AVP/VP, Lending

The Farm Credit System; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 68,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer match

Vacation and sick days

Paid holidays and parental leave

Job summary

Farm Credit Illinois, a member-owned agricultural financial cooperative, seeks an Assistant Vice President/VP of Lending to grow and service a rural portfolio. You will represent the organization in the community, build relationships with farmers and agribusiness, and contribute to credit decisions and lending solutions.

Responsibilities include originating loans, preparing credit packages, and maintaining a proactive servicing plan while traveling throughout the region.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, agriculture, or a related field or equivalent education, experience, and skillset sufficient to perform the essential functions of the role
• Assistant Vice President level: No prior experience required
• Vice President level: Minimum of 3 years of experience in sales or an ag-related field
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the assigned territory

Responsibilities

• Build relationships and generate new business by actively engaging in the agricultural community, identifying prospects and referral sources, and participating in member and industry events
• Drive loan growth by pursuing new business opportunities, expanding relationships through referrals and cross-selling, and maintaining an active prospect pipeline
• Apply agricultural and business knowledge to assess financial positions, advise on credit decisions, and deliver practical lending solutions across available loan products
• Originate loans by assessing member and prospect needs, identifying growth opportunities, and partnering with team members to prepare complete applications
• Prepare and support credit packages through financial analysis and collaboration with Credit Services and loan committees
• Close loans by ensuring accuracy and adherence to credit standards while delivering a positive and consistent member experience
• Proactively manage and service the loan portfolio by anticipating servicing needs, identifying and addressing risk, monitoring market conditions, and implementing effective servicing plans

Skills

Agricultural economics

Analytical skills

Communication

Relationship building

Technology proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/finance/agriculture or related field

Job description

About Farm Credit Illinois

Farm Credit Illinois (FCI) is an agricultural financial cooperative owned by more than 17,400 farmer, rural landowner, and agribusiness voting stockholders in the southern 60 counties of Illinois. Dedicated to Helping Farm Families Succeed, FCI provides competitive and flexible financing, crop insurance expertise, and Rural 1st® country life lending. FCI manages an $8 billion loan portfolio, sells 1.5 million acres of crop insurance coverage, and employs approximately 300 staff in the Mahomet headquarters and 14 regional offices. The U.S. Farm Credit System is a network of locally owned cooperatives supporting rural communities, farm families, and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services today and tomorrow.

About Farm Credit Illinois

Farm Credit Illinois (FCI) is an agricultural financial cooperative owned by more than 17,400 farmer, rural landowner, and agribusiness voting stockholders in the southern 60 counties of Illinois. Dedicated to Helping Farm Families Succeed, FCI provides competitive and flexible financing, crop insurance expertise, and Rural 1st® country life lending. FCI manages an $8 billion loan portfolio, sells 1.5 million acres of crop insurance coverage, and employs approximately 300 staff in the Mahomet headquarters and 14 regional offices. The U.S. Farm Credit System is a network of locally owned cooperatives supporting rural communities, farm families, and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services today and tomorrow.

Why Join Us

• Competitive compensation package. Grade and salary commensurate with experience, with an annualized base salary range of 68,000.00 – 122,000.00 plus a bonus based on team and individual performance. This range is a good‑faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of this posting.
• Comprehensive benefit package includes 401(k) with 3% employer contribution and 6% employer match, vacation days, sick days, 13 paid holidays, parental leave, and volunteer leave, along with medical, dental, vision, and life insurance as further described at https://www.farmcreditfoundations.com/fcfbenefits/
• Professional development and career growth opportunities.
• Opportunity to work for a reputable and community-focused financial institution dedicated to a positive, collaborative work environment that encompasses the association’s mission to serve our members and the agricultural industry as we strive to help farm families succeed

The Role

The Assistant Vice President and Vice President of Lending maintains, grows, and services a portfolio while representing Farm Credit Illinois in the community and creating relationships with the people of rural America.

What You Will Contribute

• Build relationships and generate new business by actively engaging in the agricultural community, identifying prospects and referral sources, and participating in member and industry events
• Drive loan growth by pursuing new business opportunities, expanding relationships through referrals and cross‑selling, and maintaining an active prospect pipeline
• Apply agricultural and business knowledge to assess financial positions, advise on credit decisions, and deliver practical lending solutions across available loan products
• Originate loans by assessing member and prospect needs, identifying growth opportunities, and partnering with team members to prepare complete applications
• Prepare and support credit packages through financial analysis and collaboration with Credit Services and loan committees
• Close loans by ensuring accuracy and adherence to credit standards while delivering a positive and consistent member experience
• Proactively manage and service the loan portfolio by anticipating servicing needs, identifying and addressing risk, monitoring market conditions, and implementing effective servicing plans

Required Skills

What We Are Looking For

• General knowledge of agricultural economics and farm operations
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills
• Ability to assess complex financial and business information
• Effective communication and relationship‑building skills
• Comfort using technology and data to improve efficiency and sales effectiveness
• Ability to collaborate, build trust, and work effectively across teams

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, agriculture, or a related field or equivalent education, experience, and skillset sufficient to perform the essential functions of the role
• Assistant Vice President level: No prior experience required
• Vice President level: Minimum of 3 years of experience in sales or an ag‑related field
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the assigned territory

Farm Credit Illinois is an Equal Employment / affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate in hiring based on any characteristic protected by law. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this e‑mail address.