Commercial Loan Operations Construction Specialist

About the role

• Position Title
• Commercial Loan Operations Construction Specialist
• Location
• Houston, TX 77079

Job Summary

The Commercial Loan Operations Construction Specialist is responsible for providing comprehensive operational support to Commercial Real Estate or the Home Builder Finance Groups by servicing complex construction and development loans. This role ensures the accurate and timely processing of draw requests, project funding, system updates, collateral monitoring, and borrower communication. The specialist acts as a key liaison between loan operations, relationship managers, credit, title companies, and external vendors to support residential and commercial real estate development projects.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the servicing of complex and high-value construction and development loans, ensuring accurate closing, funding of loans and disbursement of draws
• For home builder finance loans, order appraisals and ensure the appraised values are in line with the borrower's cost
• Ensure flood certificates are ordered and/or reviewed to determine if property is in the flood zone and if applicable coordinate with borrower to retrieve flood insurance when required.
• Work with the internal flood team for approval to close
• Review credit approval, loan agreement and promissory note to ensure construction loans meet the approved requirements
• Coordinate with clients, attorneys, relationship managers/project managers and title company to ensure loans are closed accurately and within a timely manner
• Coordination between CLO Construction Specialist, Portfolio Manager and credit to assure matured units or loans comply to extend dates in Loan Momentum
• Process and service construction and development loans, including draw disbursements, interest calculations, and loan funding activities.
• Review and validate borrower draw requests against approved budgets, construction schedules, and loan documentation.
• Ensure accurate system setup and maintenance of construction loan structures, including commitment amounts, budgets, and lien waivers.
• Monitor collateral documentation, title endorsements, and construction progress to ensure compliance with loan terms and risk controls.
• Coordinate with internal departments such as relationship managers, credit, and legal to resolve issues or obtain necessary approvals.
• Communicate directly with borrowers, title companies, and inspection vendors to track project milestones and ensure timely funding.
• Reconcile draw activity, balances, and interest reserves in the loan servicing system.
• For home builder finance loans, support reporting and tracking of loan funding pipelines, project status, and compliance exceptions.
• Maintain documentation and audit readiness for regulatory and internal reviews.
• Identify and escalate servicing issues, delays, or risk exposures related to construction lending activities.
• Uses independent judgement and discretion to make decisions.
• Analyzes and resolves problems.

Additional Accountabilities

• Performs special projects, and additional duties and responsibilities as required.
• Consistently adheres to regulatory and compliance policies and standards linked to the job as listed and complete required compliance trainings. Accountable to maintain compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.

Required Qualifications

• Education level required: High School / High School Equivalency (GED, HiSET, TASC) / Foreign Equivalent.
• Minimum experience required: 2+ Years experience in a large commercial bank or related financial institution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education level preferred: College, Vocational or Associates Degree (2 years or equivalent) in Business, Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• Knowledge of construction loan documentation, budgets, lien waivers, title processes, and funding mechanics.
• Familiarity with loan servicing systems and draw management workflows.
• Ability to review and interpret loan documents and translate terms into accurate system entries.

Job Competencies

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a team-first mindset.
• Demonstrates a strong ability to build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders by communicating clearly, engaging in proactive collaboration, and leveraging cross functional insights. Aligns relationship building efforts with enterprise goals to accelerate performance and drive strategic results.
• Builds trusted client relationships, whether internal or external, by identifying needs and delivering tailored solutions to enhance the overall client experience.
• Fosters or supports a positive work culture and productive work environment, displaying importance of effective relationships with customers and stakeholders.
• Physical demands (ADA): The job requires significant physical exertion and stamina such as repeated bending, reaching, climbing, or moderate and frequent lifting.