Chief Lending Officer Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; preferably in finance, business administration, or a related field.
• At least ten years of experience in lending, mortgage banking, and/or secondary marketing.
• Management experience, including responsibility for staff performance and operational results.
• Valid New Mexico driver’s license.
• Ability to lead, coach, supervise, and evaluate staff and department leaders.
• Ability to translate organizational strategy into clear priorities, decisions, and measurable results.
• Ability to develop and manage budgets and allocate staff and financial resources effectively.
• Ability to manage complex projects, competing priorities, and organizational change.
• Critical thinking, financial analysis, and sound judgment in complex lending and operational matters.
• Ability to use business and lending systems and oversee technology priorities, data quality, and operational controls.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment within delegated authority and recognize when escalation is required.
• Ability to interpret data, identify emerging risks, and use findings to improve decisions and performance.
• Ability to interpret and apply lending standards, policies, procedures, and regulatory and investor requirements.
• Ability to prepare clear reports, policies, procedures, correspondence, and presentations, and explain complex financial and policy matters to stakeholders.
• Ability to build constructive working relationships, negotiate effectively, and resolve competing interests.
• Knowledge of federal housing programs, affordable housing financing structures, and credit enhancements.
• Knowledge of applicable program requirements of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae, FHA, HUD, USDA Rural Housing Service, and VA.
• Knowledge of mortgage markets and the loan lifecycle, including origination, underwriting, processing, closing, securitization, and funding.
• Ability to evaluate creditworthiness, financial projections, underwriting assumptions, and development feasibility for single-family and multifamily housing.
• Ability to assess how lending practices, pricing, and market changes affect program access, risk, and financial sustainability.
• Ability to balance housing outcomes, customer service, prudent risk management, and agency resources.

Nice To Haves

• Affordable housing and multifamily finance experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop department leaders and staff, set priorities and performance expectations, allocate resources, evaluate results, support training and succession planning, and make personnel recommendations.
• Set and execute the Lending Division’s contribution to the organization’s strategic plan; recommend budgets, policies, and program priorities.
• Oversee affordable housing lending programs from design through implementation and evaluation, assessing housing needs, market conditions, and barriers to participation.
• Oversee financing for preservation, rehabilitation, and new construction of affordable housing developments; establish underwriting and feasibility practices and evaluate financial and credit risks.
• Represent Housing New Mexico with the Board of Directors and external stakeholders, maintain partnerships, and present information about the organization’s programs and mission.
• Oversee departments and daily operations, including pipeline management, loan acquisition, closing and settlement, documentation, quality control, and system integrity.
• Oversee Information Technology systems, data protection, cybersecurity risk management, organization-wide technological support, and business continuity.
• Coordinate with the Chief Financial Officer on funding strategies, secondary market activity, settlement, and the financial impacts of single-family and multifamily production.
• Oversee federal and state funding awarded to the Lending Division, including administration, contract performance, reporting, and compliance.
• Lead business development and outreach for Housing Development and Homeownership in coordination with marketing staff and community partners.
• Establish and report strategic performance measures, review trends against targets and benchmarks, implement corrective actions, and communicate results through management to the Board.
• Serve on the Policy Committee and participate in internal and external committees and strategic initiatives; coordinate on policy development, audit findings, risk mitigation, and operational improvements.
• Maintain a safe, respectful work environment and ensure employees comply with applicable safety regulations, procedures, and protocols.
• Perform other related duties of a similar nature and level as assigned.