Senior Lead Commercial Banking Portfolio Manager

About this role:

Wells Fargo is seeking a strong leader to serve as Head of Credit for the Emerging Middle Market (EMM) Agricultural Lending and Portfolio Management team. This role provides senior credit leadership and approval authority for a national portfolio of primary agricultural producers and processors with revenues between $25MM and $100MM.

The leader will partner closely with Relationship Managers and Independent Risk to drive disciplined growth, consistent underwriting standards, and a balanced “how can we” mindset while maintaining strong risk governance and portfolio performance across the platform. Learn more about the career areas and business divisions at wellsfargojobs.com.

In this role you will:

• Manage and develop the Emerging Middle Market Agricultural Portfolio Management team, with a focus on high-quality credit underwriting, monitoring, and execution

• Serve as a senior credit approver for complex agricultural lending transactions, including operating lines, real estate-secured facilities, and agribusiness/processor credits

• Collaborate with Relationship Management, Independent Risk, and product partners nationally to structure and approve credit solutions that meet client needs within Wells Fargo’s risk appetite

• Actively participate in the origination, structuring, and execution of credit transactions for primary producers and agricultural processors

• Establish and reinforce consistent underwriting standards, risk rating discipline, and portfolio monitoring practices across regions

• Identify and recommend opportunities for process improvement, efficiency gains, and risk control enhancements within the Portfolio Management function

• Provide subject matter expertise on agricultural industries, including row crops, livestock, dairy, specialty agriculture, and food and agribusiness processing sectors

• Determine appropriate credit strategies and actions to meet complex business objectives, including growth, asset quality, and return targets

• Promote a high level of morale, accountability, and performance across a geographically dispersed team

• Influence and partner with Independent Risk to ensure alignment on credit philosophy, policy adherence, and emerging risk trends

• Coach Relationship Managers on credit structuring, risk identification, and client strategy to strengthen front-line credit acumen and drive sound decision-making

• Provide training and guidance to less experienced individuals

• Manage allocation of people and financial resources to optimize coverage, efficiency, and portfolio performance

• Develop and guide a culture of talent development, inclusion, and continuous improvement aligned with Commercial Banking and EMM strategy

Required Qualifications:

• 7+ years of Commercial Banking Portfolio Management or leadership experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education

•  7+ years of Commercial Agricultural Banking Portfolio Management, underwriting, or credit experience

• 3+ years of management or leadership experience

Desired qualifications:

• Experience with complex credit, underwriting, and debt structure for clients with annual revenue of $25MM to $100MM

• Completion of a formal credit training program

• Deep expertise in agricultural industries (e.g., row crops, livestock, dairy, specialty crops, food processing) and associated risk drivers such as commodity price volatility, weather variability, input costs, and farmland values.

• Strong partnership orientation with proven ability to collaborate effectively with Relationship Managers and Independent Risk

• Demonstrated ability to balance growth and risk, with a track record of maintaining strong credit quality through economic and agricultural cycles

• Experience leading through change, including process transformation, technology adoption, or organizational scaling

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment across functions.

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities, including portfolio trend analysis, concentration management, and early risk identification.

• Experience operating in a national or multi-region platform with a distributed team.

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Agriculture, Economics, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Job expectations:

• This position is not eligible for Visa sponsorship

• This position offers a hybrid work schedule

• Specific compliance policies may apply regarding outside activities or personal investing; affected employees will be expected to provide information to the Wells Fargo Personal Account Dealing Team and abide by applicable policy requirements if hired. Information will be shared about expectations during the recruitment process

• Ability to travel domestically as needed to support national portfolio oversight and team engagement & lead a geographically dispersed team with consistent engagement, oversight, and performance management.

• May be considered for a discretionary bonus, Restricted Share Rights or other long-term incentive awards

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