Vice President, Consumer Lending

Sunward Federal Credit Union • Albuquerque, NM

96d

About The Position

The Vice President of Consumer Lending oversees the functional strategy and operations of consumer lending, from lead generation and borrower engagement through servicing and postmortem analysis. This role develops and executes business plans that drive profitable loan growth, optimize the member experience, and ensure compliance with regulatory and policy standards. The position champions innovation, efficiency, and risk-aligned lending practices while managing departmental budgets, resources, and performance to advance the credit union’s strategic objectives.

Requirements

• Minimum 12 years of lending and next-level leadership experience in financial services, preferably in a credit union or community-based financial institution.
• Proven ability to manage complex lending operations, drive organizational change, and ensure compliance with regulatory and policy standards.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, or related field required, or experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
• Current registration with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS), or ability to become registered upon hire.
• Recent, relevant, and strong understanding of all aspects of consumer lending, including leading leaders, financial analysis, and portfolio monitoring and reporting.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements, internal policies, and enterprise risk management principles related to consumer lending.
• High proficiency with digital communication platforms, Microsoft Office Suite, and tools supporting underwriting, credit analysis, and portfolio monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end strategy, execution, and optimization of mortgage lending, ensuring alignment with the credit union’s business goals, risk appetite, and regulatory requirements.
• Design and implement lending strategies that drive profitable loan growth, enhance member experience, and support operational efficiency.
• Liaise with HR and Organizational Development to recruit, onboard, and retain high-performing talent, ensuring workforce planning supports department goals.
• Oversee daily operations of the consumer lending department including retail branch employees responsible for loan services.
• Provide timely, constructive, and frequent performance evaluations and feedback; recognize and reward high performance.
• Coach, mentor, and motivate staff to foster a high-performance, member-centric culture.
• Create a positive, productive, and values-aligned work environment focused on continuous development, team engagement, and succession planning.
• Develop leaders to advance into next-level roles, preparing them for inclusion in the credit union’s succession plan.
• Analyze financial and operational performance to ensure transparency, improve outcomes, and drive continuous improvement in lending operations.
• Assess risk and return trade-offs to guide profitable lending decisions and explore innovative solutions to expand loan programs and reach.
• Align lending practices with the Enterprise Risk Management framework, identify operational efficiencies, and implement scalable solutions.
• Maintain and revise consumer loan policies and procedures; ensure policies are clearly communicated and understood throughout the organization.
• Champion the voice of the member and staff in decision-making, leading initiatives that improve the experience across all lending channels and touchpoints.
• Monitor portfolio performance and compliance; ensure adherence to regulatory requirements and Board-approved policies.
• Conduct quality reviews of credit underwriting, ensuring documentation and practices meet all standards.
• Provide portfolio analysis on pipelines, product performance, goals, past due and charge off trends, and delinquency management, pricing, personnel performance, etc.
• Identify and advocate for tools and technologies that enhance lending decision-making, operational efficiency, and member satisfaction.
• Compile, present, and advise on lending data and strategies to executive committees and internal stakeholders.
• Represent the credit union in industry associations and community partnerships to support its mission, visibility and strategic objectives.
• Stay current on legal and regulatory requirements from NCUA and all governing bodies; recommend operational and policy changes as needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees