Chief Lending Officer

The Company is seeking a Chief Lending Officer to spearhead its lending strategy and drive growth across various lending sectors, including commercial, real estate, agricultural, mortgage, and consumer lending. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and executing a lending strategy that is in line with the company's strategic plan and community banking mission. This role requires a focus on profitable loan growth, the identification of new lending opportunities within the company's risk appetite, and the maintenance of a disciplined approach to credit quality and risk management. The Chief Lending Officer will also be tasked with overseeing loan origination, structuring, pricing, and relationship management, as well as ensuring that lending practices adhere to Board-approved policies and credit standards. Applicants for the Chief Lending Officer position at the company should have a Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or a related field, with an MBA preferred, and 10-15 years of progressive lending experience within a community or regional bank. Strong commercial and real estate lending experience, particularly within Michigan markets, is essential. The role demands a proven track record in leadership, relationship management, and a deep understanding of bank credit practices, FDIC regulations, and safety-and-soundness standards. The ideal candidate will have the ability to balance lending growth with disciplined credit risk management, and possess strong collaboration skills with credit, compliance, operations, and executive leadership. Responsibilities also include leading and developing the lending team, maintaining key customer and community partner relationships, and providing senior management and Board reporting on lending activities.