VP, Commercial Credit Risk POST NUMBER: 188505

Vice President, Commercial Credit Risk Location: Bergen County, NJ Salary: $200,000-225,000 base plus bonus and equity Position Summary We are seeking an experienced Vice President, Commercial Credit Risk to join the Credit Risk Management team of a well-established, FDIC-regulated community bank. This role serves as a critical Second Line of Defense by providing independent oversight of commercial credit risk across a diverse lending portfolio. The successful candidate will oversee credit quality, underwriting standards, portfolio risk, and regulatory compliance while supporting growth across traditional commercial banking and innovative Fintech/Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) lending programs. This position reports directly to the Chief Credit Risk Officer (CCRO). Candidates with significant experience underwriting or reviewing healthcare transactions involving skilled nursing, assisted living facilities, and other healthcare providers are strongly encouraged to apply. Key Responsibilities Commercial Credit Risk Oversight Perform independent second-line reviews of commercial loan originations. Provide objective challenge to first-line underwriting assumptions and credit decisions. Prepare independent credit risk assessments and escalate material concerns to senior management and Credit Committee. Evaluate complex commercial transactions across Commercial Real Estate (CRE), Construction, Commercial & Industrial (C&I), Lender Finance, SBA, and Healthcare lending portfolios. Assess healthcare-related credits, including analysis of reimbursement sensitivity, payer mix, regulatory exposure, and operational risk. Review credit exposures associated with Fintech and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) lending programs. Credit Risk Rating & Methodology Support the development and enhancement of internal commercial credit risk rating models and scorecards. Partner with risk analytics teams to validate model performance and ensure alignment with regulatory expectations. Portfolio Review & Risk Assessment Independently review annual credit reviews and validate risk rating assignments. Evaluate and challenge proposed risk rating upgrades and downgrades. Review impairment analyses for deteriorating credits in accordance with applicable accounting standards. Monitor portfolio trends, including criticized assets, concentration risk, delinquencies, and watch list activity. Partner with the CECL/Allowance team to support reserve assessments for impaired commercial loans. Policy & Governance Maintain and update Commercial Lending Policies and Procedures. Ensure adherence to sound credit practices, internal risk governance, and regulatory requirements. Support regulatory examinations and internal audits as needed. Qualifications Education Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field required. MBA or professional certifications such as CFA, CRC, FRM, or RMA-CCRM are preferred. Experience 10 years of progressive commercial credit risk, underwriting, or credit portfolio management experience within a banking environment. Minimum of 5 years in a Second Line of Defense, Credit Review, or senior Credit Risk Management role. Strong experience across one or more commercial lending disciplines, including CRE, Construction, C&I, SBA, Lender Finance, and Healthcare lending. Demonstrated experience evaluating healthcare-related transactions, particularly skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, is highly preferred. Knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, CMS reimbursement structures, and healthcare regulatory considerations. Experience with FDIC- or OCC-regulated financial institutions. Previous involvement in regulatory examinations and remediation activities. Exposure to Fintech, Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), third-party risk management, or embedded finance lending programs is a plus.