Chief Lending Officer (CLO)

Description

Adventure Credit Union is looking for a strategic leader who believes lending is about more than loan growth.

The Chief Lending Officer plays a key role in shaping the future of our organization by developing leaders, strengthening communities, delivering exceptional member experiences, and helping guide the strategic direction of the credit union.

This is an opportunity to influence the organization beyond lending while building high-performing teams and driving meaningful results.

About Adventure

Adventure Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative serving more than 40,000 members throughout West Michigan.

Our Mission:To connect our communities to the outdoors, from backyard to backcountry.

Our Vision: To be the premier outdoor financial cooperative.

Everything we do is guided by our Core Behaviors: Grow with Purpose | Explore Yes | Work Toward a Better Tomorrow | Steady Hands. Strong Heart. | Earn the View 

We're building something bigger than a financial institution—we're creating a workplace where people grow, leaders thrive, and communities flourish.

Your Opportunity

As Chief Lending Officer, you'll join our Executive Leadership Team and help shape the future of Adventure Credit Union.

You'll lead the strategic direction of:

• Consumer Lending 
• Mortgage Lending 
• Commercial Lending 
• Financial Restoration /Risk Management 

You'll also partner across the organization to create an exceptional lending experience—from first conversation through long-term financial success.

What You'll Be Responsible For

You'll help Adventure Credit Union move forward by:

• Developing and executing our enterprise lending strategy. 
• Balancing sustainable loan growth with sound credit quality and long-term financial performance. 
• Building and developing exceptional leaders who create high-performing teams. 
• Partnering across the organization to improve member experiences and operational excellence. 
• Using data and insights to guide strategic decisions.      
• Leading organizational change and continuous improvement. 
• Partnering with the executive responsible for CardServices to shape our credit card portfolio strategy. 
• Building trusted relationships with the Board, regulators, community partners, and industry organizations. 

What Makes Someone Successful Here?

We're looking for someone who naturally:

• Thinks beyond departmental priorities and makes enterprise decisions. 
• Builds trust through transparency, accountability,  and follow-through. 
• Develops people through coaching, feedback, and meaningful growth opportunities. 
• Creates clarity during change. 
• Balances strategic thinking with operational execution. 
• Uses data without losing sight of people. 
• Builds collaborative relationships across the organization. 
• Continuously looks for better ways to serve members and improve the organization. 

Why Adventure Credit Union?

You'll join an organization that is intentionally investing in:

• Leadership development 
• Continuous improvement 
• Innovation 
• Cross-functional collaboration 
• Member experience 
• Employee engagement 

We believe great organizations are built by great people—and great leaders create opportunities for others to succeed.

Why This Role Matters

This is more than a lending leadership position. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you'll help shape the future of Adventure Credit Union—guiding strategic decisions, developing future leaders, influencing enterprise initiatives, and helping create the best place our employees have ever worked.

Ready to Earn the View?

If you're looking for an opportunity to shape strategy, develop exceptional leaders, and make a lasting impact on the future of a growing credit union, we'd love to hear from you.

Requirements

 What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field required. 
• Executive leadership experience within financial services.  ( A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in a management role and five (5) years in a senior management role.)
• Significant experience leading consumer, mortgage, commercial, and financial restoration or collections teams. 
• Strong understanding of lending strategy, credit risk, portfolio management, and regulatory compliance. 
• Experience leading organizational change and developing high-performing leaders.