Director, Specialty Lending Underwriting

Role Overview

As Director, Specialty Lending Underwriting, you will serve as the senior underwriting leader across all Specialty Lending products, including Custom Credit, Securities-Based Lending (SBL), and Partner Lending. You will hold underwriting authority for highly complex credit transactions, provide strategic leadership on credit risk management, and partner closely with product, risk, legal, and business leaders to deliver bespoke lending solutions for high-net-worth clients. This role is responsible for maintaining a disciplined credit culture while enabling responsible business growth and innovation.

Primary Responsibilities

Underwriting Leadership

• Serve as the senior credit authority for Specialty Lending transactions, including highly structured and bespoke lending opportunities.
• Review and approve credit requests within delegated authority; prepare and present transactions requiring higher-level approvals.
• Provide expert guidance on complex credit structures, collateral arrangements, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Partner with business and product leaders to develop competitive lending solutions that align with client needs and Citizens' risk appetite.
• Ensure consistent application of underwriting standards, credit policy, and regulatory requirements across all Specialty Lending products.
• Establish underwriting best practices and drive credit quality across the portfolio.

Credit Risk Management & Portfolio Oversight

• Monitor portfolio performance, emerging risks, and concentrations across Specialty Lending products.
• Lead the assessment of complex borrower situations, collateral structures, and exception requests.
• Develop recommendations for risk appetite, underwriting guidelines, and portfolio management strategies.
• Partner with Enterprise Risk, Legal, Compliance, and Audit teams to ensure effective risk governance and regulatory compliance.
• Identify evolving market trends and recommend enhancements to underwriting frameworks and risk management practices.

Credit Policy & Controls

• Lead the development, enhancement, and implementation of Specialty Lending underwriting policies and procedures.
• Ensure strong credit controls and consistent underwriting discipline across all lending products.
• Oversee periodic reviews of underwriting standards and approval frameworks to support evolving business strategies and regulatory expectations.
• Support internal and external examinations, audits, and regulatory reviews.

Client & Advisor Partnership

• Partner with Private Bank and Wealth Management teams to deliver sophisticated lending solutions for high-net-worth clients.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on complex credit opportunities, balancing exceptional client experience with sound risk management.
• Support strategic client engagements requiring senior-level credit expertise and decision-making.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of underwriting professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and sound credit judgment.
• Coach and mentor underwriters to strengthen technical expertise, risk assessment capabilities, and decision-making skills.
• Establish talent development, succession planning, and career progression strategies across the underwriting organization.
• Drive performance management and resource planning to support continued growth and increasing transaction complexity.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in private banking, commercial banking, wealth lending, or specialty lending underwriting.
• Significant expertise underwriting complex credit transactions for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients.
• Knowledge of Partner Lending, Securities-Based Lending, and custom credit lending structures.
• Demonstrated underwriting authority and experience presenting complex credits to senior approval committees.
• Strong understanding of credit policy, risk management, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven leadership experience developing high-performing underwriting teams.
• Exceptional communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
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Pay Transparency 

The salary range for this position is $250,000 - $275,000 per year, plus an opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the work location, and relevant skills and experience.   

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more. Note, Citizens’ paid time off policy exceeds the mandatory, paid sick or paid time-away policy of every local and state jurisdiction in the United States. For an overview of our benefits, visit https://jobs.citizensbank.com/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, victim of domestic violence, family status/parenthood, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws. At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, performance and capability.

Equal Employment and Opportunity Employer

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Background Check

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the candidate successfully passing a background check, which may include initial credit, motor vehicle record, public record, prior employment verification, and criminal background checks. Results of the background check are individually reviewed based upon legal requirements imposed by our regulators and with consideration of the nature and gravity of the background history and the job offered. Any offer of employment will include further information.