VP of Lending & Member Solutions

Education First Credit Union (EFCU) is a full-service not-for-profit financial institution. Our mission is to enhance our members’ financial position through education, quality service, and value-minded products. Education First Credit Union was founded in 1936 by a small group of Columbus City School teachers. Our members include school employees and students in the State of Ohio. Recently our membership has been expanded to include Franklin and surrounding Counties. Recognizing the social impact of education on our society, we will continue serving school employees and students within this vital community as our primary point of emphasis.

We’re based in Columbus, with an additional branch office located in Reynoldsburg.

Our recruiting process:

• Position has been posted internally and externally.
• 20-minute conversation with HR
• 60-minute in person conversation with panel interview
• Job offer

EFCU is looking for a Vice President of Lending & Member Solutions (Collections) for our Columbus Corporate Office.

The VP of Lending & Member Solutions (Collections) provides executive leadership and oversight for the credit union’s full spectrum of lending and collections operations, ensuring that both functions operate efficiently, profitably, and in full compliance with regulatory requirements. This role is responsible for developing and executing strategies that grow the credit union’s loan portfolio, optimize credit quality, and enhance member satisfaction while managing risk prudently.

The VP partners with the executive leadership team to align lending and collections initiatives with the credit union’s overall strategic goals, financial performance targets, and risk appetite. This includes overseeing loan origination, underwriting, portfolio management, collections, and loss mitigation, ensuring consistent adherence to policies, procedures, and NCUA expectations.

In addition, this role fosters a member-centric culture, balancing the credit union’s financial objectives with compassionate, fair, and effective member solutions. The VP provides leadership in monitoring trends, analyzing portfolio performance, and implementing operational improvements that support sustainable growth, strong credit quality, and positive member experiences. The position also serves as a key resource to the board of directors and senior management, providing insights, reporting, and guidance on credit risk, portfolio health, and collections strategy.

This is primarily an in-office position with occasional hybrid work. Candidates must live in the Columbus area and have reliable transportation to the office.

Responsibilities:

• Lending Oversight
• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for all lending activities, including consumer, mortgage, home equity, and indirect lending, ensuring alignment with the credit union’s mission, financial objectives, and risk appetite.
• Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive lending policies, procedures, and internal controls that comply with federal and state regulations, including NCUA guidance, and ensure consistent adherence by all lending staff.
• Manage credit risk by overseeing underwriting standards, loan structuring, portfolio diversification, and periodic loan reviews. Continuously monitor loan performance, delinquency trends, and early warning indicators to proactively mitigate potential losses.
• Oversee Indirect Auto Lending, including dealer relationship management, compliance with credit union policies, portfolio risk analysis, and performance monitoring. Implement strategies to maximize growth while protecting portfolio quality and ensuring member value.
• Lead the development and enhancement of lending products, including evaluating interest rates, terms, and credit criteria to meet member needs while maintaining credit union profitability and safety.
• Drive innovation in lending operations, including adoption of digital lending solutions, online applications, automated underwriting tools, and streamlined loan processing to improve member experience and operational efficiency.
• Partner with marketing and member engagement teams to promote lending products effectively, identify growth opportunities, and enhance member satisfaction through targeted campaigns and personalized financial solutions.
• Oversee lending staff recruitment, training, mentoring, and performance management, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional development.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop strategic growth initiatives, analyze portfolio performance, forecast loan demand, and ensure alignment with the credit union’s overall business plan.
• Monitor and report on key lending metrics, including loan volume, portfolio quality, delinquency trends, and loan loss reserves, providing timely updates to the executive team and board of directors.
• Ensure that all lending operations maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct, member service, and regulatory compliance, mitigating risk while promoting long-term portfolio growth.

• Member Solutions / Collections Oversight
• Lead the Member Solutions (Collections) team to achieve effective account recovery while maintaining positive member relationships.
• Develop and implement strategies for delinquency management, including proactive member outreach and loss mitigation programs.
• Monitor portfolio delinquency trends, charge-offs, and recovery performance, providing regular reports to senior leadership and the board.
• Ensure compliance with credit union policies, federal regulations (including Reg Z and Fair Debt Collection Practices), and internal controls.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate collections strategies into overall member engagement initiatives.

• Strategic Leadership & Risk Management
• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, providing insight on credit risk, operational efficiency, and strategic planning.
• Develop and maintain reporting and analytics to monitor lending and collections performance, recommending adjustments as necessary.
• Drive initiatives that balance growth, profitability, and risk mitigation in lending and collections operations.
• Foster a culture of compliance, accountability, and high-performance within the lending and collections teams.
• Professional Standards & Internal Controls
• Adhere to Credit Union policies, procedures, code of conduct, and internal control standards.
• Maintain required training, licensing, and continuing education.
• Protect member information and ensure compliance with information security and privacy requirements.
• Support a culture of member-focused service, compliance, and accountability.

Requirements

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, or related field; Master’s degree or relevant certifications preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in lending, collections, or credit union operations, including 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of credit union lending regulations, risk management principles, and collections best practices.
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.

Technical Skills:

• Deep understanding of credit union lending products, including consumer, mortgage, home equity, and indirect auto loans.
• Comprehensive knowledge of collections processes, loss mitigation strategies, and member solution programs.
• Strong familiarity with federal and state regulations, including NCUA guidance, Reg Z, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and other lending compliance requirements.
• Strategic leadership and decision-making skills with the ability to set priorities and align team efforts with organizational goals.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with staff, executives, board members, and external partners.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills to assess portfolio performance, identify risks, and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to manage complex projects, drive operational efficiency, and oversee cross-functional initiatives.
• Understanding of financial statements, credit analysis, and portfolio performance indicators.
• Inspires, motivates, and develops high-performing teams while fostering a culture of accountability and excellence.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single requirement. At Education First Credit Union, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every single qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles.

Working Conditions:

• Office-based or hybrid environment.
• Fast-paced, results-oriented environment requiring the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Occasional travel to branch locations, dealer partners, or industry conferences may be required.
• Role requires direct oversight of staff, including in-person meetings, coaching sessions, and team management activities.

Benefits

EFCU offers a complete benefits package to full-time employees that reflects how much we value our employees. Benefits include:

• Medical / Dental / Vision coverage (including qualified dependents)
• Company paid Life Insurance, STD, LTD
• Voluntary Life Insurance Coverages
• Flexible Spending Account (Health and Dependent Care)
• 401(k) plan with a 5% company match
• A generous time off program
• Education assistance program
• Employee discount on certain credit union services and products
• Free on-site parking

Education First Credit Union is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability (in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act) with respect to employment opportunities.