Position Summary and Role Impact:
The Vice President of Consumer Lending Analytics is a high-visibility executive leadership role that will drive growth and improve risk-adjusted returns for Merrick’s Recreational business. Merrick’s Recreational Lending business offers secured installment loans through our dealer partners for RVs, boats, trailers, and more. The VP will lead a cross-functional team of data scientists and business analysts, including people leaders and individual contributors, to drive improvements across credit strategy, verification strategy, pricing, valuations, collections, and recoveries. The Vice President will align resources across cross-functional teams – including business line partners, finance, legal, compliance, second line credit risk, and technology – and external vendors to launch new initiatives that advance business priorities and needs of both our partners and end customers.
Ideally, the qualified candidate will work at the South Jordan, UT location, however a hybrid/remote work model or other locations can be considered based on hiring manager decision and priorities of the role.
Essential Functions:
- People Leadership: Lead, motivate, and develop a cross-functional team of people leaders and individual contributors, fostering a culture of high performance, learning and development, and high associate engagement.
- Credit Strategy: Optimize credit policies such as approve/decline criteria, policy limits, verification requirements, and risk model implementations.
- Performance Monitoring and Valuations: Develop, monitor, and interpret key performance indicators (KPIs) and financial metrics to effectively manage the P&L, providing actionable insights that support strategic decision-making.
- Data Science and Modeling: Oversee the roadmap and delivery of data science initiatives (such as credit risk underwriting models) supporting the Consumer Lending businesses
- Pricing & Product Optimization: Conduct comprehensive, data-driven analyses and market research to identify opportunities for product enhancements, pricing adjustments, and partner/customer experience improvements that improve profitability and market positioning.
- Verification Strategy: Evaluate internal policies and external solutions to improve customer verifications such as income and employment.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Build relationships and partner closely with internal stakeholders — including business line partners, finance, legal, compliance, second line credit risk, and technology — and external vendors to coordinate efforts, share insights, and ensure successful implementation of strategic initiatives.
- Perform other duties as assigned by senior management.
- Maintain ethical standards, judgment, and confidentiality in all matters.
Requirements for Success:
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field (e.g., Business, Economics, Finance, Statistics, Engineering, Math, or Sciences) is required.
- Ten (10) or more years of experience using data-driven analysis to inform business or product strategy.
- Five (5) or more years of people leadership experience.
Knowledge, Skills and Capabilities:
- Demonstrated track record of success with progressively increasing scope and responsibility.
- Strong communications skills with the ability to present to C-Suite leadership.
- Proficiency with SQL or a scripting language (e.g., Python, R).
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools such as Excel and PowerPoint.
- Proven ability to develop cross-functional relationships and get work done across departments.
- Previous experience in consumer financial services or fintech industries, particularly with indirect and/or secured lending products.
- Experience with credit policy and/or pricing strategies.
- Experience overseeing the development and launch of machine learning models in a lending business.
- High curiosity and learning agility, with a strong initiative and willingness to roll up one’s sleeves.
- Familiarity with consumer financial services regulations.
Compliance with Laws & Regulations:
- Responsible for developing, documenting, communicating, maintaining, and enforcing effective control system policies and procedures within your area of oversight.
- Responsible to act in a timely manner to update policies and procedures when changes in operating conditions occur and / or breakdowns or noncompliance with laws and regulations appear.
- Responsible for complying with all of the Bank’s internal control policies and procedures.
- Responsible for understanding and complying with all laws and regulations to which the Bank is subject.
- Responsible for communicating problems in operations, noncompliance with the code of conduct, noncompliance with laws and regulations, policy violations, or illegal acts.
