Head of Credit Risk Management

Sunwest Bank; Sandy (UT); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Team culture

Benefits

Job summary

Sunwest Bank is seeking a Head of Credit Risk Management to oversee governance, policy, and the ongoing administration of the credit function. Reporting to the Chief Credit Officer, you will lead risk assessment, underwriting standards, and portfolio monitoring to ensure quality, regulatory compliance, and prudent growth.

You will partner with executives and portfolio teams to align credit strategy with capital and growth plans, drive CECL and risk-rating accuracy, and mentor a team of credit

Qualifications

• 10-15 years in credit administration leadership.
• Experience in regulatory compliance and risk management frameworks.
• Leadership in complex or growth-oriented institutions.

Responsibilities

• Oversee credit risk governance, lending policies, and processes to ensure regulatory compliance and prudent banking practices.
• Partner with executives to align credit strategy with growth and capital allocation priorities.
• Improve workflows and technology to enhance efficiency and scalability of credit operations.
• Develop strategies to improve underwriting and portfolio monitoring for higher deal volume.
• Monitor portfolio quality, risk concentrations, and emerging risks with regular reviews.

Skills

Credit governance

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Credit underwriting

PD/LGD assessment

Strategic thinking

Communication

Regulatory relations

Job description

Job Title: Head of Credit Risk Management

Department: Credit Administration - 68

Reports to: Chief Credit Officer

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.

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Team Culture
• Benefits or Perks

Posting Location(s):

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 Affinitive 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.