Director of ESOP Lending

Overview

This role supports employee ownership finance, specializing in ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) lending within a regulated commercial banking environment. The organization is seeking a mission-aligned, senior commercial banking professional to originate and manage ESOP and employee ownership lending relationships.

Responsibilities

• Business Development and Origination
  • Originate ESOP and employee ownership lending and deposit opportunities, including buyouts, refinancings, recapitalizations, and growth financings.
  • Build referral relationships with ESOP advisors, attorneys, trustees, valuation firms, investment bankers, and other industry partners.
  • Develop a national ESOP pipeline through networking, thought leadership, and industry involvement.
  • Represent the bank at ESOP conferences, events, and educational forums.
• Relationship Management
  • Serve as the primary relationship manager for ESOP clients and a trusted advisor to owners and employee-owned companies.
  • Lead discussions on transaction structure, capital needs, timing, and bank requirements.
  • Coordinate onboarding, documentation, and closing with internal partners.
  • Maintain long-term client relationships post-close with high service standards.
• Deal Structuring and Credit Coordination
  • Lead deal structuring with clients, ESOP advisors, and internal credit teams.
  • Act as a liaison between clients and underwriting, credit, legal, and loan operations.
• Portfolio Oversight
  • Maintain accountability for relationship health, satisfaction, and credit compliance.
  • Partner on reviews, amendments, and ongoing monitoring.
  • Identify risks or growth opportunities and escalate as needed.
• Internal Leadership and Program Development
  • Support development of the bank’s ESOP lending strategy and go-to-market approach.
  • Educate internal teams on ESOP structures, market dynamics, and client needs.
  • Contribute to best practices and scalable growth processes.
• Compliance and Mission Alignment
  • Embody commitment to environmental, social, economic, and racial justice.
  • Pursue education related to sustainability practices.
  • Understand and follow bank policies, procedures, and regulations.
  • Identify and escalate suspicious or fraudulent activity in collaboration with appropriate teams.
  • Maintain working knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and bank policies; complete required compliance and IT training.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, accounting, or a related field.
• 8+ years of commercial banking or corporate finance experience.
• Experience with ESOPs or complex middle-market lending structures.
• Proven ability to source, manage, and close complex transactions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior ESOP lending or advisory experience.
• Familiarity with ESOP trustees, valuation firms, and ERISA counsel.
• Experience working remotely or in distributed teams.
• Success building national referral networks.

Key Skills

• Entrepreneurial self-starter mentality: ownership of outcomes, urgency, and comfort in a high-expectation environment.
• Relationship-driven, consultative lending approach with strong cash flow lending expertise and ability to manage complex, multi-party transactions.
• Strong communication skills across channels; ability to actively listen and build trust with stakeholders.
• Banking and fintech acumen: knowledge of financial products, regulations, and business banking; ability to analyze financial statements and legal documentation.
• Tech-forward and analytical thinking: learns new tools quickly and leverages technology to optimize work product.
• Strong team player mindset.

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation: Base salary plus potential eligibility for an annual bonus, incentives, and equity. Actual compensation is based on industry salary ranges, internal salary structures, experience, skills, and other job-related factors.
• Health Coverage
  • 100% employer-paid for employees; employer contribution for dependents by Us
  • Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Free Telemedicine access via Teladoc
• Financial Wellness & Wealth Building
  • 401(k) with 6% Employer Match — No Vesting Period
  • Employee Stock Options
• Employee Banking Perks
  • Exclusive Employee Banking Perks
  • 0% Financing for Employee Solar Loans
  • Employee Only Mortgage Product with exclusive interest rates and terms.
  • 0% Financing for Eligible Electric Vehicles (EVs)
  • Referral Incentives
• Paid Time Off / Sick Time
  • Generous Paid Time Off
  • 2–4 Weeks of Vacation based on officer level plus additional tenure-based time
  • 64 Hours of Paid Sick Time for all full-time employees
• Protection & Peace of Mind
  • Company-Paid Life Insurance
  • Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Voluntary Life, Accident & Critical Illness Coverage
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with free counseling, legal, and financial services

Location

• Remote role within the United States; Eastern Standard Hours.
• Occasional U.S. travel for company events or leadership sessions.
• Physical environment considerations:
  • Sustained standing and sitting
  • Frequent communication (speaking and listening) and use of PC, including typing or sustained attention to monitor
  • Occasional lifting up to 20 lbs
  • Applicants must be comfortable operating independently in a remote role.

Equal Opportunity

The organization is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. Reasonable accommodations are provided for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as mental health or physical disability needs.

E-Verify

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm work authorization, the employer provides written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) to resolve the issue before taking any action. E-Verify can only be used once the applicant has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.