What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Credit Risk position at First Western Trust?
Director Credit Risk
Location: Denver, CO (In-Office)
Job Type: Full-Time Exempt
Salary: $121,000 - $194,000/YR *Actual offer will be based on experience, location, education, and/or skills*
Applications should be submitted for consideration no later 12/28/2025.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Who We’re Looking For
You’re a seasoned credit professional with deep expertise in risk management, commercial lending, and regulatory compliance. Known for your ability to evaluate complex credit opportunities, you bring a sharp analytical lens and strong judgment to each decision. You’re comfortable working closely with senior leaders, mentoring up-and-coming bankers, and representing Credit in high-level discussions. You thrive in environments where you can influence portfolio strategy, proactively manage risk, and help shape policy. If you’re looking for a role where your insights directly support credit quality, client experience, and organizational growth—this role is for you.
About the Role
As Director of Credit Risk, you’ll play a critical leadership role within our Credit Administration team—partnering directly with the Chief Credit Officer to guide credit approval, monitor portfolio performance, and proactively manage risk across assigned Profit Centers. You’ll support Relationship Bankers with structuring and underwriting, participate in client site visits, and contribute to policy development and Senior Loan Committee decisions. Your expertise will ensure credit quality, regulatory alignment, and accurate risk ratings.
What You’ll Do
Who We Are
At First Western Trust, we’re more than just a financial institution—we’re a team of forward-thinkers committed to excellence, innovation, and impact. Our culture thrives on teamwork and mutual respect, grounded in the belief that diverse perspectives fuel creativity and help us tackle challenges in fresh, effective ways.
We celebrate each other’s successes, welcome new ideas, and take personal ownership in everything we do. A genuine desire to positively impact our clients, communities, and one another drives our work. We meet challenges with a growth mindset, act with urgency and accountability, and constantly strive to raise the bar for ourselves and our clients.
Leadership at First Western means setting an example and fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and respect. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or bringing years of experience, you’ll find a welcoming community where your contributions are valued and your potential is boundless.
We expect our people to:
Learn more at myfw.com or email Talent.Management@myfw.com.
Equal Opportunity Employer
First Western Trust is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace where every team member is valued and given the opportunity to thrive. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and experiences and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status. For accommodation requests, please contact Talent.Management@myfw.com.
Region A Pay Range
Pay Range: $121,000 USD - $194,000 USD
Location: Denver, CO (In-Office)
Job Type: Full-Time Exempt
Salary: $121,000 - $194,000/YR *Actual offer will be based on experience, location, education, and/or skills*
Applications should be submitted for consideration no later 12/28/2025.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Who We’re Looking For
You’re a seasoned credit professional with deep expertise in risk management, commercial lending, and regulatory compliance. Known for your ability to evaluate complex credit opportunities, you bring a sharp analytical lens and strong judgment to each decision. You’re comfortable working closely with senior leaders, mentoring up-and-coming bankers, and representing Credit in high-level discussions. You thrive in environments where you can influence portfolio strategy, proactively manage risk, and help shape policy. If you’re looking for a role where your insights directly support credit quality, client experience, and organizational growth—this role is for you.
About the Role
As Director of Credit Risk, you’ll play a critical leadership role within our Credit Administration team—partnering directly with the Chief Credit Officer to guide credit approval, monitor portfolio performance, and proactively manage risk across assigned Profit Centers. You’ll support Relationship Bankers with structuring and underwriting, participate in client site visits, and contribute to policy development and Senior Loan Committee decisions. Your expertise will ensure credit quality, regulatory alignment, and accurate risk ratings.
What You’ll Do
- Serve as a strategic partner to assigned Profit Centers, providing early-stage credit guidance, participating in client meetings and site visits, and managing the Pre-Flight process.
- Approve loans within designated authority and ensure timely, accurate risk ratings that align with First Western’s credit policies and procedures.
- Collaborate with Relationship Bankers and Credit Analysts to structure, price, and document complex commercial and consumer loans.
- Mentor junior Bankers and Credit Analysts while assisting in policy and procedure development to strengthen credit operations.
- Represent Credit Risk on Senior Loan Committee and other working groups, providing insight on credit risk for new products and portfolio trends.
- Lead or support internal and external audits, ensuring adherence to ICFR and regulatory expectations across assigned portfolios.
- Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university.
- 10–15 years of relevant experience in credit, lending, or financial services, including credit analysis and portfolio oversight.
- Demonstrated knowledge of lending activities, commercial construction, real estate, and consumer loan processing.
- Strong understanding of bank lending policies, financial statement and tax return analysis, and federal compliance regulations.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and experience with financial systems.
- Effective communication skills and ability to lead cross-functional collaboration.
- Experience participating in or leading committees and special projects is preferred.
- Competitive base salary: $121,000 – $194,000/YR, plus strong bonus potential.
- 401(k) plan with employer match.
- Paid parking and transportation benefits.
- Comprehensive health and wellness benefits, including:
- Health savings accounts (HSA)
- Flexible spending accounts (FSA)
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Generous paid time off and bank holidays.
- Access to training and professional development programs.
- Sponsorship and support for obtaining professional certifications.
- A culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and shared success.
Who We Are
At First Western Trust, we’re more than just a financial institution—we’re a team of forward-thinkers committed to excellence, innovation, and impact. Our culture thrives on teamwork and mutual respect, grounded in the belief that diverse perspectives fuel creativity and help us tackle challenges in fresh, effective ways.
We celebrate each other’s successes, welcome new ideas, and take personal ownership in everything we do. A genuine desire to positively impact our clients, communities, and one another drives our work. We meet challenges with a growth mindset, act with urgency and accountability, and constantly strive to raise the bar for ourselves and our clients.
Leadership at First Western means setting an example and fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and respect. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or bringing years of experience, you’ll find a welcoming community where your contributions are valued and your potential is boundless.
We expect our people to:
- Demand and reward excellence.
- Take action and responsibility.
- Collaborate, communicate openly, and give/receive feedback with trust.
- Go above and beyond to do what’s right—always.
Learn more at myfw.com or email Talent.Management@myfw.com.
Equal Opportunity Employer
First Western Trust is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace where every team member is valued and given the opportunity to thrive. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and experiences and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status. For accommodation requests, please contact Talent.Management@myfw.com.
Region A Pay Range
Pay Range: $121,000 USD - $194,000 USD
Salary : $121,000 - $194,000