Head of Credit Risk Management

Sunwest Bank; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Sunwest Bank is seeking a proven Senior Leader for the Head of Credit Risk Management position in Irvine, CA. This on-site role reports to the Chief Credit Officer and leads the credit risk function, ensuring strong governance and portfolio performance while collaborating with executive management to support growth.

The role requires extensive experience in credit governance, underwriting, PD/LGD concepts, and risk management frameworks.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in credit administration leadership.
• Deep understanding of credit governance, regulatory expectations, and risk management frameworks.
• Experience scaling credit processes and infrastructure in growth-oriented institutions.

Responsibilities

• Partner with CCO and executive leadership to align credit strategy with broader financial, growth, and capital allocation priorities.
• Oversee the Bank’s credit risk management function including lending policies, procedures, processes, and governance to ensure regulatory compliance and prudent banking practices.
• Enhance efficiency and scalability through improved workflows, communication, and supporting technology tools and infrastructure.
• Develop and recommend strategies to improve credit underwriting and portfolio monitoring processes to support increased deal volume and organizational growth.
• Partner with Portfolio Managers and Underwriters to provide ongoing oversight of the loan portfolio, monitor credit quality and emerging risks.
• Identify emerging credit risks and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Assist CCO with loan audit processes, regulatory exams, and liaising with regulators and external auditors on credit matters.
• Provide supervisory leadership of credit administration staff and support board reporting and portfolio analyses.

Skills

Credit risk leadership

Regulatory compliance

Executive communication

Job description

Position: Head of Credit Risk Management

Location: Irvine, CA

Remote Status: On-Site

Job Id: 1006

# of Openings: 1

Job Title: SVP, Head of Credit Risk Management

Department: Credit Administration - 68

Reports to: Chief Credit Officer

Status: Exempt

About the Role

The Head of Credit Risk Management is responsible for the oversight, governance, and ongoing administration of the Bank’s credit function. Reporting to the Chief Credit Officer, this highly visible senior leadership role is responsible for ensuring the strength, governance, and performance of the loan portfolio. This role plays a critical part in maintaining the quality of the loan portfolio, identifying emerging risk, and collaborating closely with the Line of Business, Credit Adjudicators and Executive Management to support sound credit decisions and portfolio growth.

Work Details

• Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Work Location: Onsite
• Travel: Occasional (up to 10%)

What You’ll Do

• Partner with CCO and executive leadership to align credit strategy with broader financial, growth, and capital allocation priorities
• Oversee the Bank’s credit risk management function including lending policies, procedures, processes, and governance to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, business initiatives, and prudent banking practices
• Enhance efficiency and scalability through improved workflows, communication, and supporting technology tools and infrastructure.
• Develop and recommend strategies to improve credit underwriting and portfolio monitoring processes to support increased deal volume and organizational growth.
• Partner with Portfolio Managers and Underwriters to provide ongoing oversight of the Bank’s loan portfolio, including monitoring credit quality, concentrations, and emerging risks. Monitor portfolio performance through quarterly reviews, covenant tracking, and ensure risk rating accuracy.
• Identify emerging credit risks and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Interacts regularly with credit adjudication executives, special assets, loan operations, finance, portfolio management, internal audit, external loan review providers, and regulatory agencies. Partners with the Head of Special Assets to monitor problem loan reporting and impairment analysis. Partners with Finance to validate quarterly CECL model output.
• Assist CCO as a key point of contact to manage loan audit process and regulatory safety and soundness exams. Ensure the Bank maintains strong regulatory standing and a disciplined risk governance posture. Serve as a liaison to the Regulators and external third-party audit partners on credit-related matters.
• Provide supervisory leadership and management of assigned credit administration staff.
• Supports the Chief Credit Officer in board reporting, portfolio analysis, and loan policy maintenance, and presenting portfolio performance, risk trends, and strategic insights with clarity and credibility.

What We’re Looking For

Required

• A minimum of 10-15 years of progressive experience in credit administration leadership. Prior experience in regulatory compliance with a deep understanding of credit governance, regulatory expectations, and risk management frameworks.
• Proven track record of operating at a leadership level within a complex or growth-oriented institution, including scaling credit processes and infrastructure. Track record of improving credit process consistency and operational efficiency
• Demonstrated ability to define and implement credit strategy, including risk appetite frameworks and policy development. Strong knowledge of commercial underwriting, credit structuring, and risk assessment. Experience in credit risk grading methodology and PD/LGD assessment.
• Engages at both the strategic and tactical levels, with a willingness to operate hands‑on in the details when needed.
• Leads effectively through change, ambiguity, and increasing organizational complexity.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to clearly articulate complex matters into practical, actionable guidance. Demonstrates credibility and composure in regulatory and executive settings

Nice to Have

• Problem loan remediation background, loan review, or loan note or pool purchase & sale experience desirable

Posting Location(s)

Position May be located in Utah, Denver, Phoenix or Irvine Sunwest Bank Office

Physical Demands

• Sedentary: Limited activity, no lifting, limited walking
• Moderate: Mostly standing, walking, bending, frequent lifting
• Light: Office work, some lifting, bending stooping or kneeling, walking
• Arduous: Heavy lifting, bending, crawling, climbing

The Fine Print

This job description reflects the general nature of the role and may change as business needs evolve. We are an equal opportunity employer. Sunwest Bank works with staff members and customers without regard to race, ancestry, national origin, sex, marital status, age, religion, medical condition, handicap, disability or veteran status and to assist the Bank in maintaining its affirmative action program .

Compliance with Bank Secrecy Act laws and regulations is considered an extremely serious matter, and it is intended that Sunwest Bank, through the purposeful efforts of its employees and officers, are expected to make every resolute attempt to conform to its Bank Secrecy Act Program and Procedures. Failure to comply will be reflected in their performance review as well as in any bonus compensation programs in which they may participate.

Attend and complete all required classroom, computer-based, web-based and seminar training. It is the individual responsibility of every employee to maintain a current awareness and understanding of and to fully comply with Sunwest Bank’s “Code of Ethics and Conduct.” Each employee is also expected to maintain an awareness of the laws, regulations, internal policies and procedures that are appropriate for his/her position.

Note: The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level and work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. All job descriptions can be amended without notice as warranted by business necessity.

Federal Deposit Insurance Act This position is subject to Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. As such, an employment offer for this position is contingent on Sunwest Bank’s review of criminal conviction history, including pretrial diversions or program entries.