Job Summary
The SBA Lending Director will architect, launch, and scale the institution's SBA 7(a) lending program from inception. Operating as a strategic “player‑coach,” this leader will build out operational workflows, establish rigorous credit standards, and recruit a high‑performing team to drive C&I growth across the Southeast. The SBA Lending Director owns the division's P&L and secondary market strategy while ensuring regulatory compliance and portfolio health.
Essential Job Functions
- Design and implement an SBA 7(a) lending program from inception, including policies, credit standards, operational workflows, and production targets
- Lead, recruit, and develop a team of SBA Business Development Officers, underwriters, closers, and support professionals
- Own the division's P&L, origination goals, and portfolio quality metrics
- Serve as the institution's internal subject matter expert on government‑guaranteed lending for executive leadership, credit committee, and the board
- Build a multi‑year business plan with volume projections, staffing models, and income forecasts
- Maintain a personal production portfolio as a player‑coach while building and scaling team volume
- Develop and manage referral relationships with centers of influence, brokers, and strategic partners across the Southeast
- Drive SBA 7(a) origination volume consistent with the institution's C&I growth objectives
- Manage the division's secondary market execution strategy, including relationships with SBA loan buyers and decisions on held vs. sold loan portfolios
- Establish the division's credit process, underwriting standards, and closing protocols in coordination with senior credit leadership
- Ensure full SBA regulatory compliance, SOPs, and audit readiness across the lending lifecycle
- Oversee portfolio performance including special assets, servicing, and default management
- Partner with loan operations, compliance, and finance teams to build scalable back‑office infrastructure
Job Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting or related field required
- Significant prior SBA 7(a) lending experience, with previous experience in a senior production or leadership capacity
- Prior experience in operational infrastructure development, including credit policy, compliance frameworks, or loan servicing buildouts preferred
- Experience operating in both secondary market and portfolio (held) loan models preferred
Knowledge/Skills Required
- Advanced understanding of SBA program mechanics
- Advanced understanding of both front‑office production and back‑office operations (underwriting, closing, servicing)
- Advanced knowledge of loan structuring terms and conditions
- Advanced knowledge of statistical analysis
- Intermediate knowledge of SBA 7(a) rules and regulations
- Intermediate portfolio management skills
- Intermediate strategic planning skills
- Intermediate understanding of credit underwriting
- Intermediate leadership skills
- Intermediate proficiency with core loan accounting and loan origination systems
- Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office
Physical and Mental Qualifications
- Standing, walking, bending and stooping required
- Must be able to sit at a desk for long periods of time and use a computer
- Must be able to occasionally move or lift up to 10 pounds
- May be asked to work supplemental hours periodically
- Travel required occasionally during and after business hours