VP of Lending & Member Solutions

Education First Credit Union•Columbus, OH

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Education First Credit Union (EFCU) is a full-service not-for-profit financial institution dedicated to enhancing members' financial positions through education, quality service, and value-minded products. Founded in 1936, EFCU primarily serves school employees and students in Ohio, with a recent expansion to Franklin and surrounding Counties. The credit union is based in Columbus with a branch in Reynoldsburg. This role, the VP of Lending & Member Solutions (Collections), provides executive leadership and oversight for the credit union’s lending and collections operations. The goal is to ensure efficiency, profitability, and regulatory compliance. The position involves developing and executing strategies to grow the loan portfolio, optimize credit quality, and enhance member satisfaction while managing risk. The VP partners with the executive leadership team to align initiatives with strategic goals, financial targets, and risk appetite, overseeing loan origination, underwriting, portfolio management, collections, and loss mitigation. A key aspect is fostering a member-centric culture that balances financial objectives with compassionate and effective member solutions. The role also involves monitoring trends, analyzing portfolio performance, implementing improvements, and serving as a key resource to the board and senior management regarding credit risk, portfolio health, and collections strategy. This is primarily an in-office position requiring residency in the Columbus area and reliable transportation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, or related field
Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in lending, collections, or credit union operations
Minimum of 5 years in a leadership role
Strong knowledge of credit union lending regulations, risk management principles, and collections best practices
Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams
Demonstrated strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels
Deep understanding of credit union lending products, including consumer, mortgage, home equity, and indirect auto loans
Comprehensive knowledge of collections processes, loss mitigation strategies, and member solution programs
Strong familiarity with federal and state regulations, including NCUA guidance, Reg Z, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and other lending compliance requirements
Strategic leadership and decision-making skills with the ability to set priorities and align team efforts with organizational goals
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with staff, executives, board members, and external partners
Analytical and problem-solving skills to assess portfolio performance, identify risks, and implement effective solutions
Ability to manage complex projects, drive operational efficiency, and oversee cross-functional initiatives
Understanding of financial statements, credit analysis, and portfolio performance indicators
Inspires, motivates, and develops high-performing teams while fostering a culture of accountability and excellence
Candidates must live in the Columbus area and have reliable transportation to the office.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or relevant certifications preferred
Occasional travel to branch locations, dealer partners, or industry conferences may be required.
Role requires direct oversight of staff, including in-person meetings, coaching sessions, and team management activities.

Responsibilities

Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for all lending activities, including consumer, mortgage, home equity, and indirect lending, ensuring alignment with the credit union’s mission, financial objectives, and risk appetite.
Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive lending policies, procedures, and internal controls that comply with federal and state regulations, including NCUA guidance, and ensure consistent adherence by all lending staff.
Manage credit risk by overseeing underwriting standards, loan structuring, portfolio diversification, and periodic loan reviews. Continuously monitor loan performance, delinquency trends, and early warning indicators to proactively mitigate potential losses.
Oversee Indirect Auto Lending, including dealer relationship management, compliance with credit union policies, portfolio risk analysis, and performance monitoring. Implement strategies to maximize growth while protecting portfolio quality and ensuring member value.
Lead the development and enhancement of lending products, including evaluating interest rates, terms, and credit criteria to meet member needs while maintaining credit union profitability and safety.
Drive innovation in lending operations, including adoption of digital lending solutions, online applications, automated underwriting tools, and streamlined loan processing to improve member experience and operational efficiency.
Partner with marketing and member engagement teams to promote lending products effectively, identify growth opportunities, and enhance member satisfaction through targeted campaigns and personalized financial solutions.
Oversee lending staff recruitment, training, mentoring, and performance management, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional development.
Collaborate with senior leadership to develop strategic growth initiatives, analyze portfolio performance, forecast loan demand, and ensure alignment with the credit union’s overall business plan.
Monitor and report on key lending metrics, including loan volume, portfolio quality, delinquency trends, and loan loss reserves, providing timely updates to the executive team and board of directors.
Ensure that all lending operations maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct, member service, and regulatory compliance, mitigating risk while promoting long-term portfolio growth.
Lead the Member Solutions (Collections) team to achieve effective account recovery while maintaining positive member relationships.
Develop and implement strategies for delinquency management, including proactive member outreach and loss mitigation programs.
Monitor portfolio delinquency trends, charge-offs, and recovery performance, providing regular reports to senior leadership and the board.
Ensure compliance with credit union policies, federal regulations (including Reg Z and Fair Debt Collection Practices), and internal controls.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate collections strategies into overall member engagement initiatives.
Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, providing insight on credit risk, operational efficiency, and strategic planning.
Develop and maintain reporting and analytics to monitor lending and collections performance, recommending adjustments as necessary.
Drive initiatives that balance growth, profitability, and risk mitigation in lending and collections operations.
Foster a culture of compliance, accountability, and high-performance within the lending and collections teams.
Adhere to Credit Union policies, procedures, code of conduct, and internal control standards.
Maintain required training, licensing, and continuing education.
Protect member information and ensure compliance with information security and privacy requirements.
Support a culture of member-focused service, compliance, and accountability.