Consumer Direct Lending Ops - Direct Lending Support Specialist

Golden-1-Credit-Union; Manlove (CA); Hybrid; USD 39,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Golden 1 Credit Union is seeking a Direct Lending Support Specialist for a hybrid role in Sacramento, CA. This position requires advanced lending expertise and the ability to independently process and troubleshoot complex consumer loans while guiding frontline staff.

The role focuses on rapid responses, ongoing education, and proactive issue resolution across lending operations, with a strong emphasis on quality, risk control, and service excellence.

Qualifications

• H.S. diploma or GED is required.
• Associate degree is preferred.
• Experience with consumer lending processes is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced lending processing and guidance across consumer products.
• Support Retail Branch and MSCC employees with real-time lending assistance and escalation management.
• Own escalations from intake to resolution coordinating with Processing, Underwriting, Funding and Compliance.
• Coordinate urgent funding and ensure funding readiness and documentation compliance.

Skills

5+ years consumer lending experience

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate degree in business/finance/communication or related field

Job description

Direct Lending Support Specialist

• Status: Non-exempt
• Reports to: Director - Consumer Lending
• Department: Consumer Direct Lending Ops
• Job Code: 12134
• Pay Range: $28.00 - $35.00 Hourly
• Location: Hybrid in Sacramento, CA

WHO WE ARE:

Golden 1 Credit Union is among the top credit unions in the country. As a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative, Golden 1 is guided by the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.” We are committed to empowering our members and uplifting our communities as we create a more equitable and financially inclusive California. We welcome all who embrace our Core Values.

WHO YOU ARE:

You are an advanced lending professional who builds trusted partnerships, responds quickly, research thoroughly, and brings clarity to complex and time-sensitive lending situations. You can independently process and troubleshoot loans, interpret established requirements, manage multiple support requests and escalations from intake through resolution, and translate complex lending requirements into clear, practical guidance for frontline employees. You recognize recurring issues and opportunities that should be addressed through improved procedures, education, training, or knowledge content while maintaining strong quality, service, and risk discipline.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• The Lending Support Specialist performs all core processing functions, excluding dedicated member call-center queue responsibilities, and provides specialized support to Retail Branch and MSCC employees. The role owns complex lending inquiries and escalations, internal support channels, urgent fulfillment and same-day funding coordination, partner education, and service-delivery support.
• Advanced Application Processing and Lending Support * Perform the full range of Processor I, Processor II, and Processor III processing functions, including application review, document preparation, complex troubleshooting, escalation resolution, peer guidance, and fulfillment coordination. * Process or support complex consumer lending transactions across unsecured, vehicle, RV, powersports, credit card, line-of-credit, dealer purchase, private-party, refinance, and other assigned products. * Review applications and supporting documentation for completeness, accuracy, compliance, and fulfillment readiness. * Provide advanced guidance regarding loan status, decisions, counteroffers, stipulations, documentation, collateral, title, payoff, insurance, vesting, signing, funding, booking, system workflows, and established next steps.
• Retail Branch and MSCC Lending Support * Serve as a primary Direct Lending resource for Retail Branch and MSCC employees seeking assistance with consumer lending transactions. * Provide real-time and consultative guidance through approved internal support channels, including structured requests and lending support chat. * Research application and transaction details and provide clear, actionable guidance that enables frontline employees to effectively assist members. * Support complex scenarios involving documentation, application status, loan decisions, signing, collateral requirements, funding readiness, booking, and operational handoffs. * Prioritize requests based on member impact, urgency, service commitments, and operational risk. * Communicate clear ownership, status, requirements, and next steps to internal partners. * Support first-contact resolution and help reduce unnecessary transfers, repeat contacts, rework, and avoidable handoffs.
• Escalation Ownership and Complex Issue Resolution * Own assigned lending escalations from intake through resolution or appropriate handoff. * Research complex issues across applications, documents, systems, decisions, and operational workflows to identify root cause and required corrective action. * Coordinate resolution with Processing, Underwriting, Funding, Retail, MSCC, Loan Servicing, Collections, Fraud Prevention, Compliance, and other partners. * Escalate complaints, policy exceptions, suspected fraud, material risk or compliance concerns, and matters outside assigned authority to the appropriate leader or specialized team.
• Urgent Funding and Fulfillment Coordination * Coordinate and prioritize urgent member-impacting transactions, same-day funding requests, documentation issues, signing concerns, and booking or disbursement questions. * Validate required approvals, documents, signatures, collateral information, and funding conditions before coordinating execution with Processing or Funding. * Monitor high-priority and time-sensitive requests through completion and provide timely, actionable updates when additional information or action is required. * Help resolve avoidable delays and service breakdowns while maintaining appropriate quality, compliance, and risk controls.
• Partner Education and Continuous Improvement * Identify recurring Branch and MSCC questions, escalation themes, transaction defects, transfer drivers, knowledge gaps, process gaps, and member pain points. * Support the development and maintenance of job aids, FAQs, procedures, educational materials, and knowledge-base content. * Provide huddle support, procedural clarification, knowledge sharing, and lending education to strengthen frontline employee confidence and consistency. * Participate in user acceptance testing, workflow changes, procedure reviews, service improvements, and operational initiatives affecting lending support. * Promote consistent use of established support channels, intake standards, documentation requirements, and escalation practices.

QUALIFICATIONS AND PREFERENCES:

• H.S. Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) required
• Associate’s Degree in business, finance, communication or a related field preferred
• Equivalent relevant experience also considered
• 5+ years of related consumer lending, loan processing, branch platform banking, contact center support, financial services, or regulated operations experience preferred
• Demonstrated experience with complex consumer and vehicle lending, frontline business partner support, escalations resolution, and coordination of urgent or time sensitive member impacting requests required

WHY JOIN US:

Golden 1 Credit Union provides its employees a market-competitive and internally equitable total rewards compensation package through a variety of programs. These programs are designed to attract, motivate, and retain employees that drive and support the achievement of Our Mission, Vision, and Strategic Goals. The Credit Union is committed a total rewards philosophy built on; a comprehensive compensation package, well-being and work-life balance, career development and growth, rewards and recognition, and a commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We believe in fostering a workplace where every employee is recognized, valued, and motivated to contribute their best.

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by team members within this classification. Because the nature of positions and job functions can change over time, this job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all essential functions, duties, responsibilities and qualifications requirements of team members assigned to this job. Job duties may be changed or modified in the Credit Union’s discretion. The Credit Union will keep team members updated on key functions, duties, and requirements of their position by communications from the Credit Union and by updating the job description from time to time. Any team member with questions about the nature of their job duties is encouraged to consult with their supervisor.