Location: Irvine, CA | Salary: $90,000–$110,000

Lead the Details. Strengthen the Process. Keep Every Loan Moving Forward.

We are seeking an experienced, highly organized, and forward-thinking VP Loan Documentation Manager to lead and oversee loan documentation operations within a growing banking organization. This is an opportunity for a knowledgeable banking professional who understands that successful lending doesn't stop with credit approval. It takes precision, accountability, sound judgment, and a well-managed documentation process to bring every transaction across the finish line.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with a strong understanding of commercial lending documentation, loan closing procedures, regulatory requirements, and internal controls. This individual will oversee the preparation, review, coordination, and execution of loan documentation while ensuring that loan files are accurate, complete, properly authorized, and compliant with established policies and procedures.

We are looking for someone who can balance leadership with execution, develop strong partnerships across lending and operations, identify opportunities to improve processes, and keep documentation standards consistently high. If you enjoy building efficient teams, solving complex documentation challenges, and being the person who makes sure all the pieces come together, this could be an excellent next step.

What You'll Be Responsible For

• Provide leadership, direction, and oversight for the loan documentation function, ensuring accurate, timely, and consistent preparation of loan documents.

• Manage the end-to-end loan documentation and closing process for commercial, business, and other applicable lending transactions.

• Review and approve complex loan documentation packages, ensuring all terms and conditions accurately reflect approved credit decisions and loan structures.

• Oversee the preparation and review of promissory notes, loan agreements, security agreements, guarantees, collateral documents, modifications, renewals, extensions, and related legal documentation.

• Ensure loan documentation accurately reflects approved interest rates, repayment terms, maturities, covenants, collateral requirements, fees, and other credit conditions.

• Partner closely with commercial lenders, credit administration, loan operations, relationship managers, legal counsel, and outside closing professionals to facilitate smooth transactions.

• Establish and maintain consistent documentation standards, procedures, quality controls, and workflow expectations.

• Monitor documentation pipelines, closing deadlines, outstanding conditions, and exceptions to ensure transactions progress efficiently.

• Identify potential documentation deficiencies, legal concerns, collateral issues, and inconsistencies before they create downstream operational or credit risk.

• Ensure appropriate lien searches, collateral perfection, title requirements, insurance documentation, and other applicable closing conditions are addressed.

• Oversee the review and tracking of loan exceptions, missing documents, outstanding post-closing items, and documentation deficiencies.

• Maintain compliance with applicable banking regulations, internal lending policies, legal requirements, and established risk management standards.

• Develop, implement, and refine policies and procedures that improve efficiency, accuracy, accountability, and overall departmental performance.

• Work with internal audit, compliance, and regulatory examination teams to address documentation findings and maintain strong audit readiness.

• Evaluate existing processes and recommend technology, automation, and workflow improvements to reduce processing delays and minimize errors.

• Establish departmental performance measurements and monitor turnaround times, productivity, quality, and service levels.

• Provide guidance and support on complex lending structures, documentation questions, and unusual closing requirements.

• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders while maintaining a service-oriented approach and a commitment to operational excellence.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop loan documentation personnel, creating a culture centered on accuracy, professionalism, accountability, and teamwork.

• Establish clear performance expectations and ensure employees have the training and resources necessary to succeed.

• Encourage professional development and cross-training to strengthen departmental knowledge and operational continuity.

• Evaluate staffing needs, workload distribution, and departmental capacity to support business growth.

• Promote collaboration between lending, credit, and operations teams to create a seamless experience from loan approval through closing and post-closing.

• Serve as a knowledgeable resource and escalation point for complex documentation matters and operational challenges.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Banking, or a related field preferred; equivalent banking experience will be considered.

• 7+ years of banking experience, with significant exposure to loan documentation, loan operations, commercial lending, or loan closing.

• Previous leadership or supervisory experience managing loan documentation professionals or related banking operations teams.

• Strong knowledge of commercial loan documentation, closing requirements, collateral documentation, and loan servicing fundamentals.

• Experience reviewing complex commercial lending transactions and ensuring documentation aligns with approved credit terms.

• Familiarity with commercial real estate, commercial and industrial lending, business lending, and secured and unsecured credit facilities.

• Understanding of applicable banking regulations, compliance expectations, internal controls, and documentation standards.

• Experience working with loan origination systems, document preparation platforms, and banking technology.

• Exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities without sacrificing quality.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the confidence to identify issues and recommend practical solutions.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with lenders, attorneys, executives, and operational teams.

• Ability to make sound decisions, exercise discretion, and maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive financial and customer information.

• A proactive leadership style with the ability to motivate employees, manage change, and continuously improve departmental performance.

The Professional We're Hoping to Find

You are more than someone who knows how to prepare loan documents. You understand the bigger picture of banking operations and recognize how accurate documentation protects the institution, supports lending relationships, and keeps business moving.

You are organized without being rigid, detail-oriented without losing sight of deadlines, and confident enough to address problems before they become bigger ones. You know how to lead a team, communicate with senior leadership, work through complicated transactions, and maintain a high standard of service.

You bring sound judgment, strong technical knowledge, and a genuine commitment to getting things right the first time. You appreciate collaboration but aren't afraid to take ownership, make decisions, and hold yourself and your team accountable.

This is an opportunity to bring your leadership, lending knowledge, and documentation expertise to a banking organization that values strong operational execution and dependable leadership.

Location: Irvine, California
Compensation: $90,000–$110,000 annually