Lending Operations Director - Strategy to Execution

Central Bank of Kansas City; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Bank of Kansas City is seeking a Director of Lending Operations in Kansas City to lead and continuously improve the lending operating platform. You will report to the Chief Lending Officer and translate lending strategy into clear workflows, standards, and measurable execution across underwriting, documentation, and portfolio administration.

You will develop people, use data to improve systems, and balance customer service with disciplined risk management.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in commercial lending operations, loan documentation, credit administration, commercial banking, or a closely related financial‑services function.
• Experience leading employees, managing performance and capacity, and implementing cross‑functional change.
• Strong working knowledge of the commercial loan lifecycle, including underwriting handoffs, approval conditions, documentation, collateral, closing, booking, servicing, and portfolio administration.
• Experience developing or improving workflows, procedures, operational controls, service standards, dashboards, and management reporting.
• Ability to establish priorities and make sound operating decisions within approved policy while recognizing matters that require executive, credit, legal, compliance, or audit involvement.
• Strong leadership judgment, communication, organization, systems thinking, problem‑solving, and ability to build structure without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, economics, or a related field is preferred; equivalent relevant banking and leadership experience may be considered.
• Preferred: Advanced banking, commercial lending, operations, process‑improvement, technology, or leadership education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Chief Lending Officer to design and improve the lending operating model and translate priorities into clear workflows, decision rights, service standards, management routines, and measurable outcomes.
• Lead, coach, and develop assigned managers and employees; set performance expectations, allocate and reprioritize resources, address performance concerns, build career paths, and maintain cross‑training and backup coverage.
• Maintain visibility from active credit request through underwriting, approval, closing, booking, post‑closing, and portfolio administration; ensure owners, status, next action, and due dates are clear.
• Lead documentation and closing operations, establish pre‑closing and booking‑ready quality standards, correct unresolved issues or escalate appropriately, monitor defects and errors.
• Maintain consistent standards for Commercial Lending Coordination and proactive tracking of annual reviews, maturities, financial reporting, covenants, insurance, collateral, and portfolio obligations.
• Advance an electronic‑first operating environment; strengthen electronic loan‑file practices; evaluate automation and technology to reduce handoffs.
• Develop dashboards and performance measures for workflow aging, cycle time, service levels, documentation turnaround, exceptions, and portfolio deadlines; drive improvements.
• Reinforce adherence to Bank policy, approved credit terms, and procedures; partner with Credit, Compliance, Internal Audit, legal counsel, vendors, and other stakeholders; escalate material concerns.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organization

Systems thinking

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting, economics

Job description

Central Bank of Kansas City is seeking a Director of Lending Operations in Kansas City to lead and continuously improve the lending operating platform. You will report to the Chief Lending Officer and translate lending strategy into clear workflows, standards, and measurable execution across underwriting, documentation, and portfolio administration.

You will develop people, use data to improve systems, and balance customer service with disciplined risk management.