C&I Portfolio Manager/Team Lead

Purpose of Position:

The C&I Portfolio Manager/Team Lead, is responsible for senior-level oversight of the risk management and performance of the Bank’s commercial and industrial portfolio, including nonprofit, CDFI, for-profit, owner-occupied mortgage financing and other mission-aligned and commercial borrowers. This role serves as a senior credit and personnel leader, exercising independent credit judgement on complex relationships, managing and developing portfolio management staff, and ensuring portfolio practices align with the Bank’s risk appetite and regulatory expectations.

In addition to overseeing a portfolio of the most complex or high-risk relationships, this role leads the C&I portfolio management team and is responsible for identifying emerging risks, strengthening portfolio management practices, improving tools and processes, and representing the C&I PM function in internal governance, audit, and regulatory contexts.

The position requires advanced C&I credit expertise, demonstrated experience managing teams and diverse loan portfolios, strong judgement, leadership capability, and the ability to work independently and influence outcomes across multiple stakeholders.

Essential Job Functions:

Senior Portfolio Oversight and Risk Leadership

• Provide senior-level oversight of portfolio risk, performance trends, and emerging issues across the C&I portfolio, including nonprofit, for-profit, CDFI, and other commercial and mission-aligned borrowers.
• Independently evaluate complex credits, higher risk relationships, and non-routine structures.
• Review, challenge, and approve complex credit recommendations, risk ratings, and exception requests.
• Serve as a senior escalation point for portfolio issues, including criticized assets and problem credits.
• Lead strategy development for risk mitigation, remediation plans, and workout approaches where necessary.
• Ensure portfolio management practices are consistent with Bank policy, regulatory guidance, and best practices.

Credit Expertise and Decision Influence

• Provide expert guidance on loan structures, covenant frameworks, and risk identification.
• Challenge assumptions in underwriting and portfolio management to strengthen overall credit quality.
• Contribute to policy interpretation and recommend enhancements to credit standards where appropriate.
• Represent the C&I Portfolio Management perspective in internal credit committees, governance forums, audits, and examinations.
• Perform independent research and analysis on industry developments and trends.

Leadership and Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and provide technical guidance to AVP/VP-level portfolio managers and other team members.
• Review work product for quality, consistency, and sound credit judgement.
• Set clear performance expectations, allocate work effectively, and support staff development through timely feedback and coaching.
• Promote strong collaboration, accountability, and professional standards across the team.

Process Improvement and Strategic Contribution

• Identify opportunities to enhance portfolio management tools, reporting, and workflows.
• Partner with internal stakeholders (Credit Risk, Compliance, Technology, etc.) to improve systems and data integrity.
• Contribute to broader strategic initiatives related to C&I portfolio risk management, reporting, and growth.
• Perform other duties as assigned, including involvement in complex new originations.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or related field, or equivalent advanced commercial credit experience; advanced degree or professional certification (MBA, CRC, CFA, CPA) preferred.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in commercial banking and C&I portfolio management, including significant experience with nonprofit, for-profit, CDFI, owner-occupied mortgage financing, and other commercial borrowers.
• Demonstrated expertise in C&I credit structures, cash-flow and collateral analysis, covenant design, risk rating, and portfolio monitoring across diverse industries and borrower types.
• Proven ability to exercise independent credit judgement on complex, higher-risk, or non-routine transactions.
• Experience reviewing and challenging credit work prepared by others, including risk ratings, covenant structures, and exception requests.
• Experience managing criticized assets, workout situations, or remediation plans.
• Strong understanding of bank regulatory expectations, loan policy frameworks, and risk governance practices.
• Proven ability to influence outcomes across relationship managers, underwriters, credit administration, and senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience formally managing portfolio management or credit professionals, including work allocation, coaching, performance management, and talent development.
• Demonstrated ability to identify systemic risks, recommend process improvements, and contribute to portfolio-level strategy.
• Firm understanding of Federal/State Regulations including but not limited to EOCA, Regulation B, CRA and NYDFS Rule 76.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex credit concepts to senior audiences.
• High proficiency in financial analysis tools, data interpretation, and portfolio reporting.
• Familiarity with Salesforce, Moody’s CreditLens, and Tableau preferred.