VP of Commercial Lending

Gulf Winds Credit Union•Pensacola, FL

2d•$120,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Vice President of Commercial Lending provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all commercial lending processes, from origination through portfolio management. This employee is responsible for ensuring operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and the delivery of high-quality service to commercial banking clients and internal stakeholders. The VP partners closely with the Chief Lending Officer, relationship managers, and risk management to drive efficiency, scalability, and profitability within the commercial lending function.

Requirements

Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in commercial lending, credit administration, or loan operations within a bank, credit union, or financial institution.
Minimum of 5 years in a management role overseeing operational teams.
Demonstrated experience managing a commercial loan portfolio of $100M or greater.
Deep knowledge of commercial credit underwriting, loan documentation, and portfolio management principles.
Thorough understanding of regulatory guidelines, NCUA requirements, and state banking laws.
Proficiency with loan origination systems (e.g., nCino, Sageworks, Baker Hill) and core banking platforms (e.g., Jack Henry, FiServ, Temenos).
Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence across organizational levels.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to executive teams and boards.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with construction, C&I, CRE, and SBA lending preferred.
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field preferred.
MBA or advanced degree preferred.
Completion of a formal bank credit training program is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

Directs Operational Leadership: Oversees end-to-end commercial loan operations (processing through servicing); develops operational strategies aligned with growth objectives; establishes and monitors service level agreements (SLAs).
Manages Credit Administration: Supervises loan documentation review, covenant monitoring, and collateral management; ensures sound underwriting and timely credit decisions.
Leads Team Development: Mentors and develops operations professionals; fosters a high-performance culture; coordinates with Human Resources on talent acquisition and succession planning.
Implements Process Improvements: Drives continuous improvement initiatives using technology and automation; reduces cycle times and operational costs through best practices.
Ensures Regulatory Compliance: Maintains full compliance with federal and state regulations (BSA/AML, CRA, HMDA); serves as primary contact for regulatory examiners and internal/external auditors.
Optimizes Technology Systems: Champions the adoption of loan origination systems (LOS) and core banking platforms; identifies fintech partnerships and leads system implementations or upgrades.
Controls Operational Risk: Identifies trends in credit quality and delinquency; manages exception processes to resolve documentation deficiencies; coordinates risk assessments with Enterprise Risk Management.
Facilitates Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partners with Relationship Managers, Treasury, Finance, and Legal on complex deal structures and specific client requirements.
Provides Strategic Reporting: Leverages data analytics to provide actionable KPIs to management; represents department in senior leadership and board meetings.
Performs Other Related Duties: Completes additional tasks as assigned by management to support organizational goals.