C&I Lending Team Lead

About the role

Alma Bank, headquartered in Long Island City, New York with 13 branches throughout Queens, NYC, New Jersey, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, delivers a private banking style experience to business banking customers. The Bank is seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial C&I Lending Team Lead to establish and grow its middle-market Commercial & Industrial lending platform. This senior-level leadership opportunity requires a proven commercial banking executive with deep market relationships, demonstrated business development success, and a track record of building high-performing commercial banking teams. The role emphasizes developing full banking relationships — including commercial loans, business deposits, treasury management services, and related fee-generating opportunities — while maintaining the Bank's strong commitment to credit quality, relationship banking, and client service throughout the New York metropolitan market.

Responsibilities

• Business Development & Relationship Management: Originate and develop new Commercial & Industrial lending relationships with middle-market and lower-middle-market businesses; build and maintain a portfolio of profitable commercial banking relationships including operating companies and owner-occupied commercial real estate borrowers; generate commercial loan opportunities through direct prospecting, centers of influence, referral sources, professional networks, attorneys, CPAs, brokers, and other business development activities; develop and execute strategic calling plans to attract both lending and deposit relationships; expand the Bank's market presence and visibility within the business community; represent the Bank at industry events, networking functions, trade associations, and community organizations; maintain an active calling program focused on sourcing new client relationships and deepening existing relationships.
• Deposit and Treasury Management Growth: Drive acquisition of core operating deposit relationships including DDA and treasury management services; promote treasury management products and services to commercial clients; partner with internal departments to maximize treasury management penetration and fee income generation; ensure commercial relationships are developed as complete banking relationships rather than loan-only relationships.
• Leadership & Team Development: Serve as senior leader of the Bank's C&I lending initiative; assist executive management in recruiting, onboarding, and developing additional relationship managers, portfolio managers, and commercial banking staff; foster a collaborative, relationship-focused sales culture; mentor junior lenders and commercial banking professionals; coordinate activities among relationship managers, credit administration, treasury management, and operations teams; provide market intelligence and strategic recommendations regarding commercial banking growth opportunities.
• Credit & Portfolio Management: Structure and negotiate commercial loan transactions consistent with Bank policy and sound banking practices; prepare and present credit opportunities for approval in accordance with established lending authority; maintain thorough understanding of borrower financial performance, industry conditions, and credit risk; monitor portfolio performance and proactively identify emerging credit issues; ensure adherence to all credit policies, regulatory requirements, and risk management standards; work closely with Credit Administration to maintain strong underwriting discipline and portfolio quality.
• Strategic Growth: Participate in development and execution of the Bank's commercial banking growth strategy; assist management in identifying opportunities to expand market share within targeted geographies and industry segments; support development of annual business plans, production goals, and strategic initiatives; provide regular pipeline forecasts and production updates to executive management.

Performance Expectations

Success in this role will be measured through a balanced scorecard that includes:

• Commercial loan production and portfolio growth
• Core deposit generation
• Treasury management and fee income growth
• Relationship profitability
• Credit quality and portfolio performance
• Client acquisition and retention
• Team leadership and talent development
• Contribution to the Bank's overall strategic growth initiatives

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field required. MBA, Graduate School of Banking, or other advanced banking credentials preferred.
• Experience: Minimum 10–15 years of commercial banking experience; significant experience originating and managing Commercial & Industrial relationships; demonstrated success developing middle-market and lower-middle-market commercial clients; proven track record generating both commercial loans and operating deposits; previous experience leading teams, mentoring lenders, or managing commercial banking personnel strongly preferred; established network of business contacts and centers of influence throughout the New York metropolitan market; strong understanding of treasury management services and commercial banking products; experience with owner-occupied commercial real estate lending preferred.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Strong business development and relationship management skills; comprehensive commercial credit and underwriting expertise; exceptional financial analysis and loan structuring capabilities; thorough understanding of commercial banking regulations and risk management principles; ability to balance growth objectives with sound credit practices; strong leadership, coaching, and team-building capabilities; excellent written, verbal, presentation, and negotiation skills; ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization.

Target Production Profile

Ideal candidates will demonstrate a history of:

• Consistent commercial loan production over multiple years
• Meaningful core deposit generation
• Strong treasury management utilization within client portfolios
• High client retention and relationship longevity
• Sound credit performance and portfolio quality
• Deep business community engagement and referral networks