Senior Vice President, Lending

VICE PRESIDENT / SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, LENDINGConfidential Senior Leadership Opportunity | Non-Bank Financial Institution | West End of the GTAThe OpportunityOur client, an established non-bank financial institution with a presence in the Canadian lending market, is seeking a senior lending executive to lead its residential and commercial mortgage lending operations and drive the continued growth and performance of its overall lending portfolio. Residential and commercial mortgage lending represent a significant component of the institution’s business and balance sheet, making deep expertise in both areas essential to success in this role.
Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership across mortgage origination, credit underwriting, portfolio management, risk oversight and product development. This individual will play a pivotal role in shaping the institution’s lending strategy, strengthening broker and referral relationships, enhancing operational effectiveness and ensuring a disciplined approach to sustainable portfolio growth, credit quality and risk management.
This is an opportunity for an accomplished lending executive with extensive knowledge of both residential and commercial mortgage lending, strong commercial acumen and sound credit judgment. Combining strategic vision with hands‑on leadership, the successful candidate will be well positioned to lead a high-performing team, identify new market opportunities and contribute directly to the institution’s long‑term growth and financial performance.
Location:
West end of the GTA
Level:
Vice President / Senior Vice President
Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Leadership & Business Performance
Develop and execute the annual lending strategy, operating plan and budget in alignment with the institution’s broader business objectives.
Partner with the President & CEO and senior leadership team to establish lending priorities, growth targets and performance measures.
Monitor business performance, portfolio trends and budget variances, providing regular reporting, insights and recommendations to senior management.
Identify opportunities to expand lending activities, strengthen market positioning and improve operational efficiency.
Oversee residential and commercial mortgage lending, including origination, credit adjudication, underwriting, modifications, subordinations and ongoing portfolio administration.
Ensure lending decisions align with established credit policies, risk appetite, underwriting standards and business objectives.
Drive responsible portfolio growth while maintaining strong credit quality, effective arrears management and appropriate risk controls.
Strengthen origination channels and referral relationships, including mortgage brokers and other business partners, to support sustainable business development.
Credit Risk, Governance & Regulatory Compliance
Review and enhance lending policies, underwriting guidelines and procedures to reflect regulatory requirements, market conditions and the institution’s risk appetite.
Identify emerging credit and operational risks, assess portfolio performance and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies.
Ensure lending practices, processes and documentation adhere to applicable legislation, regulatory expectations and internal standards.
Provide senior management with insight into portfolio quality, arrears, credit trends and other key risk indicators.
Monitor residential and commercial lending markets, competitor offerings, pricing trends and evolving customer and broker needs.
Recommend and implement lending product enhancements, pricing strategies and new product initiatives that support competitiveness and profitability.
Identify opportunities to improve the lending experience, streamline processes and strengthen the institution’s value proposition.
Oversee the implementation of approved lending initiatives, ensuring effective communication, training and execution.
Operational Excellence & Technology
Oversee lending administration, systems and processes to support efficient, consistent and scalable operations.
Partner with technology and other internal stakeholders to identify system enhancements, improve workflows and support the implementation of approved initiatives.
Establish appropriate performance measures and reporting processes to monitor productivity, service levels, turnaround times and overall departmental effectiveness.
Leadership & Talent Development
Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing lending team across origination, underwriting and administration.
Establish clear performance expectations, departmental objectives and individual development plans.
Oversee recruitment, succession planning, employee development and performance management.
Foster a collaborative, accountable and service-oriented culture that supports business growth, sound credit practices and continuous improvement.
Business Development & Industry Engagement
Maintain strong relationships with brokers, referral sources and other key industry partners.
Monitor business pipelines and lending activity to support current and future funding and portfolio objectives.
Represent the institution at relevant industry events, business development initiatives and promotional activities.
Identify emerging opportunities and market developments that may influence lending strategy and future growth.
Qualifications & Experience
Significant (10+ years) senior-level experience in residential and commercial mortgage lending, ideally within a bank, non-bank financial institution or other established lending organization.
A proven track record of leading lending operations, credit underwriting, portfolio management and business development.
Strong knowledge of mortgage credit adjudication, underwriting standards, lending policies, risk management and regulatory compliance.
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute lending strategies that balance portfolio growth, profitability, credit quality and risk.
Experience building, leading and developing teams across lending origination, credit and administration.
Strong commercial acumen, analytical capabilities and experience using portfolio performance data to inform strategic decisions.
Established relationships within the mortgage broker community and a solid understanding of the Canadian residential and commercial lending markets.
Experience with lending systems, process improvement and operational change initiatives.
Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at the executive level.
Leadership ProfileThe ideal candidate is a commercially minded, hands‑on executive who can operate strategically while maintaining a strong understanding of day‑to‑day lending operations. They bring sound credit judgment, a disciplined approach to risk, a growth‑oriented mindset and the ability to develop trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
This individual will be comfortable working closely with the President & CEO, senior leadership team and board members, taking ownership of results and translating business strategy into measurable lending performance.
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