Director of Loan Closing & Fulfillment

The SouthState story is one of steady growth, deep community roots, and an unwavering commitment to helping our customers move forward. Since our beginnings in the 1930s to becoming a trusted financial partner across the South and beyond - we are known for combining personal relationships with forward-thinking solutions. We are committed to helping our team members find their success while maintaining the integrity of our values: building trust, fostering lasting relationships and pursuing excellence. At SouthState, individual contributions are recognized, potential is cultivated and team members are inspired to achieve their greater purpose. Your future begins here! 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, VA), 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. Candidates may be located anywhere within our 8-state footprint (FL, GA, AL, VA, SC, NC, TX, CO). Although this role can be fully remote, in-office opportunities are available for employees located near one of our Operations Centers. Education Requirements Minimum: Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Banking, or a related field required. Preferred: Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) or related field. Minimum Experience 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. Licenses and Certifications None required. Banking operations certifications (e.g., Certified Banking Operations Professional) or project management certifications (PMP, Six Sigma) are a plus. Technical Knowledge Deep knowledge of commercial and consumer lending regulations, documentation requirements, and compliance frameworks (TILA, HMDA, CRA, flood, CFPB). Proficiency with loan origination and closing systems, including nCino, Newgen, LaserPro, DocuSign, and DecisionPro. Working knowledge of RPA tools (UiPath or equivalent), AI-assisted workflows, and process automation concepts as applied to Bank Operations. Service & Relationship Skills Exceptional ability to build and sustain strong service partnerships with banking partners creating a closing experience that enables banker productivity and customer satisfaction. Skill in designing and managing service-level agreements, tracking performance metrics, and implementing corrective action when service standards are not met. Leadership & People Management Proven ability to lead large, geographically dispersed teams with multiple layers of management in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment. Strong coaching, mentoring, and performance management capabilities. Ability to drive culture change and embed continuous improvement as a departmental norm. Process Improvement & Innovation Demonstrated ability to identify operational inefficiencies and lead structured improvement projects using Lean Six Sigma, or similar methodologies. Experience with AI and automation strategy development, including use-case identification, stakeholder alignment, and post-implementation measurement. Comfort and curiosity with emerging technologies and a commitment to transforming traditional operational processes through digital innovation. Communication & Influence Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex operational and strategic topics clearly to executive leadership, cross-functional partners, and frontline team members. Strong influencing skills with the ability to build consensus and drive action across organizational boundaries Physical Demands Ability to communicate in person, on the phone, and through electronic channels Ability to use a computer on a frequent basis, including typing and sustained attention to a monitor Ability to sit, walk, and/or stand for extended periods of time Ability to bend and reach Work Environment Candidates may be located anywhere within our 8-state footprint (FL, GA, AL, VA, SC, NC, TX, CO). Although this role can be fully remote, in-office opportunities are available for employees located near one of our Operations Centers. Office: This position can report to a physical Company location, and the setting will be a typical office environment. Remote or hybrid: For remote or hybrid positions, a secure and distraction-free setting is required, with a reliable internet connection (cable or fiber preferred, mobile hotspots not acceptable). Hybrid positions will report to a physical Company location, as directed by the manager, and that setting will be a typical office environment. In accordance with Colorado and Virginia law: Pay for this position is anticipated to be between $178,073.00 - $284,455.00 , actual offers to be determined based on applicant’s skills, experience and education. While the anticipated deadline for the job posting is 08-08-2026, we encourage you to submit your application as we may still consider qualified candidates beyond this date. Benefits | SouthState Careers Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled/veterans. Our business model supports the unique character of the communities we serve and encourages decision making by the banker that is closest to the customer. We think and act like owners and measure success over entire economic cycles. We prioritize soundness before short-term profitability and growth.