As a Vice President - Lead Credit Officer on the Real Estate Banking team, you will be responsible for leading transaction-level credit review and ongoing portfolio credit oversight for a portfolio of clients. You will have primary day-to-day responsibility for managing new and existing credit exposure to developers, owners, operators, and sponsors. Real Estate Banking originates and manages a portfolio of credit products including real estate asset-level financings for ground-up construction, bridge facilities and stabilized term loans, entity-level working capital lines of credit, subscription lines for real estate private equity funds, as well as derivatives and treasury products.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead transaction-level credit due diligence and provide credit expertise in reviewing new facilities for recapitalizations, acquisitions, construction/development and general corporate purposes.
• Drive the credit approval process by reviewing and challenging key assumptions in financial, collateral, and sponsor/guarantor analyses; identify key risks, mitigants, and recommended structure/terms; and escalate approval recommendations as required.
• Articulate and defend credit approval rationale with senior leadership during internal approval committee meetings and periodic portfolio reviews, addressing key risks and mitigants, structuring considerations, and risk rating rationale.
• Ensure end-to-end credit processes are executed in a timely and efficient manner for new loan closings and amendments; contribute directly to drafting and refining credit memos while leveraging junior support as appropriate.
• Mentor and coach junior team members by providing hands-on guidance, constructive challenge, and timely feedback on credit analyses and approval materials.
• Serve as an escalation point for Portfolio Management on issues related to ongoing monitoring; maintain comprehensive oversight of the credit relationship, including exposure, collateral, threshold management, compliance, emerging risks, potential problems, and opportunities.
• Own risk rating quality and governance across assigned clients by ensuring rating rationale is well-supported, trends and early-warning indicators are identified, and documentation is consistent with internal standards and policy expectations.
• Coordinate with product partners (including treasury and derivatives stakeholders) to ensure appropriate monitoring of related exposures and key terms.
• Review loan and derivative documentation and support negotiation alongside internal partners (e.g., client coverage, legal, product teams), ensuring key negotiated terms are properly reflected in the final credit approval package.
• Ensure compliance with audit and administrative requirements, including adherence to internal policies and procedures and applicable regulatory guidance.
  

Required Qualifications, Capabilities and Skills

• 5+ years of experience in commercial real estate (CRE) underwriting, lending, credit risk, or other applicable financial services experience
• Commercial real estate industry expertise (asset-level and portfolio credit)
• Advanced knowledge of financial statements and accounting
• Strong understanding of financial products, corporate finance, and market dynamics
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly articulate credit rationale and key risks
• Ability to effectively present analysis and interact with key stakeholders 
• Highly proficient in Excel, PowerPoint and Word
  

Preferred Qualifications, Capabilities and Skills

• Experience reviewing and negotiating documentation related to credit agreements and trading/derivative documents (in partnership with internal stakeholders)
• Demonstrated capability to perform diligence and engage with clients when required