This position is based at our Northshore location (2077 Town Center Blvd in Knoxville, TN) and if follows a hybrid/remote schedule (in the office 3 days/week). This is not a fully remote position. The deadline to apply for this opportunity is May 14, 2026.
Job Summary: The Vice President of Collections is a key member of the credit union's leadership team, serving as a strategic leader with shared responsibility for the overall health of the loan portfolio. This role requires extensive collections experience, with a focus on driving performance across collection and recovery functions. As a not-for-profit financial institution, ORNL FCU is committed to a "People over Profits" philosophy, and this position ensures collections strategies reflect that commitment by supporting members through challenging circumstances while achieving effective and sustainable recovery outcomes.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
- Develops and implements collections strategies to effectively manage delinquencies and losses while maximizing member retention and supporting long-term financial success.
- Establishes goals and performance metrics aligned with the organization’s lending strategy and risk tolerance; monitors and analyzes collection performance and trends; and proactively adjusts strategies in response to evolving trends, technological advancements, regulatory requirements, and economic conditions.
- Leads and manages a diverse team of management and staff-level employees across collections, repossession, bankruptcy, garnishment, and recovery functions to ensure effective operations and performance.
- Collaborates cross-functionally with Lending, Risk Management, Fraud, and other key stakeholders to develop and implement policies and procedures that effectively mitigate risk and support portfolio health.
- Maintains current knowledge of industry regulations and compliance requirements related to collections practices, ensuring all departmental activities operate within legal, regulatory, and ethical standards.
- Represents the credit union in legal proceedings related to collections activities, including bankruptcy matters and collection litigation, while coordinating with legal counsel to protect the organization’s interests and ensure compliance.
- Prepares and delivers regular reports to senior management on collections performance, portfolio trends, and key risk indicators to support informed decision-making.
- Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Hybrid Remote Statement: Following initial onboarding and training, this position will transition to a hybrid remote work arrangement, allowing performance of job duties to be completed both from home and on-site, with a structured schedule designed to support flexibility, business objectives, and consistent collaboration.
Work Experience:
- Five or more years of experience in consumer collections, including consumer recovery collections, within a financial institution is required.
- Three or more years of leadership experience in a collections role is required.
- Experience with AKUVO and/or Temenos collections systems is preferred.
Education:
- Bachelors degree in a business related field, or an equivalent combination of education, relevant work experience, or military experience is required.
Other Skills required:
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to clearly and simply present complex collections strategies and concepts to internal collections staff, cross-functional executive teams, and the CEO and Board of Directors.
- Proven ability to develop and implement effective collection strategies.
- Must be detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.