Chief Lending Officer

The Village Bank is seeking a Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer to lead its lending function and help drive strategic growth, portfolio performance, and client relationships.

The Village Bank

With a history spanning more than a century, The Village Bank is proud to be the only mutual community bank headquartered in the City of Newton. We measure our success by the meaningful relationships we continue to build through our strong commitment to our customers and community. With 10 full-service offices located in Newton, Wayland, Waltham and Wellesley, the Bank provides area residents and businesses with outstanding financial products and services, with the added advantage of local knowledge, local experience, and local decisions. The Village Bank has made a pledge to our customers to do business in a way that proves how much we value their business. Along with that vow to our customers is our promise to the community, a commitment to help enhance the quality of life in the villages we serve. The Village Bank donates more than $1 million annually in support of initiatives that enhance the quality of life in the neighborhoods we call home. We are dedicated to our customers, dedicated to remaining a trusted mutual bank, and dedicated to our communities.

Position Summary

Reporting to the President & CEO, the Chief Lending Officer leads the Bank’s commercial, residential, and consumer lending activities, ensuring strong business development, sound portfolio management, exceptional service, and compliance with policies and regulations.

The ideal candidate is a thoughtful, relationship-driven lending leader who brings deep commercial banking experience, sound credit judgment, and a collaborative approach to leadership. They enjoy building trusted relationships with customers, colleagues, and community partners and will help the Bank grow responsibly while delivering the preferred customer service that defines The Village Bank.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Bank’s lending functions, including business development, portfolio management, and loan servicing, to meet established goals providing optimum profitability within acceptable risk limits.
• Develop and carry out lending strategies, including loan growth targets and portfolio management, while balancing return, profitability, and risk.
• Partner with the Chief Credit Officer to ensure lending practices align with the Bank’s risk tolerance and strategic goals.
• Lead lending teams in generating business, building client relationships, increasing wallet share, and expanding market presence.
• Oversee loan origination, including marketing lending products, and ensure effective customer service.
• Manage a portfolio of commercial loan customers, including cross-selling products and services and reviewing new loan requests.
• Set the lending team structure, staffing approach, and management practices; coach, mentor and train to provide for the continuing development of managers and staff.
• Review loan applications, approve loans within established lending limits, and make recommendations to Chief Credit Officer, President & CEO, Security Committee, and the Board of Directors for loans requiring higher-level approval.
• Interview residential and commercial loan applicants, prospect for new clients, and assist loan customers as needed.
• Participate in executive management planning, including short- and long-range plans, strategies, and policies; serve on key management planning committees such as CRA, ALCO, IT Steering, and Security Committee.
• Serve as the primary management liaison to the Security Committee and prepare reports for executive leadership, the Board, and federal regulators as needed.
• Develop strategies that leverage the Bank’s strengths to differentiate its lending products and services from competitors.
• Implement technology solutions that improve efficiency and customer experience.
• Stay informed about state and local economic conditions, especially those affecting real estate values.
• Ensure lending activities and lending department staff comply with federal and state rules and regulations.
• Manage lending compliance audits, regulatory examinations, and loan reviews.
• Monitor competitive lending market conditions.
• Support marketing ideas for lending and business development.
• Represent and promote the Bank through community and industry involvement, including service on local nonprofit boards. Actively promote interest in the Bank wherever and whenever possible.

Requirements/Skills Needed

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting, economics, or related field.
• Minimum of 20 years of progressively responsible credit, lending, and management experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proven leadership across the lending function, including coaching and developing managers and teams.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory guidelines relevant to lending.

Compensation & Benefits

• The anticipated salary range is $250,000–$350,000, commensurate with experience, with eligibility for the Bank’s annual short term incentive program. Benefits include paid time off and a comprehensive and competitive benefits program including; medical, dental, vision, employer-funded HRA, company-paid life and disability insurance, and retirement programs.
• After successful completion of onboarding/introductory period, this position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement with availability expected during core business hours and a minimum of three days a week onsite.

The Village Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Village Bank is committed to the policy of providing equal employment opportunities for employment, training, compensation, transfer, promotion, and other aspects of employment for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to sex, race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, physical or mental disabilities, genetics or any other status protected by law.