Vice President of Risk Management

Approaching $2 Billion in assets, 7 17 Credit Union is a progressive and community-minded financial institution in Ohio offering credit union membership to those who live or work in Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Portage, Summit and central Stark counties. With 13 branches, state of the art technology and a solid team, 7 17 Credit Union is able to provide banking services to more than 100,000 members in the greater Youngstown, Warren, Howland, Cortland, Vienna, Kent, Ravenna, Canfield and Canton areas. The credit union has become one of the most respected and financially sound institutions in the industry and has been awarded the NorthCoast 99 which recognizes the credit union as one of the top workplaces in Northeast Ohio for top talent. The Credit Union is in search of an analytical and collaborative risk professional to join their team as the Vice President of Risk Management.

The VP of Risk Management is a leadership position responsible for protecting the credit union's assets and reputation by providing strategic direction and oversight for all commercial credit risk, information security, vendor management and enterprise risk management (ERM) functions. This role is critical to the credit union's long-term strategic vision, including the launch of a new business banking division and future merger and acquisition activities.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned professional with deep expertise in commercial lending, credit policy, and risk management across all areas of a financial institution. This individual must be a collaborative and strategic leader who can effectively partner with internal teams and external providers, communicate complex risk issues to executive management and the Board of Directors, and champion a strong, proactive risk culture.

Primary Duties:

1. Commercial Credit Administration & Risk Management

• Provide strategic oversight and leadership for all commercial credit administration functions, including commercial underwriting, account reviews, portfolio management, commercial collections, and loan servicing.
• Serve as a voting member of the Executive Loan Committee, providing expert analysis and recommendations on commercial loan approvals.
• Have primary responsibility for the development, implementation, and maintenance of the credit union's commercial lending credit policy, ensuring it aligns with the credit union's risk appetite and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor commercial loan portfolio performance, identify emerging risks, and develop effective mitigation strategies, including conducting stress testing and portfolio-level analysis.
• Lead and mentor the commercial credit administration team, fostering a culture of risk awareness, credit discipline, and continuous improvement.

2. Business Banking & Treasury Services Development

• Lead the "ground up" establishment of a new business banking and treasury services division, defining the operational framework, products, and services.
• Partner with third-party providers to evaluate, select, and implement the necessary technology, platforms, and processes to ensure a seamless and scalable operation.
• Act as the primary liaison between the commercial lending and business banking teams to drive business deposit growth and cross-sell opportunities.
• Coordinate with branch operations and other internal stakeholders to ensure a seamless delivery of business banking services across the credit union's branch network.
• Develop a strategic plan for the growth and expansion of business banking and treasury services, including market penetration strategies and performance metrics.

3. Information Security & Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)

• Provide oversight and strategic direction for the credit union's information security program, ensuring alignment with industry best practices and regulatory requirements and ensuring the credit union's data, systems, and digital assets are protected from evolving cyber threats.
• Oversee the Vendor Management program, ensuring all third-party relationships are thoroughly vetted, monitored, and managed for both operational and security risks.
• Oversee the Enterprise Risk Management program. Aggregate, monitor, and mitigate enterprise-wide risk items and present findings to the ERM Committee and Board of Directors.
• Develop policies, procedures and overall programs which include the quantification of the risk appetite of the Board of Directors through specific risk limits within the organization.

4. Regulatory & Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)

• In collaboration with the VP of Compliance, take a significant role in preparing for and responding to all annual regulatory examinations, including those from the NCUA and ODFI.
• Assist in managing due diligence teams for mergers and acquisitions, performing comprehensive risk reviews across all business lines.
• Lead cross-organizational due diligence teams to review asset quality, loan documentation, collateral, underwriting standards, collection practices, and overall program quality and compliance for commercial, mortgage, and consumer lending portfolios.
• Provide comprehensive, data-driven recommendations to the CEO regarding the viability and risks associated with potential mergers or acquisitions.

This position manages the following jobs: Information Security Officer, Commercial Lending Administrator, Commercial Loan Underwriter, Commercial Loan Support & Development.

Qualifications:

1. A minimum of five years of experience in risk management, preferably in a supervisory or EIC (Examiner-in-Charge) capacity, with demonstrated experience leading NCUA, FDIC, CFPB, or state regulatory examinations and with thorough knowledge of laws and regulations OR equivalent combination of education and experience.
2. 5-10 years of commercial credit administration experience required at a financial institution with at least $2 billion in assets and a commercial portfolio exceeding $200 million.
3. Have one or more of the following and be willing to work toward others: Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA)
4. Prior, direct management experience.
5. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze business activities, identify problems or opportunities and help develop creative solutions.
6. Demonstrated ability to adhere to a strict code of ethics in handling confidential information.
7. Demonstrated experience in briefing and presenting complex issues to boards of directors and executive management teams.
8. Strong familiarity with Enterprise Risk Management monitoring practices, frameworks (e.g., COSO), and risk governance principles.
9. Excellent technical skills with a deep understanding of financial modeling, data analysis, and risk assessment methodologies.
10. Proven ability to build, lead, and mentor high-performing, cross-functional teams.
11. Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence and build consensus across the organization.
12. A strategic thinker with a strong analytical and problem-solving ability, and a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating emerging risks.

Please forward your resume to Info@ShanleySearch.com using reference ID 717Risk