Retail Lending Closing Team Lead

We do the right things, right now. We do them in a way that is relevant to our clients. Become a part of our history as it continues to be written! If you are interested and qualified for this role, we invite you to apply. The Retail Lending Closing Team Lead is responsible for supporting the daily coordination, prioritization, and execution of closing activities for Mortgage, Consumer Real Estate, Consumer Non-Real Estate, Indirect, and Small business lending. The team lead partners closely with the retail lending closing manager to ensure closing requests are completed accurately, timely, consistently, and in accordance with established policies, procedures, service level expectations, and applicable regulatory requirements. This position serves as a subject matter expert for closing team members and internal business partners, helping resolve complex questions, identify process improvement opportunities, and support a high level of internal and external customer service. Essential Functions/Responsibilities Support Daily Pipeline and Workflow Management Assist with daily monitoring of the closing request pipeline across mortgage and retail lending. Help prioritize work assignments to ensure closing requests are completed with established service level expectations. Monitor daily volume, aging, production status, and potential bottlenecks; escalate concerns to manager as appropriate. Act as a first point of contact for routine team questions, workflow guidance, system navigation, documentation requirements, and closing process issues. Assist team members with complex files, exceptions, and escalated matters while ensuring the appropriate manager involvement as needed. Review closing documentation and related work for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established procedures. Identify quality trends, recurring errors, training needs, and process gaps; communicate findings to retail lending closing manager. Maintain strong working knowledge of applicable lending requirements, including CFPB, RESPA, TRID, Change of Circumstances, HUD-1, Closing Disclosure, and other lending regulations as applicable. Assist with onboarding and training of new team members. Provide ongoing coaching, technical guidance, and peer support to help team members meet productivity, quality, and service expectations. Work collaboratively with Sales, Retail, Processing, Underwriting, Closing, and other internal partners to resolve questions, clear issues, and support timely loan closings. Identify opportunities to improve workflow, communication, quality, efficiency, and customer service. Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed to Perform Essential Functions of the Job Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience required. 2+ years of lending closing, loan operations, processing, post-closing, or related retail lending experience required. Experience with mortgage, home equity, and consumer lending. Demonstrated ability to prioritize work, manage multiple competing deadlines, and support team production goals. Ability to identify issues, recommend solutions, and work with internal partners. Ability to coach, train, mentor, and support team members in a professional and constructive manner. Preferred Knowledge and Skills Level of Complexity and Scope Role requires the ability to balance individual production responsibilities with team support, workflow coordination, quality review, training, and escalation assistance. Provides daily operational leadership and serves as a key resource member and internal business partners. Ability to make recommendations or resolve routine and moderately complex closing issues within established policies and procedures. Degree of Independence and Decision-Making Operates with moderate independence win performing daily work, coordinating team workflow, answering team member questions, and resolving routine to moderately complex closing issues. Role expected to use sound judgement to prioritize work, adjustment assignments based on volume or urgency, and recommend appropriate solutions. Required Supervisory Responsibilities Position may provide input into team member training needs, quality trends, workflow performance, and process improvement opportunities; however, final decisions regarding formal performance management, disciplinary action, policy exceptions, and department strategy remain with management. Accountable for ensuring assigned work and team-supported activities are completed accurately, timely, and in complicance. Physical Requirements Work is generally performed in a standard office environment. Requires frequent use of a computer, keyboard, mouse, phone, headset, and other standard office equipment. Requires ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, through virtual meetings, and in writing. May require occasional overtime, schedule flexibility, or extended hours based on business volume, closing deadlines, or operational needs. Requires the ability to communicate, concentrate, and maintain attention to detail in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions and competing priorities. Occasional travel between office locations for meetings and other events. Compliance Statement The associate is responsible for meeting all compliance requirements imposed on First Financial Bank by State and Federal law and regulation, as well as all related First Financial Bank policies and procedures. This includes all Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering, OFAC and Suspicious Activity reporting requirements, as well as all other lending and deposit compliance requirements. Development and Training Pay Range $27.88- $37.50/hour Benefits We have relevant, thoughtful benefits and programs that support every aspect of our associates' holistic wellbeing. Please review our Benefits Guide. Incentive Eligibility All roles are incentive eligible with the exception of Co-Op, Intern, or Student positions. It is our policy to not discriminate against any individual in violation of federal, state, and local laws as it relates to age, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran/military service, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are an E-Verify Employer. At first financial bank, our mission is clear: to be the best bank to do business with, the best place to work, and the best financial partner for our shareholders and the communities we serve. We believe that how we work is just as important as what we achieve. That’s why we’re guided by core values that shape everything we do: Doing the right thing Teamwork Mutual respect Wellbeing Excellence Our success starts with our people. We know that when our associates are talented, engaged, and supported, they create outstanding results. If you're looking to be part of a team that values integrity, inclusion, and collaboration—and where your growth matters—you’ll find your future here.