Senior Vice President, Business Services & Lending

Description

Summary

The Senior Vice President (SVP), Business Services & Lending serves as the strategic executive leader responsible for the overall vision, performance, and growth of Sunward Federal Credit Union’s commercial lending, business services, treasury management, and commercial deposit portfolios. This role oversees enterprise-wide commercial credit strategy, risk governance, product development, and portfolio management. The SVP ensures strong financial performance, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and a member-centric culture across all business lending functions.

The SVP is a key contributor to organizational strategy, partnering closely with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to drive the Credit Union’s long-term growth objectives and competitive positioning.

Key Responsibilities/Essential Functions

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Develop and execute the enterprise strategy for commercial lending, business services, and treasury management in alignment with Sunward Federal Credit Union’s long-term goals.
• Lead the development of commercial credit frameworks, including policies, underwriting standards, risk measurement methodologies, and stress-testing approaches.
• Drive business loan and deposit growth strategies and ensure alignment with organizational budgets and the strategic plan.
• Assess market trends and competitive dynamics to ensure the Credit Union remains innovative, compliant, and member-focused.

Credit Risk Governance

• Provide executive oversight of commercial credit risk, including portfolio performance, risk rating systems, credit quality, and loss mitigation.
• Approve (within delegated authority) large or complex credit requests and ensure adherence to sound credit practices, regulatory expectations, and internal policy.
• Oversee credit policy refinement, recommending strategic and operational changes to maintain portfolio integrity.

Operational Excellence & Product Development

• Oversee all commercial lending operations, including underwriting, loan processing, documentation, servicing, deposit-related business products, and treasury management services.
• Lead development, enhancement, and feasibility analysis of new commercial lending and deposit products.
• Partner with Information Technology to identify and implement technology solutions that improve member experience, efficiency, and scalability.
• Direct continuous improvement initiatives to increase operational efficiency, streamline processes, and strengthen risk management.

Business Development & Relationship Management

• Guide strategy for member business acquisition, retention, and relationship expansion, including key select employer groups (SEGs).
• Support the development of referral networks, community partnerships, and market visibility to expand the commercial portfolio.
• Champion a service-driven culture that prioritizes strong member relationships, responsiveness, and customized solutions.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop commercial lending and business services leadership teams.
• Foster an environment of accountability, empowerment, and high performance.
• Recruit, retain, and develop top talent to support organizational growth and operational excellence.

Financial & Portfolio Management

• Oversee profitability, growth, and quality of the commercial loan and deposit portfolio.
• Analyze portfolio trends, pipeline performance, and economic factors to drive data-informed decisions.
• Manage department budgets, ensuring alignment with financial goals.

Regulatory Compliance, Audit & Governance

• Ensure full adherence to all commercial lending and deposit regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Partner with internal audit, external examiners, NCUA, and legal counsel to demonstrate strong governance and remediate issues promptly.
• Maintain robust documentation, reporting, and audit-ready processes.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Represent commercial lending perspectives in enterprise initiatives, product launches, and cross-functional strategic projects.
• Collaborate with Marketing to shape business services growth strategies and external-facing communications.

Requirements

Experience

• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible commercial lending, credit, financial services, or business banking leadership experience.
• Extensive experience leading large, complex commercial lending organizations or business services functions.
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning, credit risk governance, product development, and portfolio management.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or related field; equivalent experience considered.

Leadership Competencies

Outcome & Results

Own your deliverables and KPIs-meet or exceed them by giving outcomes and overcoming obstacles.

Commitments

Treat W3s as promises – execute early, follow through consistently and renegotiate transparently when priorities shift. Reliability builds trust.

Business Maturity

Know your business – manage financials, operations and experiences with discipline and in full alignment with Sunward’s key results.

Growth Mindset

Be a learner now a knower – stay curious, ask questions, adapt quickly and embrace daily learning.

Preparation and Presence

Respect others by being early prepared snd fully tuned in – never distracted or multitasking.

Feedback

Fuel growth by inviting, giving and acting on feedback – always candid, respectful and forward-focused.

Talent & Culture

Build culture through people – hire top talent, coach relentlessly, celebrate wins and manage performance though our Culture of Accountability. Model the culture and values of Sunward.

Experience and Craftsmanship

Set the bar at “the best” – deliver experiences that stand apart and never compromise on quality.

Knowledge

• Expert understanding of commercial lending, business deposits, treasury management, loan documentation, and regulatory requirements.
• Advanced financial analysis skills, including credit underwriting, trend analysis, projections, and portfolio risk modeling.
• Exceptional business acumen with proven ability to develop and execute growth strategies.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and decision-making capabilities.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office and lending/credit technology platforms.

Skills/Abilities

• Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to deliver clear, persuasive executive-level presentations.
• Strong relationship-building skills with members, internal teams, partners, and industry stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to service excellence and a member-first culture.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Travel as needed; ability to sit for prolonged periods and lift up to 20 pounds.