Chief Commercial Banking Officer

Merchants Bank is a growing, employee-owned company, with a 150-year dedication to fulfilling the hopes and dreams of our community members and delivering outstanding customer service.  We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and service‑driven Chief Commercial Banking Officer.  This is an “in office” position with the preferred work location at our Winona, MN headquarters, with potential flexibility to work at out of a different Merchants Bank office location in MN or WI.   This senior leader will guide and direct all commercial banking activities and be accountable for commercial revenue growth and earnings optimization. This role is responsible for the selection, retention and success of all commercial bankers across the Bank.  This includes strategic direction, talent management and performance accountability of the Bank's commercial banking line of business. Involves the ongoing development of commercial banking services and solutions necessary to remain competitive in the marketplace.   15 years of hands-on commercial banking experience required with a minimum of 5 years of proven success in direct supervision and/or senior leader of banker teams of 10 or more associates.   Must have exceptional communication and interpersonal relationship skills, competent in Microsoft Sute and technology tools such as CRM, performance dashboards, and lending platform.  Must have proven success establishing and managing strategic goals for bankers, be a positive change agent, and have strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.   Merchants Bank offers competitive wages and benefits for our full-time employees including health, dental, life, disability and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts, 401(k) and ESOP retirement plans; bonus plan; paid time off; tuition reimbursement; and a variety of voluntary supplemental insurance options.   Please click on Apply Now or apply in person at any Merchants Bank location. Questions can be emailed to [email protected]. Merchants Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.       Role Summary: The Chief Commercial Banking Officer is a senior leadership role, responsible for directing all commercial banking activity, and accountable for commercial revenue growth and earnings optimization. This includes strategic direction, talent management, and performance accountability of the Bank's commercial banking line of business. Critical leadership aspects of this role are banker recruitment/engagement/retention, banker growth & development (sales and credit), commercial client relationship management, performance management, and the ongoing development of commercial banking services and solutions necessary to remain competitive in the marketplace. To be successful in this role, must possess core competency and experience leading teams, setting sales strategies and goals, developing and maintaining client relationships, leveraging technology and ensuring optimal profitability and risk management within the line of business. This role is responsible for the selection, retention and success of all commercial bankers across the Bank.   Key Responsibilities: Planning: Developing and executing business development plans to achieve or exceed financial goals. Ensuring that current customers (existing portfolios) are effectively managed, as well as expanding portfolio, in accordance with strategic goals set out by the Board of Directors and executive leadership team.  Leadership recruitment & development: Responsible for recruitment/development/retention of Regional Presidents and accountable for their performance in managing/growing their own commercial banking portfolio and those of their designated banking/market teams. Talent management & compensation: Works closely with Chief Human Resource Officer to ensure that banker performance management is consistent across the enterprise and that compensation programs are competitive, structured in a manner to optimally reward high-performance bankers, and in alignment with industry best practices.    Sales leadership & business development: Identifying market opportunities, analyzing client needs, prospect strategy, pricing strategy, and developing strategies for growth. Client relationship management: Engagement in the management of relationships with key clients, providing strategic advice, and understanding their financial needs as necessary to support relationship managers with retention and growth. Team leadership: This role oversees and motivates a team of commercial bankers, providing strategic and tactical guidance and coaching support to achieve strategic business goals and the personal goals for all Commercial Bankers. Critical responsibility for recruitment, onboarding, training, and the establishment of development and coaching practices  that are consistent throughout the line of business. Performance management: Role is ultimately accountable for commercial banking growth and profitability. Responsible for setting clear and consistent expectations for bankers, monitoring and evaluating the performance of the team, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing strategies for growth. Plays a critical role in the commercial banking team’s ability to meet or exceed targeted production, pricing and profitability goals. Financial analysis: Maintains knowledge associated with the ongoing development of the Bank’s operational systems, vendors and industry best practices in a manner that supports the continued growth of the enterprise. Risk management and compliance: Ensure compliance with all banking regulations, policies and procedures, as should be reflected in appropriate risk management components as part of incentive compensation for Bankers. Oversee risk management within the banker team. Ensure all bankers maintain accurate files and set prudent credit risk expectations with borrowers in alignment with the Company’s credit policy and within Board-approved credit risk tolerance levels. Adheres to the Bank’s Information Security policies and procedures. This role works closely with Chief Credit Officer and Senior Credit Officers, Chief Banking Officer and Chief Risk Officer to ensure compliance with all regulations, and to ensure high quality loan portfolios.  Company culture: As a leader in the organization, plays a critical role in protecting and strengthening the company’s culture. Expected to contribute to a positive working environment through words and actions, and adhere to our company mission, values and goals as outlined in our employee handbook and other company policies. Those expectations include, but are not limited to, the following: Providing exceptional service to external and internal customers. Meeting our attendance standards: Regular and dependable attendance is an essential function of the job Meeting all compliance and product training course deadlines: Employee may be asked to perform other duties as required by business needs   Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, business operations, process management or related academic discipline Minimum of 15 years of hands-on commercial banking experience Minimum of 5 years of proven success in direct supervision and/or senior leader of banker teams of 10 or more associates.   Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills Exceptional communication and interpersonal relationship skills Competent with regard to Microsoft Suite, and various other third-party technology tools (CRM, performance dashboards, lending platforms, industry database and research resources).  Proven success setting and inspecting clear expectations with team and holding teams accountable for performance Demonstrated ability to establish and manage strategic and personal goals for self and bankers. Proven success working independently and as part of a team. Proven success for being a positive change agent; agile and persistent.    Working Conditions: Position is designated as “in office” with remote work privileges as needed; primary work location onsite in Winona is preferred, with potential flexibility to have a different Merchants Bank office location designated as “primary” based on the work preference of the most qualified candidate Little or no discomfort caused by environmental factors. Some exposure to mental/visual fatigue resulting from research of complex systems issues. Some travel required between branch locations.     Relationships: Responsible to the Chief Banking Officer for fulfillment of functions, responsibilities, and authority