Vice President Commercial Lending

Job Title: Vice President Commercial Lending
Location: On Site - Franklin, Massachusetts, United States
Salary: $148,000-$150,000 Full Benefits 401K (~5%)
Skills: Commercial Lending, SBA 7A/504c, Business Development, Leadership, Risk Management

About the Banking Company / The Opportunity:

Are you a seasoned commercial lending leader ready to help drive growth and build meaningful client relationships in a community banking environment? Our client, a respected institution in the Banking industry, seeks a VP of Commercial Lending to develop new business, manage a diverse loan portfolio, and lead a team of lending professionals. This is an opportunity to make a significant impact at a company known for its personalized approach and deep commitment to the local business community. Reporting directly to the Chief Lending Officer, you will play a critical role in shaping the lending strategy and supporting future leadership succession within a collaborative, hands-on culture.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage new and existing commercial banking relationships, contributing directly to portfolio growth and profitability. (More Farming than Hunting)
• Assess customer needs, structure solutions, and negotiate commercial loans, ensuring proper documentation and delivery of services.
• Manage the quality and risk of the commercial loan portfolio, overseeing annual reviews and compliance with federal, state, and internal regulations.
• Lead and mentor a team of lending staff, making employment decisions, coaching, and resolving team member issues.
• Approve and monitor credit exposures within assigned authority, supporting high-quality analyses and risk assessments.
• Represent the bank in community and industry organizations, cultivating referral networks and promoting banking products and services.
• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure accurate record keeping and efficient loan servicing.
• Actively participate in Security Committee meetings and present loan packages for review and approval.

Must-Have Skills:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent; specialized commercial lending training strongly preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of commercial lending experience, with a proven supervisory track record.
• Demonstrated expertise in originating, structuring, and managing commercial loans, including SBA 7A/504c programs.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and people management skills.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and negotiation abilities.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Thorough understanding of federal and state lending regulations and compliance requirements.

Nice-to-Have Skills:

• Experience supervising a small, multi-disciplinary team in a community banking environment.
• Knowledge of loan workout procedures and commercial portfolio risk mitigation.
• Active participation in local business and industry associations or chambers.
• Ability to interpret complex financial statements and lending regulations.
• Previous exposure to succession planning or interfacing with executive leadership.
• Experience supporting or coaching more junior level commercial lenders or loan administrators.