Vice President, Consumer Lending

WECU is seeking a Vice President, Consumer Lending to join our Consumer Lending department located in Bellingham, WA. The Vice President, Consumer Lending is a strategic leader responsible for portfolio growth and ensuring WECU remains competitive in a dynamic marketplace. This role oversees Consumer Lending, Indirect Lending, Consumer Loan Servicing, and Cards, ensuring our products and services meet the evolving needs of our diverse membership. The position leads high-performing teams, fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation, and executes strategies that balance growth with risk management and regulatory compliance. Additional responsibilities include analyzing portfolio performance, delivering actionable insights, and enhancing the member experience through streamlined processes and innovative solutions, while anticipating industry trends to position WECU for long-term success.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee the Consumer Lending, Indirect Lending, Consumer Loan Servicing, and Card Services teams.
• Develop and execute strategic initiatives to drive sustainable portfolio growth.
• Accountable for the development and implementation of consumer loan products to ensure WECU’s competitiveness in the marketplace.
• Ensure WECU offers a robust credit card program that meets the diverse needs of our members.
• Oversee the management and optimization of the pre-qualification program and automated loan decisioning processes. Ensure these systems are efficient, accurate, and aligned with WECU’s risk acceptance criteria and strategic goals.
• Balance tactical responsibilities with strategic vision by managing capacity, delegation and focus. 
• Develop and implement goals and success metrics. Lead the team to achieve objectives and monitor strategies to ensure alignment with WECU’s overall mission and vision.
• Ensure sound underwriting loan practices and parameters are followed. 
• Analyze portfolio credit quality and performance, making necessary adjustments to the underwriting strategy/model used by staff and automated underwriting systems. 
• Leverage holistic portfolio knowledge, sharing complex analysis, forward-looking insights, and strategic recommendations. Provide detailed analysis of portfolio performance, identify trends and generate predictions. 
• Proactively identify problems, issues, and opportunities; develop solutions and strategies to address these challenges and capitalize on opportunities.
• Develop and recommend changes to rates, risk models, underwriting standards, programs, policies, instant approval parameters, and policies as appropriate to achieve desired production levels and credit quality.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with third-party providers for indirect lending programs, ensuring performance, compliance, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Support the sale and purchase of loan participations, including conducting loan reviews and evaluating credit risk.
• Drive exceptional member experiences by aligning lending strategies with evolving member needs and service excellence standards.
• Remain current on changes within the economic, competitive, regulatory, and technological environments that may impact Cards, Consumer Lending, Indirect Lending, and Consumer Loan Servicing.
• Work collaboratively across the organization and with external partners on various campaigns, projects, and initiatives.
• Responsible for the training, coaching, and development of a high-performing leadership team.
• Ensure full compliance with all regulatory requirements for Cards, Consumer Lending, Indirect Lending, and Consumer Loan Servicing.
• Lead and develop the annual business and budgeting process for Consumer Lending, Indirect Lending, Consumer Loan Servicing, and Cards departments.
• Prepare detailed research, analysis, and reports for key organizational stakeholders, including senior leadership and the board of directors.
• Lead vendor governance by monitoring contracts, enforcing accountability, and ensuring adherence to WECU’s Vendor Management Program.
• Follows WECU’s policies and all applicable laws and regulations. 
• Performs other duties as assigned and may also assist others to complete tasks and work assignments.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, or related field (master’s preferred).
• Minimum of 10 years progressive experience in consumer or indirect lending leadership roles.
• Three or more years of lending experience at a financial institution in a management capacity.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word.
• Experience in querying, reporting, and formatting data into multiple formats.
• Must be able to read and interpret financial reports received from various sources.
• Ability to exercise judgment, initiative, and tact in dealing with membership, management, and staff.
• Ability to perform detailed analytical work and make independent decisions.
• Flexibility and capacity to manage many responsibilities simultaneously.
• Strong written and oral communication skills. 
• Ability to represent WECU in a positive professional manner in person, on the telephone, and in written correspondence. 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise independent judgment and analysis.

NOTE: Job descriptions are not intended and should not be construed to be exhaustive lists of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with a job.

COMPENSATION: 

The salary range for this position is from $148,964. To $210,301. per year.

WECU provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision benefits with premiums for employee coverage paid in full, 401(k) retirement plan with an 8% annual contribution from WECU, bonus plan, two or more weeks of vacation, up to 11 paid holidays, paid life and disability insurance, annual wellness benefit, loan discounts, professional development, and much more.

ABOUT WECU: 

WECU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative where members are encouraged to save and borrow responsibly at fair and competitive rates. Headquartered in Bellingham, WA, WECU has over 160,000 members and over $3 billion dollars in assets.

It is WECU's mission to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our members. We strive to treat both members and staff with honesty and integrity and to be a socially responsible part of our community. WECU also endeavors to be an employer of choice.  

WECU is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  We make employment decisions based on merit and qualifications and seek to have the best qualified person in every job. WECU policy prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, national origin, or ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic characteristics or information, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.