Northwest’s policies and procedures, and Federal/State regulations
Navigate Microsoft Office Software, computer applications, and software specific to the department in order to maximize technology tools and gain efficiency
Work as part of a team
Work with on-site equipment