Consumer Credit Director

The Consumer Credit Director works with the Chief Credit Officer and the Chief Operating Officer to lead the strategy, governance, and performance of the Bank's consumer lending portfolio (e.g., unsecured, cards, auto, HELOC, mortgages). This leader combines deep quantitative and analytical expertise with strong business acumen to optimize growth, profitability, and risk-adjusted returns. The role is accountable, under the CCO, for consumer credit policy, underwriting strategies, portfolio management, loss forecasting, pricing recommendations, early warning/collections strategy, and regulatory compliance, while continuously identifying market trends and competitive dynamics to inform strategy. This is a senior leadership role with high cross-functional visibility and C-suite exposure.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy & Leadership

• With the Chief Credit Officer, set the consumer credit strategy aligned with enterprise risk appetite, growth goals, and capital constraints.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of consumer credit policy, portfolio analytics, underwriting strategy, credit operations, and loss forecasting professionals.
• Translate complex analytics into clear recommendations for executive and board audiences.

Credit Policy, Underwriting & Portfolio Analytics

• Reporting to the Chief Credit Officer and under the CCO's guidance, assist with consumer credit policies and risk appetite frameworks; ensure discipline and adaptability across cycles.
• Design and optimize underwriting strategies (e.g., scorecard segmentation, cutoffs, overrides, income verification, debt-to-income thresholds).
• Oversee and direct portfolio monitoring (originations quality, delinquency/roll rates, loss/flow-to-default, line utilization, exposure, EIR, ROE/ROA).
• Recommend pricing analytics to balance growth, competitiveness, and risk-adjusted returns.
• Implement early warning triggers and credit line management strategies; partner with Collections on cure and loss mitigation.

Modeling, Forecasting & Stress Testing

• Guide development and validation of predictive models (application/behavior scorecards, loss forecasting, response/propensity, attrition).
• Lead allowance/CECL forecasting and scenario analysis; partner with the Accounting Department as needed.
• Interpret macro trends (labor, inflation, rates, housing, auto, consumer leverage) for portfolio impacts.

Market Intelligence & Trend Identification

• Establish a systematic market scanning capability: competitor moves, pricing, credit box shifts, consumer behavior signals, and regulatory developments.
• Convert external signals and internal performance data into actionable strategy (e.g., tighten/loosen credit, channel investments, product features).

Risk, Controls & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to regulatory expectations for consumer credit (e.g., fair lending/UDAAP, ECOA/Reg B, FCRA, TILA/Reg Z, SCRA, MLA).
• Maintain strong model risk management (development documentation, validation, monitoring, challenger models).
• Oversee control testing, issue remediation, and executive reporting; partner closely with Analytics and Risk and Compliance.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to optimize end-to-end consumer credit performance.
• Work with Analytics and IT to enhance data pipelines and real-time decisioning.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• 10+ years of progressive experience in consumer credit risk within banking/financial services.
• Demonstrated quantitative/analytical depth: portfolio analytics, scorecards, loss forecasting, and pricing.
• Proven ability to identify trends and market conditions and translate them into practical credit strategies.
• Strong knowledge of CECL, stress testing, and consumer credit regulatory landscape.
• Excellent communication skills-able to synthesize complex analysis for senior stakeholders and motivate teams.
• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field (e.g., Statistics, Economics, Finance, Engineering, Mathematics).

Key Competencies

• Strategic & Commercial Mindset: Balances growth with risk-adjusted returns and capital efficiency.
• Analytical Rigor: Expert at segmentation, cohort analysis, and performance attribution.
• Decision Quality: Makes timely, data-driven calls under uncertainty; adjusts to macro shifts.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Normal/hybrid business office environment

Needham Bank offers a competitive salary and an amazing benefit package for a full-time employee which includes fully paid medical and dental insurance, HRA, 401(k) plan with an 8% bank match, paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, a bonus program, flexible spending accounts, vision service plan, group term life insurance, short and long term disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, and an Employee Assistance Program. We offer a great benefit package to our eligible part-time employees as well.

Pay Range: $156,682.26 - $219,355.17

The pay range provided is based on what we believe is a reasonable estimate for the pay range for this job at the time of posting.

Actual pay may vary based on experience, skills, and market factors; additional compensation may apply.

At NB, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace - if you are excited about this role, but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Needham Bank is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Needham Bank will provide all applicants for employment and all employees with equal opportunity for employment and promotion regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, military service, sexual orientation, genetic information, or gender identity.