Director, Private Lending

Upright Group, LLC; Cleveland (OH); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Upright Group, LLC is searching for a Director of Business Development to oversee borrower relationships and drive revenue growth within a high-performing branch. You will manage relationships throughout the loan lifecycle and ensure profitability, while collaborating closely with the branch team.

This role demands 5+ years of experience in private lending or real estate finance and a strong entrepreneurial mindset. Join Upright Lending in fostering long-term borrower success and achieving portfolio performance goals.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in private lending, real estate finance, or related origination roles.
• Proven ability to manage borrower relationships for profitability and lifetime value.
• Experience collaborating cross-functionally with credit/risk teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead origination efforts for the branch, sourcing and converting new business.
• Oversee performance of the lending portfolio, ensuring profitability and satisfaction.
• Mentor and develop Lending Associates to foster organizational growth.

Skills

Private lending experience

Real estate finance knowledge

Relationship management

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Portfolio management

Cross-functional collaboration

Entrepreneurial mindset

Familiarity with CRM and LOS systems

Job description

Department: Revenue
Reports to: Managing Director (Branch Leader)
Location: Remote or In Office | Full-Time
Role Type: Revenue-Generating | Portfolio Owner

Role Overview

As a Director, Business Development at Upright Lending, you are the primary owner of borrower relationships across your book of business, with end-to-end oversight of the loan lifecycle, from origination through closing, servicing, and repayment. You are responsible for ensuring each relationship drives profitability, portfolio performance, and long-term borrower retention, while collaborating closely with your branch team and leadership to achieve Upright Lending’s revenue and credit objectives.

This role exists within branches led by Managing Directors, with the Director serving as the head of lending for the branch and providing strategic leadership for borrower engagement and origination.

Mission

To drive origination growth and borrower satisfaction through proactive relationship management, ensuring that each loan and client interaction contributes to branch-level P&L goals and Upright Lending’s long-term growth.

Core Responsibilities

Relationship Ownership & Portfolio Oversight

• Serve as the primary relationship owner for borrowers across the branch, managing interactions from initial engagement through full repayment.
• Oversee the performance of the lending portfolio, including draw servicing, extension management, and repayment outcomes.
• Ensure all borrower interactions drive profitability, satisfaction, and repeat business.

Origination & Revenue Growth

• Lead origination efforts for the branch, sourcing and converting new business through outbound prospecting, inbound leads, and personal networks.
• Collaborate with the Managing Director to structure transactions that align borrower needs with Upright Lending’s credit and revenue objectives.
• Present and negotiate term sheets, ensuring they meet both borrower goals and branch profitability targets.

Collaboration & Branch Support

• Partner with the Managing Director to set lending strategies that drive overall branch growth.
• Work closely with the Branch to maintain balanced portfolio growth, clean closings, and ongoing loan performance.
• Mentor and develop Lending Associates to increase branch origination capacity and foster organizational growth.

Key Metrics

• Funded Loan Volume and Revenue per Loan
• Book Performance: Payment health, draw servicing timelines, extension, and renewal success rates.
• Borrower Retention & Referral Growth
• QA pass rates and collaboration efficiency with Risk.
• Contribution to branch P&L.

What Success Looks Like

• Your lending portfolio achieves consistent origination growth and profitability.
• Borrowers view you and Upright Lending as a trusted long-term financing partner, leading to strong retention and referral activity.
• You effectively collaborate with the Managing Director and fellow Branch members to ensure balanced portfolio performance.
• You mentor Lending Associates, building team capacity and future origination strength.

Required Skills & Experience

• 5+ years in private lending, real estate finance, or related origination roles.
• Proven ability to manage borrower relationships for profitability and lifetime value.
• Experience collaborating cross-functionally with credit/risk teams to structure and manage loans.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and portfolio management skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort in performance-based compensation models.
• Familiarity with CRM, LOS, and pipeline management systems.

This role provides the opportunity to lead lending within a high-performing branch, driving revenue growth and borrower success while contributing directly to Upright Lending’s mission and long-term value creation.