Vice President of Lending

Great Plains Federal Credit Union; Joplin (MO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Wellness programs

Wealth-building programs

Job summary

Great Plains Federal Credit Union is seeking a strategic Vice President of Lending to oversee consumer, mortgage, indirect lending, and collections, while expanding growth and maintaining credit quality. This leader will leverage data and market insight to drive opportunities and strengthen member value across lending products and channels.

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will lead an established team, establish clear expectations, and collaborate across Finance, Operations, Technology,

Qualifications

• Progressive lending experience within a credit union, community bank, or other financial institution.
• Leadership experience with responsibility for lending teams, operations, or portfolio performance.
• Strong consumer lending experience is important; mortgage and/or indirect lending experience is preferred.
• Understanding of underwriting, credit analysis, pricing, portfolio management, and credit risk.
• Experience with lending technology, loan origination systems, and process improvement is valued.
• Ability to interpret lending and portfolio data and translate it into actionable strategies.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively across the organization.
• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting, economics, or a related field preferred; equivalent progressive financial institution experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Oversee consumer, mortgage, indirect lending, and collections with focus on growth and portfolio strength.
• Use lending data, market insight, and credit judgment to identify opportunities while maintaining quality.
• Evaluate products, pricing, underwriting, delivery channels, and processes for growth and member value.
• Lead and develop an established lending team with clear expectations and accountability.
• Partner across Finance, Operations, Technology, Marketing, Compliance, Retail, and other areas.
• Drive continuous improvements in lending strategy and member experience.

Job description

Grow Lending. Develop People. Make an Impact.

Great Plains Federal Credit Union is building for the future, with an organizational focus on sustainable growth and an opportunity for lending to play an important role in what comes next.

Great Plains is looking for a Vice President of Lending (VP) who will build on an established team and strengthened lending capabilities while bringing fresh perspective to the organization’s growth strategy. This is an opportunity to influence lending strategy, develop people, strengthen the member experience, and help shape how Great Plains serves the borrowing needs of its members and communities.

If you are a lending leader who sees opportunity, asks the right questions, and knows how to turn strategy into action, this could be an exciting next step.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a member of the leadership team, the VP of Lending will oversee consumer, mortgage, indirect lending, and collections, with a particular focus on growing and strengthening the consumer lending portfolio.

This leader will use lending data, market insight, and sound credit judgment to identify growth opportunities while maintaining strong credit quality and portfolio performance. The VP of Lending will evaluate products, pricing, underwriting, delivery channels, and processes; partner across the organization on broader financial and strategic priorities; and continue improving how Great Plains serves members' borrowing needs.

Just as importantly, the VP of Lending will lead and develop an established lending team, creating clear expectations and accountability while empowering managers to lead their areas effectively.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

The right leader will bring a balance of lending expertise, strategic thinking, and people leadership. Great Plains is looking for someone who can:

• Develop and execute strategies that drive sustainable loan growth and strong portfolio performance.
• Bring strong consumer lending knowledge, with experience in indirect and/or mortgage lending valued.
• Use lending data and portfolio trends to identify opportunities, understand risk, and make informed decisions.
• Evaluate products, pricing, underwriting, delivery channels, and processes with an eye toward growth and member value.
• Balance growth with sound credit quality, profitability, and risk management.
• Develop and empower lending leaders while creating clear expectations and accountability.
• Partner effectively across Finance, Operations, Technology, Marketing, Compliance, Retail, and other areas of the organization.
• Bring fresh ideas and a continuous-improvement mindset to the lending function.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

Great Plains is seeking an experienced lending executive or high-potential lending leader ready to take the next step in their career.

• Progressive lending experience within a credit union, community bank, or other financial institution.
• Leadership experience with responsibility for lending teams, operations, or portfolio performance.
• Strong consumer lending experience is important; mortgage and/or indirect lending experience is preferred.
• Understanding of underwriting, credit analysis, pricing, portfolio management, and credit risk.
• Experience with lending technology, loan origination systems, and process improvement is valued.
• Ability to interpret lending and portfolio data and translate it into actionable strategies.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively across the organization.
• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting, economics, or a related field preferred; equivalent progressive financial institution experience will be considered.

WHY GREAT PLAINS?

Great Plains combines the opportunity to make a meaningful impact with the culture and mission of a community-focused credit union. Its recent Low-Income Credit Union designation further supports its commitment to expanding access, serving its communities, and creating opportunities for the members and markets that rely on Great Plains. For the right leader, this is an opportunity to grow with an organization that is intentionally building for its future.

Great Plains Federal Credit Union offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with wellness and wealth-building programs.

• medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• wellness and wealth-building programs.

Great Plains Federal Credit Union is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to cultivating a respectful and inclusive workplace.

ABOUT GREAT PLAINS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

Founded in 1950, Great Plains Federal Credit Union has grown from a small employee credit union into a strong, community-focused financial institution serving members across the region. Through decades of expansion, partnerships, and steady growth, it has stayed true to the credit union philosophy of "not for profit, not for charity, but for service."