Job Description

Senior Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Lender

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Our client is seeking a Senior Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Lender to join its growing Phoenix-based platform. This role will be responsible for managing an existing portfolio while originating new business across Arizona and select regional markets (including New Mexico and Central California).

This is a high-impact role driven by recent portfolio growth and upcoming retirements within the team. The ideal candidate will bring strong market relationships, proven production, and the ability to step into a leadership position within the CRE group.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and grow an existing CRE loan portfolio (estimated $500MM+ commitments)
• Originate new CRE loans through established sponsor and broker relationships
• Cover Phoenix primary market, with support/coverage in Albuquerque and Central California
• Partner with internal C&I bankers to source cross-market opportunities
• Structure, negotiate, and execute transactions in alignment with bank credit standards
• Maintain strong client relationships and drive deposit growth alongside lending activity
• Collaborate with underwriting, portfolio management, and credit teams through full deal lifecycle

Product Focus / Lending Parameters

• Typical deal size: $15MM+ (with flexibility up to ~$80–90MM)
• Asset classes include:
• Industrial
• Multifamily
• Retail / Mixed-use
• Hospitality (selectively)
• Senior housing (limited / opportunistic)
• Recourse lending model (standard across platform)
• Limited burn-down structures possible; non-recourse is rare

Credit & Platform

• Centralized credit approval through senior loan committee
• Stable, predictable credit culture with clearly defined parameters
• Dedicated support:
• Local and national underwriting team
• Distributed portfolio management team
• Strong emphasis on deposit relationships tied to lending activity

Production Expectations

• Team production target: ~ $300MM annually (Phoenix office)
• Individual expectations aligned with senior-level originators
• Balanced focus on portfolio management + new origination

Qualifications

• 8–15+ years of CRE lending experience (bank platform preferred)
• Established Phoenix / Southwest market relationships
• Proven track record of originating $75MM–$150MM+ annually
• Strong understanding of credit, structuring, and risk management
• Experience working within a recourse lending environment preferred
• Ability to source deposits alongside lending relationships

Compensation

• Base Salary: BOE
• Bonus: Up to ~45% of base (with additional upside via stretch goals)
• Equity: ~ 15% stock component (in addition to bonus)
• Total compensation highly competitive with top bank platforms

Why Them

• Stable credit culture with minimal surprises
• Consistent lending appetite across market cycles
• Strong balance sheet and conservative deposit strategy
• Established platform with growth from recent acquisitions
• Opportunity to step into a senior role with immediate impact and future team build-out