Director/Lead Asset Manager

Location: Itasca, IL | Norwalk, CT | Montreal, Canada - the resource can sit in 1 of these 3 geographic locations - if you do not reside in these areas, you will not be qualified for the role. Schedule: Hybrid - 3 days per week in office Travel: Limited travel, generally no more than once per month initially, with travel expected to scale back to only a few times per year Compensation: $75-90/hour W2 Position Overview Our client, a large, automotive manufacturer with a corporate presence, is seeking a Director / Lead Asset Manager to lead the strategic evolution of its equipment finance asset management function. This is a newly created leadership opportunity within a rapidly growing equipment finance organization managing a $7B portfolio and originating approximately $1.5-$2B annually. This individual will have the opportunity to redesign processes, improve asset recovery and portfolio performance, implement new technology and reporting capabilities, and establish more scalable, forward-looking asset management practices. Working closely with executive leadership across Finance, Risk, Credit, Operations, and Technology, this role will bring fresh thinking and practical execution to a function that has grown significantly in recent years. The successful candidate will help transform asset management from a primarily operational function into a strategic, value-driving component of the business. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced equipment finance or asset management professional who enjoys transformation, process improvement, analytics, and building scalable infrastructure—and who wants significant opportunity for growth within the organization. Key Responsibilities Lead with a CFO/General Manager perspective to optimize profitability, cost discipline, and value creation throughout the asset lifecycle. Lead governance of end-to-end asset lifecycle processes spanning origination, servicing, end-of-term, disposition, and remarketing. Develop and maintain standardized operating procedures aligned with financial services controls, audit, and compliance requirements. Improve asset data integrity, valuation accuracy, and lifecycle tracking across systems and portfolios. Develop more robust, data-driven valuation models to support deal pricing and structuring, including fair-market-value transactions. Enhance residual forecasting and loss-given-default assumptions to improve credit evaluation and risk management. Monitor and manage residual value risk across the portfolio. Leverage market data and analytics to create a more dynamic understanding of asset values over time. Partner with Finance, Risk, Credit, and Originations to improve pricing discipline, portfolio returns, and loss mitigation. End-of-Term, Disposition & Remarketing Develop forward visibility into assets approaching end-of-lease or end-of-loan. Improve decision-making around extensions versus returns, particularly where residual values may be underwater. Streamline asset intake, inventory management, and disposition-readiness processes. Optimize disposition strategies, including sell-as-is versus refurbishment, to maximize recovery values. Redesign workflows for liquidation and remarketing while minimizing holding costs. Manage and evaluate relationships with auctions, brokers, direct sales channels, and other remarketing partners. Asset Tracking & Performance Analytics Implement effective tracking of asset status, condition, location, utilization, and remarketing readiness. Establish and monitor KPIs such as recovery rates, days-to-sell, residual performance, utilization, and disposition cycle time. Develop actionable reporting and insights for senior leadership. Identify portfolio trends, risks, and opportunities that can inform broader business decisions. Define business requirements and oversee configuration of asset management, leasing, loan servicing, ERP, and asset tracking platforms. Drive automation and digital enhancements across asset lifecycle workflows. Ensure systems support auditability, regulatory compliance, data integrity, and strong internal controls. Lead process redesign and technology-enabled transformation initiatives. Establish scalable processes and infrastructure to support continued portfolio growth. Organizational Design & Change Management Define clear roles, permissions, responsibilities, and workflows across asset management, operations, and servicing teams. Improve the user experience within systems and processes to increase efficiency, data accuracy, and compliance. Lead training, communication, and change management initiatives to ensure successful adoption of new processes and technologies. Build strong cross-functional alignment with executive leadership and key stakeholders. Success in this role will include: Improved residual realization and overall portfolio returns Reduced loss severity and disposition cycle times More efficient end-of-term and remarketing processes Stronger asset valuation and residual forecasting capabilities Improved data visibility and reporting across the portfolio Increased automation and scalability across asset management processes Strong audit, compliance, and internal control outcomes A more strategic asset management function that actively contributes to profitability and decision-making Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Economics, or a related field required ; MBA or advanced degree preferred. 7+ years of experience in equipment finance, asset finance, equipment leasing, banking, or financial services operations required . Strong understanding of residual value management, asset valuation, asset-backed financing, and end-of-term processes. Experience managing or improving asset lifecycle, recovery, disposition, or remarketing processes. Experience with leasing/loan servicing systems, ERP platforms, asset tracking technologies, or related financial systems. Familiarity with SOX, audit controls, regulatory requirements, and risk governance frameworks. Strong financial modeling, analytical, and data interpretation capabilities. Demonstrated experience with process redesign, technology implementation, or operational transformation. Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across Finance, Credit, Risk, Operations, Technology, and executive leadership. #J-18808-Ljbffr Connect Search, LLC