Chief Credit Risk & Portfolio Strategy

Civista Bancshares, Inc.; Sandusky (OH); On-site; USD 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Civista Bancshares, Inc. is seeking a Chief Credit Officer to lead credit risk management, policy development, and portfolio governance. You will partner with lending, finance, risk, and compliance teams to ensure asset quality and regulatory compliance while enabling profitable portfolio growth.

The role oversees CECL methodology, loan review coordination, and credit administration, with accountability to the Board and executive leadership. Strong leadership and strategic vision are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive commercial banking and credit risk management experience, including senior leadership responsibilities.
• Extensive knowledge of commercial lending, credit analysis, loan portfolio management, regulatory requirements, and risk management practices.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing large and complex credit portfolios.
• Strong understanding of CECL methodologies, allowance processes, and financial statement analysis.
• Experience interacting with bank regulators, auditors, and loan review professionals.
• Proven leadership and team development capabilities.
• Strong strategic thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship management abilities.
• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Proficiency with credit administration technologies, reporting tools, and Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain the Bank’s overall credit risk management strategy consistent with corporate objectives and risk tolerance.
• Establish and maintain loan policies, underwriting standards, approval authorities, procedures, and internal controls.
• Provide leadership and guidance to lending teams regarding credit risk management standards and expectations.
• Monitor industry trends, economic conditions, regulatory developments, and emerging credit risks that may impact portfolio performance.
• Promote a culture of prudent risk management while supporting responsible business growth.
• Monitor the overall quality and performance of the Bank’s loan portfolio.
• Oversee reporting and analysis of credit quality metrics, including delinquencies, criticized and classified assets, nonperforming loans, concentrations, and charge-offs.
• Identify emerging portfolio risks and direct corrective action plans to mitigate potential losses.
• Evaluate portfolio trends and recommend strategic initiatives to strengthen asset quality and portfolio performance.
• Ensure ongoing monitoring processes support timely identification and escalation of credit concerns.
• Oversee the Bank’s credit approval process and ensure consistency in underwriting decisions.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive management and lending teams regarding significant credit relationships, complex transactions, and underwriting issues.
• Provide oversight and guidance regarding Commercial Leasing and Finance (CLF) credit management activities.
• Collaborate with business line leaders to balance growth objectives with sound credit administration practices.
• Promote consistency in credit decision-making across all lending functions.
• Oversee the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) methodology, calculations, and supporting analysis.
• Prepare and present asset quality, portfolio performance, and credit risk reports to executive management and the Board of Directors.
• Coordinate activities involving regulators, external auditors, internal auditors, and independent loan review providers.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of credit risk metrics and portfolio information.
• Support regulatory examinations and audit processes by maintaining strong documentation and governance practices.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and professional development for credit administration personnel.
• Establish departmental objectives, performance standards, and strategic priorities.
• Ensure systems, resources, and processes effectively support the credit risk management function.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Support succession planning and talent development within the credit organization.
• Participate actively in Senior Management and Line of Business leadership meetings, providing strategic guidance and credit risk expertise.
• Partner with Lending, Finance, Risk Management, Compliance, Operations, and other business leaders to support organizational goals.
• Contribute to strategic planning initiatives, mergers and acquisitions evaluations, new product reviews, and other enterprise-wide projects as appropriate.
• Provide executive-level insights regarding credit performance, portfolio trends, and emerging risks.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, accounting standards, and internal policies governing lending and credit administration.
• Maintain strong internal controls and risk management practices throughout the credit lifecycle.
• Support the Bank’s overall enterprise risk management framework and governance processes.
• Promote adherence to regulatory expectations and industry best practices.
• Directly supervise credit administration management and designated credit personnel.
• Responsible for hiring, coaching, performance management, succession planning, and professional development within the credit function.
• Establish accountability standards and monitor departmental performance against established goals.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Communication

Decision making

Problem solving

Relationship management

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Civista Bancshares, Inc. is seeking a Chief Credit Officer to lead credit risk management, policy development, and portfolio governance. You will partner with lending, finance, risk, and compliance teams to ensure asset quality and regulatory compliance while enabling profitable portfolio growth.

The role oversees CECL methodology, loan review coordination, and credit administration, with accountability to the Board and executive leadership. Strong leadership and strategic vision are essential.