Strategy and Execution Manager, SBA Lending

A large Midwest regional bank is seeking a Strategy and Execution Manager for its SBA Lending division.

Location: Atlanta, GA

The SBA Lending Strategy and Execution Manager serves as a senior execution leader and trusted advisor to divisional leadership, responsible for translating strategy into measurable results as the division scales toward $1 billion+ in annual production. This role owns the strategic initiatives, operating cadence, and performance discipline of the division, ensuring growth, credit quality, operational capacity, and customer experience scale together. Reporting to the Division Head, with direct responsibility for cross functional delivery across Sales, Credit, Operations, Risk, Finance, Marketing, and Technology.

This role requires working from a location three (3) or more days per week.

Basic Qualifications:
• Master's degree, or equivalent work experience
• 10 or more years of experience in project management activities
• Two or more years of managerial experience

Preferred Skills/Experience:
• Expert knowledge of assigned business line or functional area
• Demonstrated management and leadership skills
• Strong organizational and analytical skills
• Advanced knowledge of project management
• Ability to identify and resolve exceptions and to analyze data
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Experience in banking, specialty finance, SBA lending, or regulated financial services
• Familiarity with Salesforce, Power BI, or similar reporting tools
• Experience in strategy, business management, program management, consulting, or financial services leadership roles
• Proven track record leading complex, cross‑functional initiatives in a regulated, matrixed environment
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to translate data into executive‑ready insights
• Executive presence and communication skills; able to influence without authority
• High judgment, ownership mindset, and comfort operating with ambiguity
• Experience scaling a platform or operating model during growth periods

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy Execution & Portfolio Management:
• Translate divisional strategy into a clear portfolio of initiatives with defined outcomes, milestones, owners, and success metrics
• Own execution discipline across high‑priority initiatives tied to growth, operating efficiency, capacity expansion, and risk management
• Anticipate execution risks, resource constraints, and interdependencies; proactively surface trade‑offs and recommendations to leadership

Executive KPI Governance & Performance Management:
• Own divisional KPI governance and operating rhythm, including production, pipeline health, approvals, cycle times, capacity, and efficiency
• Prepare executive‑level dashboards, narratives, and recommendations for the Division Head and EVP
• Ensure consistent, fact‑based decision support and forward‑looking visibility for leadership

Cross‑Functional Leadership:
• Serve as the central coordination point across Sales, Credit, Operations, Risk, Finance, and Technology for strategic initiatives
• Drive alignment on priorities, sequencing, and accountability in a complex, matrixed environment
• Facilitate executive working sessions and steering discussions with clear framing and outcomes

Operating Model & Process Improvement:
• Identify and drive opportunities to simplify, standardize, and scale processes as volume grows
• Partner with Credit and Operations to improve throughput, predictability, and quality while protecting credit discipline
• Support change management and adoption of new processes, tools, and operating rhythms

Team Leadership & Development:
• Build and manage a small strategy / execution team (1–3 resources expected within 12 months)
• Set expectations, coach performance, and establish a high‑ownership, outcomes‑driven culture

Measures of Success (12–24 Months):
• Strategic initiatives delivered with measurable impact on production capacity, cycle time, or operating efficiency
• Trusted KPI governance and operating cadence for division leadership
• Improved cross‑functional execution and reduced delivery friction
• Demonstrated contribution toward sustainable progress on the $1B+ production roadmap

Compensation: $139230 – $163800/yr