Vice President, Consumer Lending

About the role

The VP of Consumer Lending contributes to CU SoCal’s overall success by providing strategic leadership and execution oversight for the consumer lending function, driving sustainable portfolio growth, strong credit performance, and a differentiated, digital-first Member experience. This role partners across Product, Technology, Data, Risk, and Operations to modernize lending capabilities, leverage data and AI-driven insights, and continuously optimize the end-to-end lending lifecycle. Balances Member experience, operational efficiency, and risk management to position CU SoCal competitively in an increasingly digital and fintech-driven marketplace.

This position is based in Anaheim Hills, CA with a hybrid-remote schedule consisting of 2 days in-office and 3 days working remote from home. Business hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Based upon business needs, flexible hours or additional in-office days may be required.

Why work here

CU SoCal is one of the fastest-growing credit unions and is more than just a place to work. It’s a place where people come before profit, where you can build a career that’s more than a job, and where the work you do has meaning and purpose. CU SoCal is a Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award recipient, honored for three consecutive years and ranked among the top workplaces worldwide for outstanding employee engagement.

The CU SoCal culture fosters Building Better Lives for our Members, personal development, open communication, and genuine care for each other. We prioritize C.A.R.E. 4: professional competence, positive attitude, relationship building, and eager service to others.

Responsibilities

• Owns performance of the consumer lending portfolio, including growth, credit quality, yield, and Member experience; utilizes advanced portfolio analytics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities and drives actionable strategies.
• Leads development and execution of a digital-first lending strategy, improving speed, automation, and straight-through processing while preserving high-touch Member engagement where it matters.
• Partners with Technology, Digital, and Data teams to enhance lending platforms and decisioning capabilities, including the use of AI/ML models, alternative data, and decision automation to improve approval rates, cycle times, and consistency of credit decisions.
• Oversees the end-to-end lending lifecycle (origination, underwriting, fulfillment, and funding) with a focus on continuous process optimization, operational scalability, and Member-centric design.
• Drives cross-functional initiatives across Lending, Marketing, Risk, Finance, and Operations to launch new products, refine pricing strategies, and improve Member acquisition, retention, and wallet share.
• Establishes and monitors key performance indicators (KPIs) for production, conversion rates, cycle times, pull-through, portfolio profitability, and Member satisfaction; ensures reporting supports timely and data-driven decision-making.
• Leads portfolio risk management practices, including segmentation analysis, vintage performance tracking, policy effectiveness reviews, and collaboration with Risk/Finance on loss forecasting and stress testing.
• Ensures all lending activities comply with applicable regulatory requirements (e.g., Reg Z, Reg B, FCRA) while balancing innovation and speed-to-market with sound risk and compliance frameworks.
• Builds and develops a high-performing leadership team; fosters a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and innovation, including adoption of new tools, technologies, and ways of working.
• Serves as a key leader in enterprise initiatives, influencing strategy, aligning stakeholders, and building consensus across functions to drive execution of organizational priorities.
• Demonstrates leadership behaviors consistent with the organization’s Servant Leadership Competency Model (SLCM) and is accountable for fostering a culture of engagement, accountability, collaboration, and team member development.
• Must be able and available to work a hybrid schedule, per business operations requirement, as needed.
• Additional duties and responsibilities, as assigned.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• 10+ years of experience in a leadership role with a focus on employee engagement and progressive responsibilities in building and execution of a strategic plan.
• 10+ years of experience in lending, including deep knowledge of consumer lending products and functions with proven success in driving loan growth.
• Knowledge of all laws and regulations related to consumer lending (e.g., Reg Z, Reg B, FCRA, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Exposure to digital lending platforms, LOS systems, or decision engines (e.g., MeridianLink or similar).

Skills

• Proficient in all applicable MS Office programs (i.e., Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc.).
• Experience leveraging data analytics and reporting tools to manage lending performance and identify opportunities for growth and optimization.
• Experience participating in or leading cross-functional initiatives involving technology, digital platforms, or product development.
• Familiarity with automated underwriting, workflow automation, or decisioning tools is a plus.

Pay

We support Pay Transparency and are a pay-for-performance organization that benchmarks base pay to the 50th percentile of market data.

Pay Scale: Min: $100,884 / Mid: $119,800 / Max: $159,848 per year. Actual compensation will be based on geographical location, work experience, education, and/or skill level.

Benefits

CU SoCal offers competitive pay and great health benefits.