National Life Group

Sr. Associate, Commercial Real Estate

National Life Group$86K — $127K *
Real Estate & Construction
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of combined education and relevant work experience; Bachelor's degree plus 4-6 years in a related role.
  • 3-5 years of experience in commercial real estate (CRE) asset management, lending or credit.
  • Demonstrated ability to contribute to a large CRE loan portfolio and financial analysis.
  • Strong skills in DCF modeling and real estate credit analysis.
  • Experience with portfolio analytics and risk modeling.
  • Ability to drive cross-functional initiatives to completion.
  • Advanced Excel skills for financial modeling.

Responsibilities

  • Support the management of a multi-billion-dollar CRE loan portfolio.
  • Monitor loan performance, including funding approvals and covenant compliance.
  • Act as primary contact for borrowers and loan servicers, enhancing asset performance.
  • Contribute to strategies for maximizing recovery on watchlist and REO assets.
  • Conduct financial analysis and risk assessment for potential loan modifications.
  • Design and maintain portfolio analytics and performance dashboards.
  • Assist in evaluating new investments and market intelligence.

Benefits

  • Flexible and customizable benefits starting from day one.
Full Job Description
Please note that we do not offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Role Summary

As a member of the Commercial Real Estate team, you will support the management of a diversified commercial mortgage portfolio, contributing to asset performance, credit analysis, credit risk management, and portfolio monitoring. This role focuses requires a hands-on professional who can operate across asset management, analytics, borrower relationships, and operations - supporting both investment outcomes and platform efficiency

You will partner with senior team members to provide insights on portfolio performance, contribute to investment analysis, portfolio construction, and risk management, while participating in cross-functional initiatives that enhance scalability, reporting, and operational effectiveness across the platform.

This position currently offers an onsite work schedule, with the expectation that you are in the office four (4) days per week during onsite core days. Our current onsite core days are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The work schedule type and core days are subject to change with advance notification and manager discretion.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Portfolio & Asset Management
  • Support the management of a large-scale CRE loan portfolio (multi-billion-dollar exposure across asset classes).
  • Monitor loan performance including funding approvals, leasing activity, covenant compliance, and borrower requests.
  • Serve as a primary point of contact for loan servicers, mortgage bankers and borrowers, proactively managing relationships and identifying opportunities to enhance asset performance.
  • Monitor watchlist and REO assets and contribute to asset-level strategies that maximize recovery and value.

Credit & Risk Analysis
  • Perform financial analysis, re-underwriting, and stress testing to identify potential risks.
  • Contribute to quarterly reporting and valuation processes, including DCF modeling and market analysis.
  • Assist in evaluating loan modifications, extensions, and restructurings and workouts including distressed scenarios such as foreclosures or note sales.
  • Partner with legal, accounting, and servicing teams to support credit and risk-related activities

Portfolio Analytics & Reporting
  • Design and maintain portfolio-level analytics, including stress models, KPIs, and performance dashboards.
  • Provide actionable insights to support evaluation of credit trends, risk exposure, and portfolio performance.
  • Support continuous improvement in reporting processes, automation, and data quality.

Investment & Origination Support
  • Partner with originations to evaluate new investments, including underwriting, structuring, and IC memo preparation.
  • Provide market intelligence and peer benchmarking to support investment decisions.

Operational Execution & Platform Support
  • Support execution of borrower requests in conjunction with 3rd party loan servicers including lease approvals, reserve disbursements, ownership transfers, and collateral modifications.
  • Ensure integrity and accuracy of loan data across internal systems and reporting platforms.
  • Participate in cross-functional initiatives across servicing, IT, accounting, and asset management.
  • Identify and implement efficiency improvements (reporting automation, system enhancements, vendor optimization).

People & Leadership
  • Mentor and develop junior asset management professionals, providing guidance, training, and oversight of analytical work.
  • Support hiring and onboarding of analysts and associates.
  • Help build scalable processes and best practices to support team growth.

All other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
  • 8 or more years Total Combined post-secondary education and relevant work experience: Bachelor's degree and 4 - 6 years of related experience.
  • 3 - 5 years of experience in commercial real estate asset management, lending, or credit.
  • Proven ability to make meaningful contributions to a large CRE loan portfolio, underwriting, or financial analysis.
  • Strong skills in DCF modeling, valuation, and real estate credit analysis
  • Experience with portfolio analytics, stress testing, or risk modeling
  • Proven ability to work cross-functionally and drive initiatives to completion
  • Advanced Excel skills (financial modeling and scenario analysis)

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with loan workouts, bridge lending, or transitional assets
  • Familiarity with commercial loan servicing or asset management platforms
  • Argus Enterprise certification or equivalent experience
  • Experience presenting to investment committee or senior leadership
  • MBA or advanced degree in real estate, finance, or related field


AI Proficiency Expectations

At National Life Group, we view AI as an enabler of human potential. We use AI to help us work smarter, serve more clients, and keep our promises, while remaining a relationship-driven business where our people are our greatest strength.

All applicants are expected to:
  • Leverage approved AI tools, where appropriate, to improve the efficiency, quality, and impact of their work.
  • Stay curious and open to new AI-enabled ways of working.
  • Exercise sound judgment by reviewing and validating AI-generated content.
  • Maintain accountability for the accuracy, quality, fairness, and integrity of work products by adhering to National Life's AI guiding principles.
  • Use AI responsibly and in accordance with company policies related to confidentiality, data privacy, security, compliance, retention and intellectual property.

Benefits
  • Your benefits start day one and are flexible and customizable to your and your family's specific needs. Check out the BENEFITS of a Career at National Life!


Base Pay Range. The base pay range for this position is the range National Life reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for the position taking into account the wide variety of factors, including: prior experience and job-related knowledge; education, training and certificates; current business needs; and market factors. The final salary or hourly wages offered may be outside of this range based on other reasons and individual circumstances.

Additional Compensation and Benefits. The total compensation package for this position may also include a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. The successful candidate may also be eligible to participate in National Life's discretionary annual incentive programs, subject to the rules governing such programs. If hired, the employee will be in an "at-will position" and National Life reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

National Life is accepting applications for this role on an ongoing basis and the role remains open until filled.

Salary Pay Range

$86,625-$127,050 USD

About National Life Group

National Life Group is a diversified financial services company that offers life insurance, annuities, and investment products. The company was founded in 1848 and is headquartered in Montpelier, Vermont. National Life Group is committed to providing financial security to its policyholders and has been recognized for its corporate social responsibility initiatives. The company has over 1,000 employees and operates in all 50 states.
Learn more about National Life Group
Size
1,000 employees
Industry

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