The Role: SVP/ Construction Lending Manager

The Location: SB, LA, OC, SD, California

Your Opportunity: Construction Lending Manager

The Construction Lending Manager plays a critical role in supporting the Bank's commercial lending strategy by overseeing the underwriting, approval, and ongoing administration of construction loan relationships. This position is responsible for evaluating construction lending opportunities to ensure they align with the Bank's credit philosophy, risk appetite, and safe and sound lending practices while delivering a high level of service to clients and internal partners.

Serving as a subject matter expert throughout the construction lending lifecycle, the Construction Lending Manager partners closely with Relationship Managers, borrowers, developers, contractors, and third-party professionals to assess project feasibility, analyze construction budgets, evaluate project risks, and monitor construction progress from initial underwriting through final completion. The role ensures construction projects remain on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with approved loan terms while maintaining strong credit quality across the Bank's construction loan portfolio.

This position also monitors assigned construction loans for payment performance, renewals, annual reviews, criticized assets, covenant compliance, and portfolio risk trends. Collaboration with loan origination, credit administration, fund control, appraisal professionals, and executive leadership is essential to maintaining efficient workflows, exceptional client service, and prudent portfolio management. The Construction Lending Manager also assists the Chief Credit Officer and senior management with reporting, portfolio analysis, and other strategic initiatives as assigned.

What You'll Do

Construction Loan Origination & Underwriting

• Partner with Relationship Managers, borrowers, developers, and builders to evaluate construction lending opportunities and determine overall project feasibility.
• Assess whether proposed construction financing aligns with the Bank's lending strategy, credit standards, and risk tolerance.
• Evaluate construction project scope, including:
  • Ground-up construction
  • Tenant Improvements (TI)
  • Renovations and rehabilitation projects
  • Land development
  • Mixed-use and other commercial construction projects
• Analyze borrower experience, project viability, repayment sources, and overall project risk.
• Prepare comprehensive credit analyses and Credit Approval Memorandums (CAMs) for loan approval.

Construction Budget & Cost Analysis

• Receive, review, and approve detailed construction cost breakdowns.
• Maintain responsibility for the integrity of the construction budget from initial review through project completion.
• Ensure final construction budgets reconcile with executed General Contractor contracts prior to loan documentation and fund control setup.
• Review:
  • Construction budgets
  • Cost breakdowns
  • Soft costs
  • Hard costs
  • Financing costs
  • Contingency reserves
• Order and review independent construction cost analyses when appropriate.
• Resolve budget variances and recommend modifications as needed.

Project Due Diligence

• Review and evaluate:
  • Architectural plans and specifications
  • Soil and geotechnical reports
  • Engineering reports
  • Environmental reports
  • Title reports
  • Surveys
  • Appraisals
• Determine when Conditional Use Permits (CUPs), zoning approvals, or other governmental approvals are required.
• Verify that all project documentation is complete before loan closing.

Contractor & Borrower Evaluation

• Provide legal oversight and counsel regarding SEC reporting obligations and public company Review and approve construction contracts and architect agreements.
• Assess contractor qualifications including:
  • Licensing
  • Relevant project experience
  • Financial strength
  • Reputation
  • Trade references
  • Insurance requirements
• Perform background reviews on borrowers, guarantors, and contractors as appropriate.
• For SBA construction loans:
  • Collect contractor financial statements
  • Review trade references
  • Complete financial analysis
  • Ensure SBA compliance requirements are satisfied.
  • Verify borrower equity contributions and project sources of funds.

Construction Administration & Portfolio Management

• Monitor construction loans throughout the life of the project.
• Coordinate with Fund Control to ensure timely and accurate project funding.
• Review draw requests and supporting documentation.
• Obtain and review:

• Invoices
• Lien releases
• Change orders
• Inspection reports

• Ensure reimbursement requests comply with approved project budgets.
• Perform periodic site inspections to verify construction progress.
• Monitor project timelines, budgets, completion status, and construction milestones.
• Identify project risks early and recommend corrective action when necessary.

Portfolio Monitoring

• Monitor assigned construction loan portfolio for:
  • Payment performance
  • Maturity dates
  • Renewals
  • Annual reviews
  • Covenant compliance
  • Criticized and classified loans
• Prepare loan modifications and renewal recommendations.
• Maintain ongoing communication with borrowers regarding project performance and financial condition.
• Ensure all loan files remain complete, current, and compliant with Bank policy and regulatory requirements.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Collaborate effectively with:
  • Relationship Managers
  • Credit Administration
  • Loan Operations
  • Fund Control
  • Appraisers
  • Attorneys
  • Inspectors
  • Title Companies
  • Executive Management
• Support loan origination staff by providing construction lending expertise throughout the underwriting and closing process.
• Provide an exceptional level of service to clients while balancing prudent risk management.
• Assist the Chief Credit Officer and executive leadership with internal reporting, portfolio analytics, policy development, and special projects as assigned.

AML/CFT/Compliance Responsibilities

This position includes direct or indirect interaction with customers and other employees and therefore includes responsibilities relating to BSA/AML. The employee will have opportunity to examine and view information and documents produced by other employees of the Bank relating to BSA and therefore has the obligation to report suspicious activity to the BSA Officer as appropriate. The employee is responsible for understanding and following the Bank's BSA/AML policies including elevating suspicious activity to the BSA Officer. Additionally, the employee is required to understand and follow the Bank's compliance program BSA/AML policies including elevating suspicious activity to the BSA Officer. Additionally, the employee is required to understand and follow the Bank's compliance program.

Who You Are

Experience & Expertise

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Real Estate, Construction Management, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and directly related experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in commercial construction lending, commercial underwriting, commercial real estate lending, or construction portfolio management.
• Experience with construction lending at a commercial bank or financial institution strongly preferred.
• Comprehensive understanding of commercial credit analysis, construction financing, and portfolio management principles.
• Expertise in commercial lending, credit structures, and banking operations.

Mindset & Values

• You lead with accountability, integrity, and consistency.
• You thrive in a collaborative environment where transparency and follow-through matter.
• You model professionalism, calm under pressure, and a solutions-oriented mindset.
• You embrace data-driven decision-making while maintaining a client-first perspective.
• You embody CalPrivate's culture, heart for client, excellence in service, and deep commitment to the Bank and its people.

Physical Demands

• May require some travel in order to support clients, cultivate business development opportunities and meeting with prospects.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to physically use a keyboard/mouse
• Ability to walk to and from workstations
• Ability to frequently lift and/or move up to 10lbs and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus

If you're looking for a place where your work will matter, your ideas will be valued, and your growth will be supported, welcome to CalPrivate Bank! Ready to lead with purpose?