Indirect Lending & Loan Operations Manager; Hybrid in Syracuse, NY

Overview

The Indirect Lending & Loan Operations Manager provides strategic, technical, and operational leadership for the Credit Union's indirect lending channel. This role drives loan growth, oversees high-volume underwriting and processing operations, manages dealer relationships, ensures system optimization, and maintains strong risk-management controls. The manager leads a high-performing team capable of supporting $1B+ in annual production while serving as the primary administrator for LOS and indirect lending platforms.

Location: Our headquarters are based in Syracuse, NY. We work in a Hybrid Model requiring a minimum of 5 days in office per month.

Salary: The annual salary range for this position is: $98,685.61-$.

25% Underwriting Oversight &

Risk Management:

• Lead a team of underwriters responsible for evaluating complex loan files in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Review and approve loans exceeding individual underwriter authority or those outside standard guidelines, ensuring sound credit decisions.
• Mentor staff in critical-thinking underwriting, balancing risk tolerance with organizational growth and portfolio performance goals.
• Monitor underwriting quality, consistency, and adherence to policy through regular audits and feedback sessions.
• Collaborate with Risk, Compliance, and Finance to refine lending guidelines, pricing strategies, and risk-mitigation controls.

25% Strategic Relationship & Market Management:

• Manage and strengthen dealer relationships, ensuring alignment with service expectations, production goals, and compliance standards.
• Identify and recommend new dealer partnerships, market opportunities, and geographic expansion strategies to grow indirect loan volume.
• Serve as the primary liaison with dealer representatives to ensure seamless communication, timely issue resolution, and consistent service delivery.
• Monitor dealer performance metrics and recommend adjustments to pricing, programs, or engagement strategies.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Business Development to support dealer-facing initiatives and promotional campaigns.

20% Loan Processing Operations:

• Oversee loan processing workflows to ensure timely and accurate verification of income, employment, insurance, and collateral values.
• Coordinate loan closings, funding, and ACH payments to dealers, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely turnaround.
• Manage follow-up processes for pending files, reducing delays and improving speed-to-funding metrics.
• Implement process improvements, automation opportunities, and quality-control measures to enhance operational efficiency.
• Partner with internal departments (Accounting, Titles, Member Services) to ensure smooth post-funding transitions.

15% Technical Systems Administration:

• Serve as Lead System Administrator for LOS platforms and indirect portals (Dealer track, Route One), ensuring optimal configuration and uptime.
• Maintain and update system users, roles, permissions, interest rates, workflows, automated documents, and decision-engine rules.
• Partner with IT, Compliance, and third-party vendors to implement system enhancements, troubleshoot issues, and ensure regulatory alignment.
• Manage the internal work-ticket queue, resolving technical bottlenecks and workflow disruptions to maintain operational continuity.
• Lead testing, validation, and documentation for system upgrades, new features, and process changes.

10% Analytics & Project Management:

• Analyze portfolio trends, consumer behavior, dealer performance, and operational KPIs to inform strategic decisions and policy updates.
• Serve as Project Manager for lending initiatives, coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure timely testing, implementation, and documentation.
• Use individual staff performance analytics to provide coaching, development plans, and performance evaluations.
• Prepare and present reports to senior leadership on production trends, risk indicators, operational performance, and market opportunities.
• Lead continuous-improvement initiatives focused on scalability, efficiency, and long-term portfolio health.

5% Compliance, Audit & Policy Governance:

• Ensure indirect lending operations comply with federal and state regulations, internal policies, and audit requirements.
• Support internal and external audit activities by providing documentation, responding to findings, and implementing corrective actions.
• Contribute to policy reviews, risk assessments, and governance activities to strengthen overall lending controls.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Performance Measurements:

See Dayforce (HRIS) Performance Management for Goals upon start in role, and annually.

Experience:

5 to 8 years in consumer or indirect lending within a mid-to-large financial institution.

• 3+ years leading underwriting, loan operations, or indirect lending teams.
• Experience managing high-volume production environments ($500M-$1B+ annually).
• Proven success building and maintaining dealer relationships and driving market…