The Role: SVP, Director of Special Assets
The Location: LA, Orange County, San Diego California
Your Opportunity: Director of Special Assets
This role serves as a strategic leader within the Bank's Credit organization, balancing disciplined risk management with relationship-focused banking. The successful candidate will possess the commercial lending expertise, leadership capabilities, and sound judgment necessary to navigate complex credit situations while protecting the Bank's assets, supporting clients through challenging circumstances when appropriate, and contributing to the overall strength and stability of the loan portfolio.
The SVP, Director of Special Assets is responsible for leading the Bank's Special Assets function, overseeing a portfolio of criticized, classified, and other higher-risk commercial loan relationships while preserving asset quality and minimizing credit losses. This role provides strategic leadership for the management, restructuring, rehabilitation, and resolution of distressed commercial credits across the Bank's lending portfolio.
Working closely with Relationship Managers, Credit Administration, Legal, Loan Operations, and Executive Management, the Director develops and executes customized strategies that balance risk mitigation, client relationship management, regulatory expectations, and the Bank's long-term business objectives. The position requires exceptional commercial credit expertise, sound judgment, and the ability to navigate complex borrower situations while maintaining a high level of professionalism and client service.
In addition to managing special assets, this leader oversees a team of portfolio management professionals within the Special Assets Group, establishes departmental processes and controls, provides guidance on complex credit matters, and serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on portfolio risk trends and emerging credit concerns.
What You'll Do Leadership & Special Assets Portfolio Management- Lead and oversee the Bank's Special Assets Department, providing strategic direction, coaching, and professional development to portfolio management staff.
- Manage a portfolio of criticized, classified, watch list, and other higher-risk commercial loan relationships.
- Develop individualized action plans and exit strategies designed to maximize recovery while protecting the Bank's interests.
- Establish departmental goals, performance metrics, and best practices that align with the Bank's credit philosophy and strategic objectives.
- Ensure timely identification, escalation, and management of deteriorating credit relationships.
Credit Risk Management- Perform comprehensive financial analysis to evaluate borrower performance, liquidity, collateral adequacy, guarantor strength, and repayment capacity.
- Identify emerging risks and recommend proactive strategies to stabilize or improve credit performance.
- Review borrower financial statements, borrowing base certificates, covenant compliance, collateral valuations, and cash flow performance.
- Recommend appropriate risk ratings, loan classifications, reserve considerations, and charge-off recommendations.
- Monitor criticized assets for payment performance, covenant compliance, maturity management, and collateral protection.
Reporting & Governance- Prepare and present portfolio reports to Executive Management, Credit Committee, Board committees, and regulators.
- Monitor departmental trends, concentrations, criticized asset levels, classified assets, nonaccrual loans, charge-offs, recoveries, and other key portfolio metrics.
- Assist in the preparation of the Allowance for Credit Losses (ACL/CECL) by providing support for qualitative factors, impaired loans, and individually evaluated credits.
- Ensure timely completion of annual reviews, risk rating updates, action plans, and regulatory reporting requirements.
- Maintain accurate documentation supporting credit decisions, workout strategies, and portfolio recommendations.
Operational Excellence- Develop, implement, and continuously improve policies, procedures, and controls governing Special Assets and portfolio management activities.
- Recommend process improvements that enhance efficiency, risk management, and the overall client experience.
- Ensure compliance with all federal and state banking regulations, internal policies, and audit expectations.
- Participate in internal audits, regulatory examinations, and independent loan reviews.
- Stay current on commercial lending trends, workout strategies, regulatory guidance, and industry best practices.
Who You Are Experience & Expertise - Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive commercial banking experience with significant experience managing commercial credit portfolios, loan workouts, special assets, or credit administration.
- Previous leadership experience managing portfolio management or special assets teams preferred.
- Strong working knowledge of commercial real estate, C&I, construction, SBA, and owner-occupied lending.
- Thorough understanding of commercial loan documentation, collateral analysis, bankruptcy, foreclosure, receivership, and restructuring practices.
- Demonstrated experience negotiating complex loan modifications and workout agreements.
- Extensive knowledge of regulatory guidance governing criticized and classified assets, risk ratings, and commercial lending.
- Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities with the ability to influence senior leadership and build trusted relationships across the organization.
- High degree of integrity, sound judgment, and professionalism.
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 between regional offices to support team members, clients, and cross-functional initiatives.
- 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
