VP Credit Risk Management

Saige Partners•Des Moines, IA

About The Position

Our client is seeking a strategic and experienced Vice President of Credit Risk Management to lead the organization's credit underwriting function across Consumer, Mortgage, and Commercial lending portfolios. This executive leadership role is responsible for developing and executing underwriting strategies that optimize portfolio performance while effectively managing credit risk. The VP of Credit Risk Management will oversee underwriting operations, establish and maintain credit policies, guide complex credit decisions, ensure regulatory compliance, and partner with executive leadership to support sustainable growth and profitability. This is a Direct Hire role.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field.
10+ years of progressive credit underwriting leadership experience within a bank or credit union.
5+ years of leadership experience at the Director level or above.
Extensive experience underwriting Commercial (C&I and CRE), Mortgage, and Consumer lending products.
Comprehensive knowledge of federal lending regulations, including ATR/QM, Regulation B, Regulation 723, and FCRA.
Strong understanding of commercial and residential valuation methodologies and appraisal standards.
Experience with Loan Origination Systems (LOS), credit analytics tools, and Microsoft Office.

Nice To Haves

Proven ability to develop enterprise-wide credit strategies that balance growth with prudent risk management.
Strong financial analysis and credit modeling expertise.
Exceptional executive communication and presentation skills, including experience presenting to executive leadership and Boards.
Ability to anticipate emerging market trends and evolving credit risks.
Sound judgment and decision-making in a fast-paced, highly regulated financial environment.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement enterprise-wide credit underwriting strategies aligned with organizational risk appetite and growth objectives.
Serve as a voting member of the Loan Committee, providing expertise on complex credit decisions.
Establish, maintain, and enhance underwriting policies, procedures, and credit standards.
Present portfolio performance, concentration risk, and emerging credit trends to executive leadership.
Collaborate with Lending, Operations, Risk Analytics, Collections, Special Assets, and Legal to strengthen portfolio quality and maximize recoveries.
Lead underwriting teams responsible for Consumer, Mortgage, and Commercial lending.
Ensure consistent, high-quality credit decisions while maintaining regulatory compliance.
Review and approve complex commercial real estate (CRE) and commercial & industrial (C&I) credit requests.
Identify and mitigate risks related to fraud, collateral, portfolio concentrations, and underwriting practices.
Maintain expertise in lending regulations including ATR/QM, Fair Lending (Reg B), Regulation 723, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Monitor portfolio performance through key credit metrics, including approval rates, booking trends, and automated decisioning performance.
Partner with cross-functional teams to improve underwriting efficiency, streamline workflows, and enhance the borrower experience.
Recommend policy and process improvements based on portfolio trends and market conditions.
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of managers, senior underwriters, credit officers, and analysts.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, sound risk management, and continuous improvement.
Build organizational capability through coaching and succession planning.
Serve as the primary contact for regulatory examinations related to credit underwriting.
Ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state lending regulations.
Lead corrective action plans and remediation efforts when necessary.