Chief SBA Sales and Strategy Director
Confidential Company, Cleveland, OH, United States
Overview
Position:
Chief SBA Sales and Strategy Director Location:
Midwestern US Reporting Relationship : Head of Small Business Banking Purpose of the Position A leading regional financial institution is conducting a confidential search for a Director of SBA Lending to lead and transform its Small Business Administration (SBA) platform. This executive will be responsible for setting and executing the strategic vision for SBA lending across the organization. Reporting to the Head of Small Business Banking, the Director will oversee sales, credit, operations, servicing, and overall profitability of the SBA line of business. This is a high impact leadership opportunity focused on repositioning the SBA business model to align with long-term enterprise strategy. The successful candidate will combine deep SBA expertise with strong enterprise leadership capability, operational discipline, and a relationship driven growth mindset. Strategic Mandate
The Director will be charged with: Reorienting the SBA model toward core-footprint, relationship-led growth Reducing reliance on broker-sourced production and strengthening internally generated originations Positioning SBA as a gateway to full banking relationships, increasing deposit penetration and broader wallet share Expanding small-ticket and SBA Express capabilities alongside the established larger-loan platform Recruiting, upgrading, and retaining high-performing SBA talent Ensuring operational excellence and preservation of the SBA guaranty across the full loan lifecycle Aligning performance management and incentive structures with long-term shareholder value creation Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Leadership & Strategy Establish and execute short- and long-term strategic objectives for the SBA line of business Drive performance against production, profitability, credit quality, and relationship metrics Partner with executive leadership to ensure SBA strategy aligns with enterprise priorities Deliver consistent, data-driven reporting and updates to senior stakeholders Sales & Market Leadership Lead SBA Business Development Officers (BDOs) and sales leadership Build strong internal referral partnerships across Commercial, Retail, and Small Business Banking Cultivate Centers of Influence (COIs) within core markets Drive both large-ticket 7(a)/504 production and scalable small-ticket/Express programs Recruit, coach, and develop high-performing SBA professionals Operations, Credit & Risk Oversight Oversee underwriting, closing, construction monitoring, accounting, and servicing functions Ensure government guaranty integrity and regulatory compliance across origination and servicing Maintain strong partnership with Risk and Special Assets teams Strengthen operational continuity and institutional expertise within the SBA infrastructure Cultural & Organizational Leadership Break down siloed behaviors and integrate SBA into the broader bank ecosystem Embed a relationship-first philosophy within the SBA team Lead through change with transparency, accountability, and execution rigor Represent the institution within the SBA and small business community Team & Structure The Director oversees a comprehensive SBA platform including: SBA Sales Manager and BDO team Servicing Manager and servicing staff Construction monitoring and closing leadership Accounting oversight Dedicated SBA underwriting function (indirect oversight) The operational infrastructure is primarily centralized, while this leadership role will be based in the Midwestern US to ensure strong executive alignment and cross-functional integration. The Candidate
Candidate Profile Experience 15+ years of progressive SBA lending leadership experience Demonstrated expertise in SBA SOP compliance, credit, underwriting, and portfolio management Proven success leading high-performing SBA sales organizations Experience developing both large-loan and small-ticket SBA platforms Demonstrated ability to recruit and build strong SBA teams Familiarity with modern LOS and CRM platforms Leadership Characteristics Enterprise-minded leader who views SBA as a relationship entry point rather than a transactional product Strong cross-functional influencer capable of operating across multiple business lines Change agent comfortable in evolving environments Operationally disciplined and risk-aware High integrity leader aligned with long-term value creation Education Success Profile The successful candidate will: Transition the SBA platform into a sustainable, core-market growth engine Strengthen deposit and cross-sell performance through relationship-based origination Enhance operational efficiency and guaranty protection Attract and develop top-tier SBA talent Build credibility and trust with executive leadership and key internal partners Why This Role This is a rare opportunity to architect and lead the next evolution of an established SBA platform within a growth oriented regional banking organization. The Director will have meaningful executive visibility, influence over strategy, and the ability to shape talent, structure, and performance outcomes.
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Position:
Chief SBA Sales and Strategy Director Location:
Midwestern US Reporting Relationship : Head of Small Business Banking Purpose of the Position A leading regional financial institution is conducting a confidential search for a Director of SBA Lending to lead and transform its Small Business Administration (SBA) platform. This executive will be responsible for setting and executing the strategic vision for SBA lending across the organization. Reporting to the Head of Small Business Banking, the Director will oversee sales, credit, operations, servicing, and overall profitability of the SBA line of business. This is a high impact leadership opportunity focused on repositioning the SBA business model to align with long-term enterprise strategy. The successful candidate will combine deep SBA expertise with strong enterprise leadership capability, operational discipline, and a relationship driven growth mindset. Strategic Mandate
The Director will be charged with: Reorienting the SBA model toward core-footprint, relationship-led growth Reducing reliance on broker-sourced production and strengthening internally generated originations Positioning SBA as a gateway to full banking relationships, increasing deposit penetration and broader wallet share Expanding small-ticket and SBA Express capabilities alongside the established larger-loan platform Recruiting, upgrading, and retaining high-performing SBA talent Ensuring operational excellence and preservation of the SBA guaranty across the full loan lifecycle Aligning performance management and incentive structures with long-term shareholder value creation Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Leadership & Strategy Establish and execute short- and long-term strategic objectives for the SBA line of business Drive performance against production, profitability, credit quality, and relationship metrics Partner with executive leadership to ensure SBA strategy aligns with enterprise priorities Deliver consistent, data-driven reporting and updates to senior stakeholders Sales & Market Leadership Lead SBA Business Development Officers (BDOs) and sales leadership Build strong internal referral partnerships across Commercial, Retail, and Small Business Banking Cultivate Centers of Influence (COIs) within core markets Drive both large-ticket 7(a)/504 production and scalable small-ticket/Express programs Recruit, coach, and develop high-performing SBA professionals Operations, Credit & Risk Oversight Oversee underwriting, closing, construction monitoring, accounting, and servicing functions Ensure government guaranty integrity and regulatory compliance across origination and servicing Maintain strong partnership with Risk and Special Assets teams Strengthen operational continuity and institutional expertise within the SBA infrastructure Cultural & Organizational Leadership Break down siloed behaviors and integrate SBA into the broader bank ecosystem Embed a relationship-first philosophy within the SBA team Lead through change with transparency, accountability, and execution rigor Represent the institution within the SBA and small business community Team & Structure The Director oversees a comprehensive SBA platform including: SBA Sales Manager and BDO team Servicing Manager and servicing staff Construction monitoring and closing leadership Accounting oversight Dedicated SBA underwriting function (indirect oversight) The operational infrastructure is primarily centralized, while this leadership role will be based in the Midwestern US to ensure strong executive alignment and cross-functional integration. The Candidate
Candidate Profile Experience 15+ years of progressive SBA lending leadership experience Demonstrated expertise in SBA SOP compliance, credit, underwriting, and portfolio management Proven success leading high-performing SBA sales organizations Experience developing both large-loan and small-ticket SBA platforms Demonstrated ability to recruit and build strong SBA teams Familiarity with modern LOS and CRM platforms Leadership Characteristics Enterprise-minded leader who views SBA as a relationship entry point rather than a transactional product Strong cross-functional influencer capable of operating across multiple business lines Change agent comfortable in evolving environments Operationally disciplined and risk-aware High integrity leader aligned with long-term value creation Education Success Profile The successful candidate will: Transition the SBA platform into a sustainable, core-market growth engine Strengthen deposit and cross-sell performance through relationship-based origination Enhance operational efficiency and guaranty protection Attract and develop top-tier SBA talent Build credibility and trust with executive leadership and key internal partners Why This Role This is a rare opportunity to architect and lead the next evolution of an established SBA platform within a growth oriented regional banking organization. The Director will have meaningful executive visibility, influence over strategy, and the ability to shape talent, structure, and performance outcomes.
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