Director Collections

Join to apply for the Director Collections role at Blaze Credit Union

3 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

This position leads and executes strategic initiatives that support Blaze Credit Union’s overall collections objectives. Responsible for overseeing department operations, performance, compliance, and budgets, this role ensures effective recovery strategies, process improvements, and regulatory adherence. Provides leadership, collaboration, and direction across departments to achieve collection goals, maximize efficiency, and safeguard Blaze’s assets while maintaining fair credit and collection practices.

Job Type: Full-time, on-site at our Larpenteur office in St Paul, MN

• Provide strategic direction, structure, communication, and leadership to ensure a motivated, high‑performing, and service‑oriented Collections team.
• Set and communicate clear responsibilities, goals, and performance expectations for Managers and staff.
• Coach, mentor, and evaluate employees to drive continuous improvement, professional growth, and goal achievement.
• Partner with HR and Managers to address employee relations, training, and development needs.

• Develop and execute short‑ and long‑term strategic plans aligned with Blaze’s vision, goals, and budget objectives.
• Oversee departmental operations, ensuring effective processes, cost management, and achievement of performance benchmarks.
• Collaborate with Enterprise Risk Management and cross‑functional teams to optimize collections strategies and portfolio results.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, service quality, and regulatory compliance.

• Ensure departmental compliance with all internal controls, regulations, and policies (including FCRA, consumer debt collection, repossession, bankruptcy, and foreclosure).
• Develop, review, and update departmental policies and procedures to reflect changing regulations and best practices.
• Maintain a strong culture of accountability for safety, confidentiality, and quality across the department.
• Support internal and external audits, exams, and regulatory reviews.

• Oversee preparation and analysis of collection performance reports, delinquency trends, charge‑offs, and portfolio metrics.
• Provide detailed reporting and analysis for management, the Board, and ERM Committee to guide strategic decisions.
• Monitor industry trends and provide data‑driven insights into budget forecasting, portfolio performance, and loss projections.

• Manage vendor relationships (attorneys, third‑party agencies, systems providers), ensuring compliance, performance, and cost‑effectiveness.
• Negotiate contracts and oversee budget planning, loan loss forecasting, and expense control.
• Evaluate and maintain competitive collections systems and software solutions.

• Oversee loss prevention and fraud monitoring processes, ensuring timely investigation and resolution of alerts.
• Manage Blaze’s Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) portfolio with Mortgage Servicing leadership, including property security, maintenance, and sale coordination.

• Foster cross‑departmental collaboration to strengthen member service, teamwork, and alignment with Blaze’s strategic goals.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on collections‑related policies, systems, and compliance requirements.
• Represent the department in internal committees, training sessions, and industry events.

• Comply with applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to, the Bank Secrecy Act, the Patriot Act, and the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
• Exhibit Blaze’s Core Values:
  Better Lives, Thoughtfully Compassionate, Minnesota’s Best, and Give Back.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support effective department operation.

• Minimum High School degree or equivalent.
• Minimum 6‑7 years progressive collections and collections management experience.
• College degree in business or a related…