Position: VP, Business Development - SBA & CRE

Location: Remote US

Hours: Monday-Friday

Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer

POSITION MISSION:

As a VP, Business Development Officer specializing in all types of CRE lending (owner-occupied, investor, construction, SBA and Bridge CRE lending), your mission is to drive growth, and create opportunities by connecting borrowers, brokers, and other centers of influence with the financing, resources, and support they need to thrive. Responsible for expanding the institution's loan portfolio by originating, structuring, and closing high-quality SBA and CRE loans. This role combines relationship management, market development, and deal sourcing expertise to drive loan production that aligns with the company’s credit and profitability goals.

The ideal candidate possesses deep knowledge of SBA lending programs (including 7(a) and 504), CRE financing structures, and the ability to cultivate lasting relationships with borrowers, brokers, referral partners, and industry stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Loan Origination and Structuring:

• Source, structure and originate CRE and SBA loans that meet company credit standards.
• Conduct initial deal qualification including evaluating borrower financials and collateral to ensure the deal fits with the company’s underwriting policy
• Partner with underwriting and closing teams to ensure a smooth and timely funding process
• Act as the expert on advising the most suitable loan products to the customers and provide advice on SBA loans to eligible borrowers
• Build and manage a healthy deal pipeline; meet or exceed quarterly and annual loan production goals

Business Development and relationship management:

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with new commercial real estate developers, brokers, other industry professionals and existing clients to generate sales leads and foster long-term partnerships.
• Develop and maintain new lender relationships (Credit Unions & Community Banks) to ensure loan funding needs
• Attend industry events, trade shows, and networking functions to promote the company’s loan programs
• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, offering insights into market trends, lending options, and financial strategies.
• Educate clients and partners on company loan products and financing options

Market Strategy and Execution:

• Conduct market research to identify emerging trends, customer needs, and competitive landscape, enabling informed decision-making and strategic planning.
• Stay current with CRE and SBA market trends, competitor offerings and regulatory changes
• Provide feedback to leadership on market opportunities, product enhancements and competitive positioning.

Team development and collaboration

• Mentor and support junior Business Development Officers in deal structuring, pipeline management and client service
• Contribute to development of best practices, training materials and internal processes that enhance team efficiency and knowledge sharing
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture aligned with the company’s mission and values

PEFORMANC METRICS

• Annual loan production volume and % of self-sourcing
• Quality of loan submission and approval rate
• Growth in referral network and pipeline
• Client satisfaction and retention rates

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years in commercial lending, SBA origination or business banking
• Proven track record of CRE and SBA loan production
• Excellent business development, negotiation and relationship management skills
• Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret financial data, identify key risk factors, CRE financing structures and make recommendations accordingly
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to articulate recommendations effectively
• Self-starter with ability to work independently and achieve sales targets
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and multi-national environment
• Ability to multi-task, solve problems and think quickly
• Proficiency utilizing CRM platforms; experience with HubSpot a plus
• Results and Team-oriented mindset with a demonstrated track record of achieving sales targets, driving business growth with a willingness to collaborate and assist colleagues.
• Travel: Requires approximately 25%–50% travel, including site visits, industry conferences, and partner meetings to build and maintain key relationships.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• Competitive base salary $110,000-125,000 DOE plus commission / bonus based on loan production (TBD)
• Comprehensive benefits package includes health, dental and 401(k)
• Opportunities for professional development and advancement

COMMITMENTS: As a member of the AVANA team, you will be expected to demonstrate effective customer service in alignment with both the culture and goals of AVANA Companies, along with expectations of implementing a high level of client relationship management that aligns with AVANA’ core values of Putting People First, Doing the Right Thing, Taking the Lead, Making an Impact and understanding Excellence is a journey.