VP, Loan Officer

Golden State Farm Credit•Kingsburg, CA

About The Position

We are seeking a VP, Loan Officer to support our mission of serving the agricultural community through sound credit administration, exceptional customer service, and strong portfolio management. This senior‑level role combines business development, complex credit analysis, leadership support, and team mentorship. As a VP, Loan Officer, you will manage and grow a diverse loan portfolio, develop deep customer relationships, and serve as a key resource for newer loan officers and credit support staff. Our team at Golden State Farm Credit is united in our efforts to support rural communities and the agricultural industry. We offer a distinct work environment that fosters collaboration amongst teams, promotes a customer-centric approach to service, rewards those who take initiative, and provides a variety of projects to create an engaging work culture. We value teamwork, continuous learning, and the positive impact that our dedicated employees make. The Association reserves the right to hire a qualified candidate from the VP, Loan Officer classification instead of the Loan Officer or Senior Loan Officer classification, depending on applicant experience and organizational needs. The VP, Loan Officer position manages, maintains, and grows an assigned portfolio through building relationships, managing credit, servicing loans, and ensuring proper loan documentation to be consistent with Association policies. VP, Loan Officers provide backup to the VP, Relationship Manager Team Lead and training to newer loan officers or credit support staff. Loan Officer levels are differentiated by difference in education, experience, loan portfolio size, number of loans, delegated lending authority, experience, credit ability and additional responsibilities.

Requirements

Knowledge of the agriculture, financial, and real estate industry, and applied business mathematics and principles.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, computers, current software, and other office tools.
Ability to effectively read, write, and communicate in the English language.
Skill in serving and working effectively with both external and internal customers in a professional, respectful manner.
Skill in analyzing information and problem solving to formulate logical and objective conclusions.
Advanced knowledge of accounting principles, practices, and methods.
Advanced knowledge of credit analysis and regulatory requirements with respect to borrower’s rights.
Advanced knowledge of financial statements and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
Advanced knowledge of title issues, easements, tax law, title and escrow, state and federal ag regulations, appraisal concepts, processes and procedures, lending practices, farm business management, and other industry terminology.
Skill in establishing and maintaining relationships with a variety of internal and external organizations and the community to advance the organization's interests and grow/maintain business.
Skill in educating, promoting, and selling credit products to customers.
Expert skill in communicating complicated information, delivering bad news, and negotiating complex agreements effectively to achieve the best outcome for the Association.
Knowledge of distressed loan analysis/issues, resource for handling distressed or delinquent loans, processes and procedures, and regulatory compliance.
Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Business, Finance, or a related field
5 or more years of experience in a lending role
Or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential functions of the job

Responsibilities

Maintains a professional presence and develops a network to the constituency the Association serves, Farm Credit system, financial institutions, and regulators
Represents and promotes the Association at outside meetings and events
Generating sales leads to develop sound business relationships and produce new business
Educates customers on services and products offered by the Association
Represents the Association at industry meeting and community functions to stay current on market conditions and regulations
Meets with, collects, and enters data from customers and potential customers into internal software
Analyzes financial data and makes recommendations for loan structure, terms, and conditions
Negotiates loan structure and pricing for recommendation to customers and/or Loan Committee
Responds and provides direction to internal Team questions
Recommends approvals, modifications, or denials of credit requests
Has authority to sign documents for loan officers within the branch in the absence of the Team Lead
Collaborates with Team Lead and CLO to discuss options available for customers
Orders and reviews appraisals
Opening and ordering preliminary reports from a Title Company, along with the ability to analyze title searches
Monitor past dues
Verifies proper documentation are filed
Verifies financial documentation and closing conditions
Recommends product pricing
Communicates credit decision and completes required steps for closing
Contacts external parties to finalize details for loan closing
Identifies at-risk loans and determines a plan of action to resolve deficiencies
Provides credit expertise on Association committees and special projects
Participates in the ongoing design of processes to provide exceptional service, achieve satisfactory credit administration goals, and result in achievement of targeted credit quality with adequate compensation for risk
Services loans, including interest rate conversions, MERLOC extensions, re-amortizations, partial releases, fixed rate pricing assumptions, and collateral analysis
Works with staff to identify and develop plans to reduce risk for at-risk credit
Ensures regulatory compliance on loans by following Association policies and procedures
May report market and commodity updates to management
Analyzes and services non typical and complex loan application documents
Reviews and ensures compliance of borrower’s reporting and restrictive covenants
Recommends appropriate course of action (Distressed Loan Notice, advanced delinquent taxes, initiate foreclosure)
Attends loan committee meetings and provides information regarding loans
Enters additional credit information into software
Verifies documentation is accurate with title companies, legal department, and internal loan software
Provides overview of Association policies and procedures to credit staff as needed for a loan processing
Appropriately protects the confidentiality, security, and integrity of the Association’s systems, data, and clients’ data
Understands, applies, and supports the Association mission and vision statement in a positive, professional manner at work and with customers in all settings