Small Business Lending Manager

IN0534 Fishers, NY0705 NY Region Business Office, OH0523 Independence Bus Office, OH0713 NW Bancshares HQ, PA0186 Mount Joy, PA0220 Erie - 8th & State, PA0258 Bellevue, PA0736 Administration Center

Job Description

The Small Business Lending Manager leads and oversees a centralized small business lending platform supporting originations through the financial center banking system and Small Business Bankers. This role is accountable for driving high-quality, consistent production outcomes through clearly defined performance metrics, service-level standards, and disciplined execution across the end-to-end loan lifecycle.

The Manager is responsible for establishing, monitoring, and continuously improving measurable production, quality, and cycle-time metrics, ensuring loans are originated efficiently, accurately, and in alignment with risk appetite and profitability objectives. This includes the development and maintenance of a straight-through, scalable loan origination process that balances speed, quality, and control.

A core focus of the role is ensuring strict adherence to all applicable regulatory, legal, and compliance requirements, including internal policies, procedures, and operational risk management controls. The Manager ensures strong compliance governance, audit readiness, and consistent application of credit policy, while proactively identifying and addressing emerging regulatory, operational, and portfolio risks.

The role provides leadership and direct supervision to all small business underwriters, ensuring appropriate staffing levels, skill development, and performance management aligned to quality, accuracy, and productivity expectations. The Manager makes sound, risk-based credit decisions, reinforces underwriting discipline, and promotes accountability through ongoing quality reviews and portfolio analytics.

Additionally, the Small Business Lending Manager maintains a proactive portfolio management mindset, monitoring credit quality, concentration risks, and performance trends to support sustainable growth and early risk identification. The role partners closely with internal stakeholders, including Retail Banking, Loan Operations, and Small Business Loan teams, to ensure alignment, transparency, and continuous improvement across the small business lending ecosystem.

Essential Functions

• Participate in developing Northwest strategic initiatives and objectives
• Work closely with Small Business Executive Director to align end to end lending process and communication strategy
• Determine customer expectations and develop methods to improve customer service
• Oversee and approve career development and key appointments
• Develop service and delivery enhancements, manage SLA's
• Achieve/demonstrate greater department efficiencies
• Remain cognizant of prevailing economic conditions and markets
• Manage partnership with other Business lines to ensure a cohesive business development team
• Provide for enhanced customer service
• Ensure growth in revenue producing products and services
• Plan and oversee expansion of Small Business Lending Department
• Partner with senior leadership to identify and develop technological advancements- Significant strength in Scoring and OCR technology preferred
• Maintain comprehensive process to evaluate the creditworthiness of loan applications
• Cultivate relationships with outside business partners
• Develop specific measurable departmental goals and targets
• Assure underwriting administration is sufficient to properly mitigate credit risk
• Develop relevant statistics and related reports
• Understand and engage in Business lending related public relations/community involvement programs
• Ensure ongoing administration of all Small Business loans in accordance with industry standards and bank policy
• Oversee appropriate staffing levels within Small Business Lending
• In partnership with senior management engage in regular policy review and recommend updates accordingly
• Continually improve lending practices / procedures
• Monitor / improve measured risk based credit decisions
• Evaluate and interpret lending / related economic trends
• Oversee small business loan delinquency to minimize loss exposure
• Oversee the administration of all Small Business loans
• Coordinate the risk rating of all small business loans with Credit Administration
• Coordinate small business lending activities with credit activities
• Partner with internal stakeholders
• Recommend lending authority for all small business Underwriters to the Credit Committee
• Make recommendations on all proposed small business loans
• Participate in Senior Loan Committee as necessary
• Ensure small business loan interest rates are appropriately assigned
• Improve quality control systems and standards
• Recommend / develop fee-generating alternatives
• Strength in developing/refining scoring models and other technology based initiatives
• Recommend / develop improvements to procedures
• Establish increased productivity and profitability
• Recommend/develop product enhancements
• Identify and resolve compliance issues
• Communicate guidance within business unit staff and management
• Identify risks and implement controls to minimize risk
• Communicate identified risks to Chief Compliance Officer
• Supervise reviews and monitor programs for compliance
• Attending compliance training events to stay current with regulations
• Provide compliance training within business unit
• Report business unit’s state of compliance to the Chief Compliance Officer
• Attend and participate in Management Compliance Committee Meetings
• Ensure compliance with Northwest’s policies and procedures, and Federal/State regulations
• Navigate Microsoft Office Software, computer applications, and software specific to the department in order to maximize technology tools and gain efficiency
• Work as part of a team
• Work with on-site equipment
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree Business, Finance, or related subject preferred
• 8 - 12 years Commercial Lending/Banking experience preferred
• 8 - 12 years Management experience preferred
• Extensive knowledge of regulatory/compliance issues
  
  

Travel Requirements

• As Needed- Underwriting team is based in PA, therefore any candidate outside of that geography will be required to travel to Warren, PA on a regular basis.
  
  

The pay range for this position is generally $115,000-$145,000 per year. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the successful candidate’s experience, skills, and knowledge. Additional bonus earning opportunities and benefits are also available.

Northwest is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.