Senior Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Lender

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Overview

Our client is seeking a Senior Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Lender to join its growing Phoenix-based platform. This role will be responsible for managing an existing portfolio while originating new business across Arizona and select regional markets (including New Mexico and Central California).

This is a high-impact role driven by recent portfolio growth and upcoming retirements within the team. The ideal candidate will bring strong market relationships, proven production, and the ability to step into a leadership position within the CRE group.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and grow an existing CRE loan portfolio (estimated $500MM+ commitments)

• Originate new CRE loans through established sponsor and broker relationships

• Cover Phoenix primary market, with support/coverage in Albuquerque and Central California

• Partner with internal C&I bankers to source cross-market opportunities

• Structure, negotiate, and execute transactions in alignment with bank credit standards

• Maintain strong client relationships and drive deposit growth alongside lending activity

• Collaborate with underwriting, portfolio management, and credit teams through full deal lifecycle

Product Focus / Lending Parameters

• Typical deal size: $15MM+ (with flexibility up to ~$80–90MM)

• Asset classes include:

  • Industrial

  • Multifamily

  • Retail / Mixed-use

  • Hospitality (selectively)

  • Senior housing (limited / opportunistic)

• Recourse lending model (standard across platform)

  • Limited burn-down structures possible; non-recourse is rare

Credit & Platform

• Centralized credit approval through senior loan committee

• Stable, predictable credit culture with clearly defined parameters

• Dedicated support:

  • Local and national underwriting team

  • Distributed portfolio management team

• Strong emphasis on deposit relationships tied to lending activity

Production Expectations

• Team production target: ~$300MM annually (Phoenix office)

• Individual expectations aligned with senior-level originators

• Balanced focus on portfolio management + new origination

Qualifications

• 8–15+ years of CRE lending experience (bank platform preferred)

• Established Phoenix / Southwest market relationships

• Proven track record of originating $75MM–$150MM+ annually

• Strong understanding of credit, structuring, and risk management

• Experience working within a recourse lending environment preferred

• Ability to source deposits alongside lending relationships

Compensation

• Base Salary: High $100Ks – Low $200Ks

• Bonus: Up to ~45% of base (with additional upside via stretch goals)

• Equity: ~15% stock component (in addition to bonus)

• Total compensation highly competitive with top bank platforms

Why Them

• Stable credit culture with minimal surprises

• Consistent lending appetite across market cycles

• Strong balance sheet and conservative deposit strategy

• Established platform with growth from recent acquisitions

• Opportunity to step into a senior role with immediate impact and future team build-out