Chief Lending Officer

Recognized by the city of Alexandria as a Gold Employer, State Department Federal Credit Union is committed to providing the very best in opportunity and professional development. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia with assets exceeding $2.8 billion dollars, we recognize that our people make it happen.

We are dedicated to attracting and retaining top talent to ensure our continued success. Our legacy of exceptional service not only reaches the members we serve, but SDFCU employees. Through internal training and workshops, professional strengths are cultivated, and employees are given opportunities for advancement. Do you have what it takes to join our dynamic team? Enjoy competitive salaries, outstanding Health, Dental and Vision insurance within the first 30 days of service, matched 401(k) plan with up to 4% SDFCU contribution, tuition reimbursement, and monetary travel compensation.

The State Department Federal Credit Union is currently seeking a Chief Lending Officer (CLO) who serves as the strategic leader for all aspects of the lending function. This individual is entrusted with ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and maintaining a robust risk management framework. In this key leadership role, the Chief Lending Officer spearheads innovation and oversees the real estate portfolio, including secondary marketing, commercial, and consumer loan portfolios at SDFCU. The position also involves directing and coordinating the activities of employees engaged in processing and servicing consumer and real estate loans.

The Chief Lending Officer is instrumental in charting the course for SDFCU’s lending strategy, emphasizing both growth and adherence to industry regulations. This role combines a focus on innovation with a commitment to maintaining a high standard of risk management.

Required Skills and Competencies:

•    Minimum of 10 years lending and management experience.

•    Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field or equivalent work experience. 

•    In-depth knowledge of lending products, credit risk management, underwriting principles, and regulatory compliance requirements.

•    Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial data, assess creditworthiness, and make informed lending decisions. 

•    Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build consensus across diverse audiences and stakeholders. 

•    Strategic thinking and decision-making skills, analytical and problem-solving skills, with an employee and member focused mind-set.

•    Trusted advisor with a successful track record of building and maintaining professional relationships at all levels of the organization. 

•    Ability to work independently and with a team, and to delegate and manage resources effectively. 

•    Organizational and time-management skills in order to prioritize competing, multiple tasks simultaneously. 

•    Manages ambiguity well and leads change from the front.

•    Proficient in Credit Union systems such as Consumer, Core, and Credit Card operating systems including mortgage and loan pricing systems.