SVP & Chief Lending Officer

The deadline to apply for this opportunity is April 17, 2024.

Job Description: The SVP & Chief Lending Officer is responsible for developing the vision and executing upon ORNL Federal Credit Union’s lending strategy from current state to re-imagined state with inspirational leadership. Responsible for directing and coordinating all lending activities within the Credit Union, the CLO ensures compliance with Credit Union lending policies, state and federal regulations; assists in development of lending policy; and manages lending activities to meet Credit Union goals and objectives while ensuring strong credit quality and maintaining concentration risk metrics and the safety and soundness of the portfolio. With a strong knowledge of collections, consumer, mortgage and commercial lending, as well as servicing, the goal of this position is to deliver the ORNL FCU winning proposition and support the organization's commitments to its members and community alike.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Provides leadership-level direction to the lending Lines of Business: Commercial Lending, Mortgage Lending, Consumer Lending and Collections. Provides leadership to direct reports through goal-setting, delegation, accountability and regular communication. Manages, coaches, develops, and inspires direct reports to meet or exceed performance objectives and team goals. This includes establishing development plans for future growth and succession planning. Ensures the development and maintenance of an effective organization for area(s) of responsibility to include efficient workflow patterns; established performance standards; effective delineation of duties and responsibilities; suitable staffing levels; appropriate supervision; and systems for timely communication of pertinent information. Communicates and works closely with other members of the leadership team and successfully collaborates with departments across the organization to achieve revenue goals and customer experience targets.
• Responsible for loan policy, including periodic revisions and required annual approvals. Assesses and updates lending policy guidelines to meet all safety and soundness requirements along with prudent underwriting criteria. Develops policy compliance reporting to ensure that all relevant policy limits are monitored and any differences are promptly addressed. Ensures the appropriate internal preventive and detective controls are maintained within Mortgage, Consumer and Commercial loans and Card Services to include, but not limited to Military Lending Act (MLA), Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), Fair Lending, NCUA, State and federal regulations. Ensures the Credit Union is in compliance with all lending regulations; develops procedural changes as compliance requires or new programs demand. Frequent interaction with NCUA examiners is required to ensure that all issues are understood, corrective actions are performed and communications are appropriate. Ensures that any other internal or external audit findings are addressed promptly and appropriately. Sets goals, monitors work, and evaluates results to ensure that departmental and organizational objectives and compliance requirements are met and are in line with the needs and mission of the organization.
• Continually assesses and optimizes ORNL FUC’s loan portfolio performance and utilizes data analytics tools and insights to maximize ORNL FCU’s loan-to-deposit ratio. Maintains a high credit quality within the loan portfolio by continually evaluating underwriting standards and overseeing the ongoing monitoring of the loan portfolio, maintaining a robust collections strategy with the collection of delinquent accounts, and assignment of proper risk rating grades and proper reserve levels.
• Develops and directs the administration of a multi-million expense budget which includes staffing, negotiations, managing vendor relationships/expenses, analyzing reports, initiating process improvements, and reducing costs. Holds managers accountable for financial performance and collaborative expectations. Reviews monthly cost center reports, performs ad-hoc analysis and is closely involved in goal-setting through the budget process.
• Serves as chairperson of loan committee meetings. Addresses credit quality, loan approvals, internal reporting and any other matters requiring committee approval across all lines of business. Serves as chairperson of the Allowance for Loan Loss Reviews Committee meetings to ensure that reserves are adequate and in compliance with appropriate accounting guidance, regulatory needs and internal assessments. Serves as a member of the ALCO Committee to ensure that the credit union maintains sufficient levels of capital, liquidity and profitability. Develops strong familiarity with loan production, prepayment speeds, growth and yield goals, Funds Transfer Pricing methods, Profitability reporting, Concentration Risk limits, credit quality metrics (including delinquency ratios) and other internal reporting. Presents loan product and pricing proposals for committee review. Responsible for the management and sales of all credit insurance products.
• Oversees the ORNL FCU lending experience for all members to drive sustained growth of the loan portfolio.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Experience: Minimum of ten years’ experience in a financial institution with direct responsibility for lending functions required. Experience managing Consumer, Collections, Residential and/or Business lending functions required. Demonstrated knowledge of underwriting practices, loan and deposit products, loan promotions and pipeline management required.

Education: A bachelor’s degree in a Business Administration or related field required. Advanced degree or advanced coursework preferred. Lending School certifications strongly preferred.

Other SkillsRequired:

• Must maintain the ability to stay current on all changes affecting the Credit Union and communicate these changes to the department to ensure compliance.
• Must have in depth understanding of and ability to interpret regulations affecting lending programs.
• Must possess extensive knowledge of consumer, commercial and real estate lending practices and procedures.
• Ability to read and interpret complex documents and to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints.
• Must have high proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required with the ability to effectively interact with all levels of the organization.
• Must possess good data analysis skills.
• Must have the ability to prioritize demands from multiple projects.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)