Executive Director, US Head of SCIB Transaction Management

Executive Director, US Head of SCIB Transaction Management

Country: United States of America

It Starts Here:

Santander is a global leader and innovator in the financial services industry and is evolving from a high-impact brand into a technology-driven organization. Our people are at the heart of this journey and together, we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what's possible. This is more than a strategic shift. It's a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference.

If you are interested in exploring the possibilities We Want to Talk to You!

The Difference You Make:

The US Head of SCIB Transaction Management is an Executive Director level role responsible for leading the US SCIB Transaction Management function within US SCIB COO Lending Solutions. The role reports directly to the US SCIB Chief Operating Officer and provides senior leadership over the approval-to-close and approval-to-book control framework for SCIB lending transactions in the United States. The function acts as a central first line execution and control point across the lending lifecycle, coordinating with Front Office, Advisory, Credit, Legal, Compliance, Agency, Capital Markets, Treasury, Finance, Operations, and Client Lifecycle Management teams to ensure transactions are executed, closed, booked, funded, settled, and handed off in a controlled and auditable manner. Objectives are to 1) strengthen execution discipline and control integrity across SCIB lending, 2) ensure transactions are consistent with credit approvals, documentation, KYC/AML requirements, regulatory expectations, and operational readiness standards, and 3) support the Business Lines and clients through timely, high-quality transaction execution. The role involves leading the US Transaction Management team, designing and embedding the Lending Solutions transaction management operating model, maintaining robust transaction controls, and driving process improvement across the front-to-back lending lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership

• Execute the US SCIB Transaction Management strategy within US SCIB COO Lending Solutions, aligned to SCIB business priorities, control standards, and regulatory expectations.

• Define the role of Transaction Management as the senior first line execution and control function from credit approval through closing, booking, funding, settlement, and lifecycle handoff.

• Establish consistent standards across SCIB lending businesses, including bilateral, club, syndicated, leveraged finance, corporate, structured finance, real estate, fund finance, GTB-linked credit, participant, left lead, and agency transactions.

• Present and participate in senior governance forums, including transaction execution, controls, operational risk, audit, remediation, and business management forums.

2. Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and manage the US Transaction Management team to ensure high performance, accountability, professional development, and appropriate coverage across SCIB lending activity.

• Oversee team capacity, prioritization, resource allocation, role clarity, procedures, training, and quality standards to support business needs and control expectations.

• Serve as the senior escalation point for complex, high-risk, time-sensitive, or cross-functional transaction execution issues.

3. Operational Oversight

• Supervise end-to-end transaction management activities covering deal readiness, closing preparation, documentation tracking, conditions precedent, control evidence, booking instructions, funding readiness, settlement coordination, and handoff to monitoring and servicing.

• Ensure all required approvals, KYC/AML diligence, legal documentation, compliance checks, operational requirements, collateral/security requirements, insurance requirements, UCC and lien perfection actions, flood diligence, covenant setup, risk system updates, deal capture, and booking data are completed or appropriately escalated before closing and funding.

• Coordinate across Front Office, Advisory, Legal, Credit, Compliance, Agency, Capital Markets, Treasury, Finance, Operations, Client Service, Client Data, Middle Office, and Back Office to resolve execution issues and confirm transaction readiness.

• Ensure booking instructions are accurate, complete, timely, and consistent with approved terms and executed documentation.

4. Compliance and Risk Management

• Maintain a robust first line transaction control framework to prevent unauthorized closings, unsupported fundings, booking defects, documentation gaps, and unresolved approval inconsistencies.

• Ensure material changes to approved terms are identified, escalated, and re-approved where required, including amendments or waivers that trigger new approval requirements.

• Oversee exception management, including formal tracking, risk assessment, approvals, aging, escalation, and remediation of transaction execution and post-close issues.

• Act as a primary point of contact for audits, regulatory examinations, internal control reviews, credit risk reviews, and remediation activities related to lending execution, transaction management, closing controls, and booking readiness.

5. Transformation / Process Improvement

• Lead the build-out and continuous improvement of the US SCIB Transaction Management target operating model, including lifecycle maps, RACI matrices, procedures, controls, closing checklists, KPIs, KRIs, issue logs, and management reporting.

• Identify and implement process and technology solutions, in partnership with Technology and Operations, to improve workflow transparency, control evidence, document tracking, data quality, system updates, and post-close validation.

• Drive harmonization across business lines while recognizing differences by product, client segment, booking model, agency role, syndication process, and participant-only transaction profile.

• Monitor transaction execution performance, root causes of defects, cycle times, control breaks, and recurring issues; implement corrective actions and sustainable remediation.

6. Stakeholder Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with SCIB Business Lines, Front Office, Advisory, Credit, Legal, Compliance, Capital Markets, Agency, Treasury, Finance, Technology, Operations, Client Service, Client Data, and Back Office to support a unified and controlled approach to lending execution.

• Partner with Portfolio Management, Credit, Agency, Operations, and Servicing teams to ensure effective lifecycle handoffs for covenants, collateral, insurance, ratings, amendments, waivers, monitoring, servicing, and regulatory reporting impacts.

• Engage with auditors, regulators, third-party vendors, and global SCIB partners as required.

What You Bring:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications:

Bachelor degree or equivalent work experience. Deep knowledge of CIB lending execution, credit approvals, loan documentation, KYC/AML, collateral, covenants, loan booking, funding, settlement, controls, and lifecycle servicing handoffs.

Skills:

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, execution management, and risk assessment abilities.

• Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, and senior-level communication skills.

• Ability to challenge constructively while supporting timely client and business outcomes.

• Proficiency with lending workflow, credit administration, loan booking, document tracking, and control reporting tools; Loan IQ or equivalent platform experience preferred.

Key Competencies:

• Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple complex transactions and priorities under time pressure.

• Sound judgment in transaction readiness, escalation, exception management, and control decisioning.

• Ability to drive operating model design, process improvement, governance discipline, and sustainable remediation.

• Credibility with senior Front Office, Credit, Legal, Compliance, Operations, Finance, and Risk stakeholders.

Education:
Bachelor Degree or equivalent work experience

Work Experience:
12-15 years of relevant experience in corporate and investment banking, lending execution, transaction management, loan operations, middle office, agency, credit administration, legal execution, or a related first line control function. Prior people management and senior stakeholder management experience required.

It Would Be Nice For You To Have:

• Established work history or equivalent demonstrated through a combination of work experience, training, military service, or education.

What Else You Need To Know:

The base pay range for this position is posted below and represents the annualized salary range. For hourly positions (non-exempt), the annual range is based on a 40-hour work week. The exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, training, licensure and certifications and location.

Base Pay Range:

Minimum:
$280,000.00 USD

Maximum:

$370,000.00 USD

We Value Your Impact:

Your contribution matters and it's recognized. You can expect a fair and competitive rewards package that reflects the impact you create and the value you deliver. We know rewards go beyond numbers. Offering more than just a paycheck our benefits are designed to support you, your family and your well-being, now and into the future. Santander Benefits - 2026 Santander OnGoing/NH eGuide (foleon.com)


Risk Culture:

We embrace a strong risk culture and all of our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management.

EEO Statement:

At Santander, we value and respect differences in our workforce. We actively encourage everyone to apply. Santander is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Working Conditions:

Frequent minimal physical effort such as sitting, standing and walking is required for this role. Depending on location, occasional moving and lifting light equipment and/or furniture may be required.

Employer Rights:

This job description does not list all of the job duties of the job. You may be asked by your supervisors or managers to perform other duties. You may be evaluated in part based upon your performance of the tasks listed in this job description. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description is not a contract for employment and either you or the employer may terminate your employment at any time for any reason.

What To Do Next :

If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply.

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible application process for all candidates. If you require any assistance or accommodation due to a disability or any other reason, please contact us at View email address on click.appcast.io to discuss your needs.