Senior Lead Commercial Banking Portfolio Manager

About the role

Wells Fargo is seeking a strong leader to serve as Head of Credit for the Emerging Middle Market (EMM) Agricultural Lending and Portfolio Management team. This role provides senior credit leadership and approval authority for a national portfolio of primary agricultural producers and processors with revenues between $25MM and $100MM. The leader will partner closely with Relationship Managers and Independent Risk to drive disciplined growth, consistent underwriting standards, and a balanced "how can we" mindset while maintaining strong risk governance and portfolio performance across the platform.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop the Emerging Middle Market Agricultural Portfolio Management team, with a focus on high-quality credit underwriting, monitoring, and execution.
• Serve as a senior credit approver for complex agricultural lending transactions, including operating lines, real estate-secured facilities, and agribusiness/processor credits.
• Collaborate with Relationship Management, Independent Risk, and product partners nationally to structure and approve credit solutions that meet client needs within Wells Fargo's risk appetite.
• Actively participate in the origination, structuring, and execution of credit transactions for primary producers and agricultural processors.
• Establish and reinforce consistent underwriting standards, risk rating discipline, and portfolio monitoring practices across regions.
• Identify and recommend opportunities for process improvement, efficiency gains, and risk control enhancements within the Portfolio Management function.
• Provide subject matter expertise on agricultural industries, including row crops, livestock, dairy, specialty agriculture, and food and agribusiness processing sectors.
• Determine appropriate credit strategies and actions to meet complex business objectives, including growth, asset quality, and return targets.
• Promote a high level of morale, accountability, and performance across a geographically dispersed team.
• Influence and partner with Independent Risk to ensure alignment on credit philosophy, policy adherence, and emerging risk trends.
• Coach Relationship Managers on credit structuring, risk identification, and client strategy to strengthen front-line credit acumen and drive sound decision-making.
• Provide training and guidance to less experienced individuals.
• Manage allocation of people and financial resources to optimize coverage, efficiency, and portfolio performance.
• Develop and guide a culture of talent development, inclusion, and continuous improvement aligned with Commercial Banking and EMM strategy.
• Lead a geographically dispersed team with consistent engagement, oversight, and performance management.
• Travel domestically as needed to support national portfolio oversight and team engagement.

Requirements

• 7+ years of Commercial Banking Portfolio Management or leadership experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education.
• 7+ years of Commercial Agricultural Banking Portfolio Management, underwriting, or credit experience.
• 3+ years of management or leadership experience.

Qualifications

• Experience with complex credit, underwriting, and debt structure for clients with annual revenue of $25MM to $100MM.
• Completion of a formal credit training program.
• Deep expertise in agricultural industries (e.g., row crops, livestock, dairy, specialty crops, food processing) and associated risk drivers such as commodity price volatility, weather variability, input costs, and farmland values.
• Strong partnership orientation with proven ability to collaborate effectively with Relationship Managers and Independent Risk.
• Demonstrated ability to balance growth and risk, with a track record of maintaining strong credit quality through economic and agricultural cycles.
• Experience leading through change, including process transformation, technology adoption, or organizational scaling.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment across functions.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities, including portfolio trend analysis, concentration management, and early risk identification.
• Experience operating in a national or multi-region platform with a distributed team.
• Bachelor's degree in finance, Agriculture, Economics, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Job expectations

• This position is not eligible for Visa sponsorship.
• This position offers a hybrid work schedule.
• Specific compliance policies may apply regarding outside activities or personal investing; affected employees will be expected to provide information to the Wells Fargo Personal Account Dealing Team and abide by applicable policy requirements if hired.
• May be considered for a discretionary bonus, Restricted Share Rights, or other long-term incentive awards.

Locations

• 2700 S Price Road, Chandler, AZ
• 8601 N Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ
• 171 17th St NW, Building 100, Atlanta, GA
• 333 Market Street, San Francisco, CA
• 2030 Main Street, Irvine, CA
• 1800 Century Park East, Los Angeles, CA
• 10 S Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL
• 801 Walnut St., Des Moines, IA
• 125 High Street, Boston, MA
• 600 S 4th St., Minneapolis, MN
• 114 N Beaumont Street, St. Louis, MO
• 51 John F. Kennedy Parkway, Short Hills, NJ
• 461 From Road, Paramus, NJ
• 550 S Tryon St., Charlotte, NC
• 4208 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC
• 100 N 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA
• 14241 Dallas Pkwy, Ste 1300, Dallas, TX
• 401 Las Colinas Blvd W, Building B, Irving, TX
• 10999 W Interstate 10, San Antonio, TX
• 299 S Main Street, Salt Lake City, UT
• 1751 & 1753 Pinnacle Drive, McLean, VA
• 1021 E Cary St., Richmond, VA

May be open to additional locations based on availability of seating.

Pay

The base pay range for this position is $159,000.00 - $305,000.00. Pay may vary depending on factors including but not limited to demonstrated examples of prior performance, skills, experience, or work location. Employees may also be eligible for incentive opportunities.

Benefits

• Health benefits
• 401(k) Plan
• Paid time off
• Disability benefits
• Life insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance
• Parental leave
• Critical caregiving leave
• Discounts and savings
• Commuter benefits
• Tuition reimbursement
• Scholarships for dependent children
• Adoption reimbursement