Chief Lending Officer

With over $2 Billion in assets, 7 17 Credit Union is a progressive and community-minded financial institution headquartered in Warren, Ohio and offering credit union membership to anyone in the state. With 15 branches (and an additional 3 by the end of 2026), state of the art technology and a solid team, 7 17 Credit Union is able to provide banking services to more than 140,000 members. The credit union has become one of the most respected and financially sound institutions in the industry and has been awarded the NorthCoast 99 which recognizes the credit union as one of the top workplaces in Northeast Ohio for top talent. They help people improve their lives financially and support the communities they serve.

The Credit Union is in search of an innovative and strategic lending professional to join their team as the Chief Lending Officer.  The CLO is the executive leader responsible for the strategic direction, performance, and risk management of all lending functions at 7 17 Credit Union. This includes Consumer Lending, Mortgage Lending, Commercial Lending, and Member Solutions (Collections).

The CLO ensures strong credit quality, portfolio growth, product innovation, and operational excellence across all lending channels. This role requires a seasoned commercial lending executive with deep analytical expertise, strong credit acumen, and the ability to lead complex, cross‑organizational initiatives. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the CLO shares fiscal responsibility and plays a central role in shaping and executing the Credit Union’s strategic plan.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Set the long‑term strategic direction for all lending divisions, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, member needs, and market opportunities.
• Lead the development of lending strategies that optimize portfolio mix, profitability, and risk‑adjusted returns.
• Serve as a key contributor to enterprise‑wide strategic planning, ALCO discussions, and balance sheet optimization initiatives.
• Champion innovation in lending products, delivery channels, and technology platforms.

Commercial, Consumer, Mortgage & Collections Oversight

• Provide executive leadership to Commercial Lending, Consumer Lending, Mortgage Lending, and Member Solutions (Collections).
• Ensure strong credit discipline, underwriting quality, and adherence to lending policies across all product lines.
• Oversee complex commercial credit relationships, loan structuring, and portfolio management.
• Direct the Collections and Recovery functions to mitigate losses and maintain regulatory compliance.

Credit Risk, Analytics & ALCO

• Lead the Credit Union’s credit analytics capabilities, including pricing analytics, NEV modeling, IRR, liquidity planning, and balance sheet strategy.
• Drive development and refinement of pricing models, risk‑based pricing strategies, and profitability analytics.
• Ensure accurate allowance methodologies (CECL), portfolio stress testing, and credit migration analysis.
• Provide executive‑level insight to ALCO, including scenario modeling, rate strategy, and capital planning.

Technology, Systems & FinTech Partnerships

• Oversee implementation, optimization, and governance of Loan Origination Systems (LOS) and related lending technologies.
• Lead FinTech partnership evaluations, integrations, and vendor negotiations to enhance lending capabilities and member experience.
• Ensure strong data governance, reporting accuracy, and analytics maturity across lending systems.

Regulatory, Compliance & Legal Oversight

• Ensure all lending activities comply with federal and state regulations, NCUA guidance, and internal policies.
• Provide executive leadership during regulatory examinations, internal audits, and external reviews.
• Leverage legal knowledge to interpret complex regulatory requirements, loan documentation, and contractual obligations.
• Oversee policy development, updates, and governance for all lending‑related policies.

Organizational Leadership & Talent Development

• Build and mentor a high‑performing leadership team across all lending divisions.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure leaders at all levels are developing successors and building organizational bench strength.
• Promote cross‑departmental collaboration and communication.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field required.
• Master’s degree or Juris Doctor preferred.
• Formal commercial credit training strongly preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of Commercial Lending experience as a commercial lending sales leader, market president, or equivalent senior role.
• Demonstrated success leading large, multi‑disciplinary lending teams.
• Deep experience in commercial credit underwriting, portfolio management, and credit risk assessment.
• Proven track record implementing LOS platforms, digital lending solutions, and/or FinTech integrations.
• Experience working directly with ALCO, including pricing analytics, NEV, IRR, and liquidity planning.
• Strong background in regulatory compliance, loan documentation, and legal interpretation.