Director of Loan Closing & Fulfillment

Role Description

The Director of Loan Closing leads all loan closing operations for SouthState Bank, overseeing a multi-state team responsible for the accurate, compliant, and timely preparation, review, and funding of commercial and consumer loan packages. This position is essential to delivering superior experience to our banking partners and customers at every stage of the loan closing lifecycle — ensuring that closings are executed with precision, urgency, and a commitment to service excellence that strengthens banker relationships and builds lasting customer trust. The Director drives continuous process improvement and the adoption of automation and artificial intelligence technologies to transform Loan Closing into a high-performing, technology-forward department capable of scaling with the bank's growth.

• Leadership & Operational Management: Direct and oversee all loan closing operations across commercial and consumer loan closing teams spanning multiple states (SC, FL, GA, AL, NC, TN, TX, CO), ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness in the preparation, review, and funding of all loan documentation. Establish operational standards, monitor key performance indicators, and drive accountability at all levels of the organization.
• Superior Service Delivery to Bankers & Customers: Champion a culture of exceptional service to banking partners (Relationship Managers, Loan Officers, Loan Assistants), Branch Personnel, and customers throughout the loan closing lifecycle. Establish and enforce service-level agreements, proactively resolve escalated issues, and continuously refine the closing experience to minimize friction, reduce turnaround times, and ensure that every banker and customer interaction reflects the professionalism and reliability that SouthState Bank is committed to delivering.
• Process Improvement & Automation Transformation: Lead a forward-looking strategy to improve processes and expand automation within Loan Closing. Identify workflow inefficiencies, partner with IT Automation and EPMO stakeholders to design and implement RPA and AI-powered solutions and set clear expectations for continuous innovation and accountability. Leverage artificial intelligence to automate repetitive tasks, accelerate document review, identify exceptions proactively, and build a scalable, technology-driven operating model that improves quality and capacity without proportional headcount growth.
• Regulatory Compliance & Quality Control: Ensure all loan closing activities are conducted in full accordance with applicable federal and state regulations (TILA/Reg Z, HMDA, CRA, flood compliance, CFPB requirements) and internal bank policy. Develop, implement, and enforce quality control protocols, conduct ongoing audits, manage exception tracking, and respond effectively to internal and external compliance reviews and exam findings. Manage centralized flood review team to ensure regulatory compliance for consumer and commercial loans.
• People Leadership & Talent Development: Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing team of approximately 100 professionals across multiple geographic locations. Provide coaching, performance management, career development guidance, and leadership development opportunities. Foster an inclusive, engaged, and accountable team culture aligned with SouthState Bank's values and operational excellence standards.
• Strategic Planning & Reporting: Develop and manage the Loan Closing department's operational budget and multi-year strategic plan. Prepare and present regular performance reports, dashboards, and strategic updates to executive leadership. Partner with peers in Consumer and Commercial Lines of Business (LOB), Loan Operations, Compliance, Technology, and HR to align department initiatives with enterprise goals.
• Technology Stewardship: Serve as a key business stakeholder for technology implementations impacting loan closing, including nCino, Newgen, LaserPro, DocuSign, and emerging AI platforms. Participate in system design, user acceptance testing, and change management activities to ensure successful adoption and maximum operational benefit.

Qualifications

• Minimum: Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Banking, or a related field required.
• Preferred: Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) or related field.

Requirements

• 7–10 years of progressive experience in banking or financial services operations, with a minimum of 5 years in a management or leadership capacity within loan operations or loan closing.
• Demonstrated experience managing large, geographically dispersed teams.
• Proven track record of leading process improvement, technology implementation, or automation initiatives within banking operations.

Benefits

• Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled/veterans.