Location: San Diego, CA
Salary Range: $175,000 – $225,000 (DOE)
Industry: Banking & Financial Services

About the Company:

We are a dynamic, growth-oriented financial institution headquartered in Southern California with a strong regional footprint and a culture centered on client advocacy, prudent lending practices, and employee development. Our San Diego office is seeking a strategic, detail-driven Senior Vice President, Credit Administrator to provide enterprise-wide oversight of credit policy, portfolio risk, and credit quality while fostering a culture of sound credit risk management.

Position Summary:

The SVP, Credit Administrator will be a key member of the bank’s executive credit leadership team, overseeing all credit administration functions including credit policy formulation, credit risk governance, portfolio monitoring, underwriting standards, and regulatory compliance. This highly visible role will serve as a critical liaison between executive management, lending teams, credit committees, and regulatory bodies. The ideal candidate brings extensive credit risk experience, a sophisticated understanding of commercial and industrial (C&I), commercial real estate (CRE), and SBA loan structures, and a proactive approach to risk identification and mitigation.

Key Responsibilities:

Credit Policy & Risk Governance:

• Develop, maintain, and implement comprehensive credit policies, underwriting guidelines, and credit risk procedures in alignment with regulatory expectations and the bank’s strategic goals.

• Lead the ongoing evaluation and enhancement of credit risk frameworks, risk rating systems, and credit exposure limits across all loan products.

• Collaborate with executive leadership and board committees to set risk appetite thresholds and ensure alignment with portfolio performance and market conditions.

• Chair or co-chair credit committees and provide thought leadership on complex credit decisions and risk appetite considerations.

Portfolio Oversight & Risk Analytics:

• Provide strategic oversight of the entire credit portfolio, ensuring proper risk diversification, sector and geographic exposure, and compliance with internal and external credit quality benchmarks.

• Monitor and analyze portfolio performance indicators, including delinquency trends, non-performing assets (NPAs), watchlist activity, concentration risks, and reserve adequacy.

• Work closely with the Chief Credit Officer and Chief Risk Officer to prepare quarterly risk assessments, board reports, and enterprise risk updates.

Underwriting & Credit Approval:

• Establish and oversee a consistent, rigorous underwriting process for commercial and consumer loan originations, modifications, and renewals.

• Serve as the senior approval authority for large, complex, or policy-exception credits within delegated authority.

• Provide hands-on mentorship and technical guidance to credit analysts and underwriters to ensure sound decision-making and regulatory compliance.

Regulatory & Audit Compliance:

• Ensure full compliance with federal and state lending regulations, including OCC, FDIC, FRB, and CFPB guidelines.

• Coordinate with internal audit, external audit firms, and bank regulators during exams and reviews, providing responses and remediation plans as needed.

• Maintain documentation and reporting required for regulatory compliance and internal controls, including credit file integrity and documentation standards.

Leadership & Team Development:

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing credit administration team with a culture of accountability, integrity, and continuous learning.

• Create and execute training initiatives for loan officers, analysts, and credit staff on credit policy, risk analysis, regulatory changes, and industry trends.

• Foster collaboration and communication between credit and lending teams to improve turnaround times, customer satisfaction, and loan quality.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related field required; MBA or other advanced degree strongly preferred.

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive credit risk experience within the banking industry, including 5+ years in a senior leadership or executive role.

• Demonstrated expertise in commercial lending (C&I, CRE, SBA), loan structuring, risk rating, and portfolio analysis.

• Strong understanding of banking regulations, credit policy development, and enterprise risk management frameworks.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization, including executive and board.

• Proven track record of managing complex credit portfolios and leading high-performing credit administration teams.

Why Join Us:

• Competitive executive compensation and bonus structure.

• A supportive, team-oriented culture that values innovation, risk-awareness, and transparency.

• Opportunities to shape credit culture and risk practices at a growing institution.

• Comprehensive benefits package including 401(k) match, health/dental/vision insurance, wellness initiatives, and generous PTO.

Apply Today:
If you are an experienced credit leader with the vision, expertise, and leadership to elevate our credit function, we want to hear from you. Join us in San Diego and help shape the future of responsible lending.