Chief Lending Officer – CRE & SBA Growth Leader

AVANA Companies; Peoria (AZ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive bonus

Health & dental

401(k) plan

Leadership development

Job summary

AVANA Companies is seeking a Chief Lending Officer to lead the origination and syndication of commercial debt across CRE and SBA 504 platforms in Arizona. The CLO will set enterprise lending strategy, integrate credit policy, and oversee the full loan portfolio's performance.

You will partner with the CEO and executive team on strategy, capital planning, and regulatory compliance, while driving AI-enabled risk analysis and responsible growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or related field (MBA preferred).
• 12+ years in commercial banking, private credit, or CRE lending with senior leadership.
• Deep CRE and SBA loan structuring, credit risk management, and portfolio administration.

Responsibilities

• Oversee origination and syndication of commercial debt across CRE, investor, and SBA 504 lending.
• Set structuring standards for complex transactions and review highest-risk credits.
• Drive balance sheet growth by aligning origination with credit and profitability objectives.
• Identify and develop new lending programs and niche-market opportunities responsibly.

Skills

CRE lending & SBA lending

Credit risk management

Leadership

Financial analysis

Regulatory reporting

Strategic partnerships

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Finance or related field

MBA or advanced banking credential

Job description

AVANA Companies is seeking a Chief Lending Officer to lead the origination and syndication of commercial debt across CRE and SBA 504 platforms in Arizona. The CLO will set enterprise lending strategy, integrate credit policy, and oversee the full loan portfolio's performance.

You will partner with the CEO and executive team on strategy, capital planning, and regulatory compliance, while driving AI-enabled risk analysis and responsible growth.