[Hiring] Senior Credit Officer, Commercial (Solar & Renewable Energy) @Live Oak Bank

Role Description

The Senior Credit Officer, Commercial (Solar & Renewable Energy) is the embedded credit officer for the Bank’s solar and renewable energy lending team. This role approves solar and renewable energy credit requests within individual loan authority, adhering to Bank policies and Government program guidelines, and serves as the primary credit partner to Energy & Infrastructure bankers and underwriters from early deal structuring through approval, closing, construction, and ongoing portfolio management. Responsibilities include:

• Verifying that documentation aligns with loan approvals and regulatory requirements.
• Identifying early signs of project, sponsor, or counterparty deterioration.
• Ensuring compliance with policy objectives.
• Supporting loan transactions and portfolio activities across other Commercial Bank lending verticals as capacity allows.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of solar and renewable energy credit experience, including financial analysis, underwriting, structuring, and credit approval of project-level and portfolio financings.
• Demonstrated experience decisioning or recommending credit approvals on solar and renewable energy transactions, including construction and term financings.
• Working knowledge of solar and renewable energy project documents (PPAs, interconnection agreements, EPC and O&M contracts, independent engineer reports, and tax equity and tax credit transfer structures) and the financial models used to size project debt.
• Experience managing a renewable energy loan portfolio, including risk rating, covenant monitoring, and problem loan resolution.
• Strong understanding of the Bank’s policies, procedures, and criteria.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presenting credit recommendations to committee.
• Commercial lending and sales experience; exposure to other Commercial Bank verticals (commercial real estate, sponsor finance, venture banking, or ABL) and to USDA or SBA guaranteed lending programs is a plus.

Requirements

• Serve as the embedded credit officer for the solar and renewable energy lending team, engaging with bankers and underwriters early in the deal process.
• Approve solar and renewable energy credit requests within individual authority, adhering to Bank and regulatory guidelines (FDIC, SBA, and USDA).
• Provide subject matter expertise on solar and renewable energy projects and financing structures.
• Evaluate project economics and revenue quality.
• Assess sponsor, developer, EPC, and O&M counterparty strength.
• Oversee the credit aspects of construction lending and conversion to term.
• Own credit oversight of the solar and renewable energy portfolio.
• Identify early warning signs on solar and renewable energy credits and lead resolution strategy.
• Approve modifications, waivers, consents, and extensions on existing solar and renewable energy loans.
• Contribute to solar and renewable energy credit policy, underwriting standards, and concentration monitoring.
• Conduct site visits to operating and under-construction projects.
• Support loan production while ensuring compliance with all applicable risk policies, procedures, and mitigants.
• Contribute to the collaborative process that aims to produce sound credit decisions.
• Work cross-functionally with departments involved in loan production.
• Assist with broader Credit Team functions.
• Maintain a high standard of regulatory awareness including BSA, AML, CIP, and OFAC.

Benefits

For a detailed overview of our employee benefits please visit: Live Oak Bank Careers

Company Description

Live Oak Bank is a digital bank for small business owners across the country. Our goal is to be America’s Small Business Bank, and we’re getting there by pairing exceptional service with smart technology. We support owners at every stage with products:

• Loans to buy, build, and expand.
• Checking and merchant services to keep daily operations moving.
• High-yield savings and CDs to grow the money they’ve worked hard to earn.

Our people are the heart of Live Oak. We take care of each other here, and that care carries over to how we serve our customers.