Credit Risk Review Director

Overview

This role provides an independent mechanism to support early detection of loan problems, help ensure accurate loan ratings, perform an independent assessment of CECL data, monitor compliance with policies, procedures, and regulations, and assure proper portfolio administration.

The position is responsible for planning, execution, and reporting of credit risk across commercial loan portfolios, independently monitoring and assessing credit risk to ensure adherence to policies, procedures, regulations, and best practices, and advising on risk mitigation.

Responsibilities

Risk Plan

• Plan, execute, and report on the Risk Plan for credit risk across commercial loan portfolios.
• Independently monitor and assess credit risk to ensure compliance with policies, procedures, regulations, and best practices.
• Oversee execution of the Risk Plan, including Continuous, Targeted, and Horizontal reviews of commercial loan types and commitments, including:
  • Syndications and Participations
  • Commercial & Industrial
  • Commercial Real Estate Entity Level Finance
  • Franchise Lending
  • Renewable Energy
  • Security Alarm
  • Low Income Housing Tax Credit Investor Financing
  • New Market Tax Credit deals
• Classify loans, identify potential credit problems, and monitor adherence to Bank policies, regulations, processes, and procedures within commercial lending functions.
• Ensure Risk Plan execution is efficient and effective within budget and timelines.
• Engage in strategic planning.
• Monitor remediation and participate in risk oversight activities, including Risk Management Committee meetings.
• Recommend policy and procedural changes to executive management and business lines to address deficiencies identified during credit reviews and strengthen the credit process.
• Identify emerging issues and trends to inform decision-makers.
• Participate in exit meetings and interact with multiple lines of business and other colleagues when reviewing portfolios.
• Maintain expert knowledge of credit policies and procedures to assess proper adherence during loan reviews.

Credit Risk Reporting

• Oversee delivery of high-quality reviews with minimal disruption to the business.
• Identify where corrective actions are required and ensure corrective actions are taken as necessary.
• Ensure ongoing reporting is thorough and correctly completed for:
  • Commercial Management Reports
  • Resolutions Reports
  • Findings Reports
  • Exceptions Reports
  • Scopes
  • Mortgage Quality Assurance Reports
  • Consumer Credit Risk Review Reports
• Complete reporting in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures and policy.
• Complete annual reporting, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac annual certification.

Talent Development

• Initiate professional development to stay current on credit products and structures, industry trends, and regulatory changes.
• Provide guidance and oversight and fulfill supervisory responsibilities in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, and applicable laws.
• Responsibilities include writing performance evaluations, interviewing, hiring, coaching, training team members, planning, addressing concerns, and resolving problems.
• Coach to sustain and elevate organizational performance.
• Support development of credit risk review staff to ensure skill sets match the size and complexity of the loan portfolio.

Governance

• Maintain the Credit Risk Review Commercial Policy, Mortgage Quality Assurance Policy, and Consumer Credit Risk Review Policy to ensure policies address regulatory requirements and best practices commensurate with portfolio size and complexity.
• Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge of business and related risk management requirements, and legislative/regulatory directives and guidance.
• Identify, develop, and administer credit risk control framework activities to ensure adherence to policies, procedures, and established processes.
• Research existing or emerging requirements and related best practices to support recommendations for changes and enhancements.
• Assist with interpretations of new or changing regulations and assess impacts to governance frameworks.

Special Projects and Other

• Conduct confidential due diligence reviews of potential acquisition or merger institutions.
• Support resource planning, budget oversight, and monthly ACD reporting.
• Participate in special projects.
• Monitor the Control Design Process for SOX controls.

Process Improvements

• Identify process workflows and constraints.
• Recommend solutions to improve productivity.

Problem Solving & Decision Making

• Engage in difficult conversations primarily with SVP Group Heads, Team Leaders, and Relationship Managers.
• Regularly interact with Executive Management and members of the Risk Management Committee of the Board of Directors.
• Manage multiple engagements and projects simultaneously while evaluating current and emerging credit risk in the commercial loan portfolio and ACH products.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and formal credit training required.
• Strong working knowledge of risk and/or credit risk management and control frameworks.
• Proven credit risk review or commercial underwriting abilities, including 15+ years’ experience as a safety and soundness regulator, credit risk review officer, commercial loan relationship manager, or commercial loan underwriter.
• Strong knowledge of applicable laws, regulatory requirements, and compliance rules.
• Ability to present well-formed and supported opinions of process, procedure, and credit risk condition to senior business management.
• Ability to prioritize and organize assignments and meet strict deadlines.
• Expert knowledge of commercial lending and credit analysis with extensive experience in corporate, syndicated, and leveraged loans.
• Technical financial statement analysis knowledge demonstrating sound credit judgment, including understanding of complex commercial legal documentation.
• Proven credit risk manager with an excellent delivery track record in a demanding, team-oriented environment.
• Project management skills, including delivering high-quality results while meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to manage risk management projects, including developing project plans, budgets, and deliverable schedules.
• Demonstrated ability as a team leader, including:
  • Creating a positive environment
  • Monitoring team workloads
  • Respecting work-life quality of team members
  • Providing candid, meaningful feedback in a timely manner
  • Keeping leadership informed of progress
• Proficient/computer literate in Microsoft Word and Excel, with willingness/ability to learn new software as necessary.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Not specified.

Compensation & Benefits

• Hiring range: $166,341–$255,043
• Additional compensation may apply based on experience, skills, and market factors.
• Benefits and retirement package (see job posting benefits description for additional information).

Location & Working Conditions

• Assigned to the Lynn office, moving to Wakefield, MA later in 2025.
• Can work in a remote environment.
• Travel is limited.
• Credit Risk Review conducts examinations of all commercial lending groups.

Equal Opportunity

• Equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, age, ancestry, or disability.
• Individuals are encouraged to apply even if experience does not fully align with every qualification.