Head of Rural 1st Credit

About Our Opportunity

The Head of Rural 1st Credit provides strategic leadership for consumer credit operations, guiding underwriting, servicing, and resolution activities across the Rural 1st portfolio. This role shapes credit strategy, drives disciplined risk management, and aligns credit outcomes with customer experience, loan quality, legal compliance, and process/technology efficiency while delivering continuously improved financial performance objectives. 

The Head of Rural 1st Credit provides senior-level leadership through other leaders, aligning strategy, developing talent, and strengthening organizational effectiveness. They shape leadership capability, enhance collaboration across teams, and cultivate a consistent culture grounded in shared expectations, performance, and values.

How You Will Spend Your Time

• Holds accountability for consumer credit underwriting and related credit performance, including meeting Service Level Agreements (SLAs), turn time expectations, and accurate reporting; proactively identifies inefficiencies, removes process constraints, and implements timely course corrections.  
• Establishes and reviews key metrics for credit quality, administration, accuracy, and compliance. 
• Monitors the quality of the consumer credit loan portfolio by reporting specific adverse credit trends, opportunities, risks, or problems to executive leadership. 
• Exercises delegated lending authorities and reviews complex or high-risk credit decisions as required. 
• Applies advanced credit expertise and judgment to resolve complex issues and guide decisions in ambiguous or evolving situations. 
• Develops and manages the Consumer Credit departmental budget, identifies and monitors department efficiency metrics, aligns fiscal decisions with Association values, strategic priorities, and stewardship expectations. 
• Provides leadership through other leaders to advance shared organizational priorities.
• Coaches and develops leaders to build capability, accountability, and engagement.
• Aligns direction, priorities, and resources across multiple teams or functions.
• Strengthens decision‑making and problem‑solving through clarity and consistent leadership practices.
• Sponsors initiatives that elevate performance, culture, and long‑term readiness.
• Builds strong relationships across the Association to foster alignment and collaboration.

Education & Experience

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with at least 12 years of relevant experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading leaders and developing high-performing teams.
• Experience driving organizational change and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of consumer lending, credit risk management, and regulatory compliance.
• Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience collaborating across operations, technology, sales, and risk functions.

Mental & Physical Requirements

While performing the responsibilities of this role, team members typically sit for extended periods, use hands for computer and office tasks, and communicate verbally. Standing or walking may be required on a frequent basis, with occasional reaching, lifting, or moving items weighing up to ten pounds. Vision requirements include close and distance vision. The work environment generally involves a moderate noise level.

This role requires sustained mental focus, problem-solving, and the ability to manage multiple tasks, with extended computer use common. Some positions may include additional physical or mental requirements related to driving, such as holding a valid driver’s license and the ability to travel long distances.
Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals to perform the essential functions of the role.

Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals to perform the essential functions of the role.