This individual will oversee credit underwriting, portfolio risk management, policy compliance, and regulatory readiness while managing a team of underwriters and credit analysts. The ideal candidate has extensive commercial credit experience, formal credit training, strong leadership skills, and the ability to evaluate complex lending relationships across multiple business lines within a community banking environment.Essential ResponsibilitiesLead and manage the Credit Underwriting team, including Senior Credit Underwriters and Credit Analysts.Oversee underwriting for commercial lending products including CRE, C&I, asset-based lending, SBA, construction, HOA, HELOC, correspondent banking, and specialty lending.Review, structure, and approve commercial loan requests within delegated lending authority.Present complex credit relationships and recommendations to the Directors' Loan Committee.Ensure compliance with the Bank's Credit Policy, underwriting standards, and regulatory requirements.Assist the Chief Credit Officer with the development, implementation, and maintenance of the Bank's Credit Policy.Monitor changes in banking regulations and ensure credit administration practices remain compliant.Review annual commercial loan portfolio reviews, risk ratings, and credit quality assessments.Identify deteriorating credits and recommend appropriate risk ratings and corrective action.Monitor portfolio concentrations, policy exceptions, and overall credit risk exposure.Supervise the preparation of commitment letters and complex loan approval packages.Oversee construction loan administration, including draw reviews, budget monitoring, lien management, and collateral controls.Approve collateral releases and ensure proper documentation.Mentor, coach, and develop credit staff while fostering a consistent credit culture.Provide guidance to Relationship Managers on credit structure, risk analysis, and underwriting standards.Participate in hiring, performance management, and professional development of Credit Administration staff.Serve as a key liaison during regulatory examinations, internal loan reviews, and external audits.Attend Loan Committee, Audit Committee, and Board meetings as required.Prepare executive and Board-level credit reports and portfolio analysis.Job QualificationsBachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.Minimum 10+ years of commercial banking credit experience, including commercial underwriting and credit administration.Prior leadership experience managing commercial underwriters and credit analysts.Formal commercial credit training required.Strong knowledge of commercial credit analysis, financial statement analysis, cash flow analysis, collateral evaluation, and loan structuring.Experience underwriting multiple lending products including CRE, C&I, construction, SBA, asset-based lending, and specialty lending.Experience with commercial loan approvals, portfolio management, annual reviews, and criticized/classified assets.Thorough understanding of banking regulations, credit policy, regulatory examinations, and loan review processes.Experience presenting complex credit relationships to executive leadership or Loan Committees.Strong leadership, mentoring, communication, and decision-making skills.Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced commercial banking environment.