Residential Construction Sr. Specialist-1

SSB002 SOUTHSTATE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION; United States; Hybrid; USD 76,000 - 122,000; Full time

Job summary

SouthState Bank is seeking a Residential Construction Senior Specialist to oversee construction loan administration from pre-closing to project completion, ensuring policy alignment and effective cross-team communication. This role includes approving builder contracts and final budgets, guiding inspections/draws, and mentoring junior staff.

The ideal candidate brings a bachelor’s degree, 10 years in mortgage lending or construction, and a builder/contractor license, with strong interpersonal and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 10 years’ experience in residential mortgage lending or residential construction.
• State Builder or General Contractor License required.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive review of construction contracts for policy alignment.
• Identify and resolve contract inconsistencies and communicate risk implications.
• Provide onboarding guidance to MLOs and CLA funding specialists for inspection/draw processes.
• Actively monitor the active construction loan portfolio to identify negative trends or risk.
• Provide direction on loans in dispute or with lien filings or legal issues as needed.

Skills

Verbal communication

Interpersonal skills

Risk management

Construction loan knowledge

Team coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The SouthState story is one of steady growth, deep community roots, and an unwavering commitment to helping our customers move forward. Since our beginnings in the 1930s to becoming a trusted financial partner across the South and beyond - we are known for combining personal relationships with forward-thinking solutions. We are committed to helping our team members find their success while maintaining the integrity of our values: building trust, fostering lasting relationships and pursuing excellence. At SouthState, individual contributions are recognized, potential is cultivated and team members are inspired to achieve their greater purpose. Your future begins here!

Summary

The Residential Construction Senior Specialist is responsible for advanced-level administration, review, and oversight of residential construction loans from pre-closing through project completion. This role ensures alignment with SouthState Bank policies, facilitates effective communication among borrowers, builders, and internal teams, and mitigates risk through thorough review, monitoring, and decision-making. The Senior Specialist serves as a subject matter expert and key control point within the construction loan lifecycle, providing both advisory support and operational oversight to promote a smooth and compliant construction process. The Senior Specialist has the authority to approve the builder and the contract as well as approve the final budget to be used in construction, the advance of deposits and deposit recoupment methods, and to make minor exceptions to procedures as warranted. The Senior Specialist will also assist with consumer loans with legal/lien issues and offer direction and guidance on insurance loss claims. The Senior Specialist will also provide coaching and mentorship to junior specialists, funding specialists, and mortgage personnel as well as provide guidance and support to junior specialists to resolve complex situations.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Performs comprehensive review of construction contracts to ensure alignment with SouthState Bank policy and Construction Loan Administration procedures.
• Identify and resolve contract inconsistencies, identifying and communicating risk implications with Borrower/Builder.
• Provide a cursory review of the Builder Discuss the construction process with both Builder and Borrower at loan application to include a review of the construction disclosures.
• Validate and finalize the appropriate budget to be used in the inspection/draw process.
• Determine the builder deposit and recoupment method.
• Send the department welcome letter to the customer and builder.
• Provide onboarding guidance to MLO’s and provide CLA funding specialists with approved items for the inspection/draw process. Items include: finalized budget, checklist, introduction communication, and special items of note specific to the loan.
• Review third party inspection reports when discrepancies arise and to decision draw related issues.
• Actively monitor the active construction loan portfolio to ensure construction progress is maintained and to proactively identify negative trends or risk to individual loans and the portfolio as a whole.
• Ensure communication between all parties.
• Provide direction on loans in dispute or with lien filings/legal disputes as well as serve as a primary point of contact for those loans with legal issues in collaboration with Special Assets and Legal.

Qualifications

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s degree

Minimum Experience

10 years’ experience in residential mortgage lending, residential construction, or both.

Licenses & Certifications

State Builder or General Contractor License Knowledge

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Extensive knowledge of residential mortgage lending and residential construction. Verbal communication and interpersonal skills are critically important to coordinating the interrelated needs of the builder, the customer/borrower/homeowner, and various bank individuals / departments within the bank.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Ability to communicate in person, on the phone, and through electronic channels.
• Ability to use a computer on a frequent basis, including typing and sustained attention to a monitor.
• Ability to sit, walk, and/or stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to bend and reach.

Work Environment Office: If the position reports to a physical Company location, the setting will be a typical office environment. Remote or hybrid: For remote or hybrid positions, a secure and distraction-free setting is required, with a reliable internet connection (cable or fiber preferred, mobile hotspots not acceptable). Hybrid positions will report to a physical Company location, as directed by the manager, and that setting will be a typical office environment.

Pay for this position is anticipated to be between $76,260.00 - $121,819.00 , actual offers to be determined based on applicant’s skills, experience and education.

Benefits | SouthState Careers

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled/veterans. Our business model supports the unique character of the communities we serve and encourages decision making by the banker that is closest to the customer. We think and act like owners and measure success over entire economic cycles. We prioritize soundness before short-term profitability and growth.