Job Description

Portfolio Manager – Strategic Specialty Lending

Location: Bay Area preferred (San Francisco / Peninsula / East Bay). Broader California considered for the right candidate.

This is a high-ownership Portfolio Manager role inside a fast-growing Strategic Specialty Lending / Corporate Banking group that operates like a startup within a well-established bank. You’ll partner closely with a senior commercial banking sales team and work on complex credits across Asset-Based Lending, Leveraged Finance, sponsor-backed transactions, and M&A-related opportunities.

This is not a narrow “portfolio only” job. You’ll run deals end-to-end—early diligence through underwriting, structuring, execution, and ongoing monitoring—while helping build a scalable platform.

What You’ll Do

• Own transactions end-to-end: Lead deals from initial review through closing with minimal oversight.

• Drive diligence: Identify the key questions early, run diligence calls, manage follow-ups, and keep the process moving.

• Underwrite and structure deals: Shape deal terms, evaluate risks, and craft clear credit narratives for approval.

• Build and challenge financial analysis: Review sponsor and non-sponsor models, identify key drivers, recreate/sensitize analyses, and develop downside scenarios.

• Support term sheets and documentation: Provide input on term sheets, review and mark up legal documents, and negotiate terms with sponsors and counterparties.

• Manage the portfolio: Monitor risk grades, covenants, collateral/performance trends, and profitability.

• Contribute to the build: Help refine processes and (for senior hires) mentor junior support as the team scales.

What We’re Looking For

• 6+ years in commercial banking, underwriting, credit, specialty lending, or related experience.

• Specialty lending exposure in one or more of the following:

  • Asset-Based Lending

  • Leveraged / sponsor-backed lending

  • M&A / event-driven credit

  • Other complex corporate banking or specialized verticals

• Strong credit fundamentals: underwriting, structuring, policy discipline, and sound judgment under time pressure.

• Advanced Excel and financial analysis skills (you’ll be hands-on).

• Strong communication skills—able to influence internal stakeholders and engage confidently with external parties.

• Self-starter mindset: organized, resourceful, comfortable running multiple workstreams at once.

The Environment

• Lean, fast-paced, high accountability. The team is scaling quickly and expects hires to contribute immediately.

• Broad mandate. You’ll see a wide range of deal types and industries.

• High visibility. You’ll partner directly with senior sales leadership and credit decision-makers.

• Hands-on role. This is an individual contributor seat today (even for senior candidates). If you want a purely managerial role with heavy infrastructure, this won’t be the right fit.

Why This Role

• You’ll have real influence on deal outcomes and how the platform evolves.

• You’ll work on sophisticated transactions with strong deal flow.

• You’ll join a group building something meaningful—where performance and judgment matter more than rigid lanes or titles.

Compensation & Leveling

Leveling is flexible (strong AVP/VP profiles are ideal; senior candidates considered if hands-on). Compensation can be adjusted for standout specialty talent.