AVP Agricultural Investments

Position:  Director, Mortgage Originator – Western Regional Office (WRO)

Job Location:  Fresno, CA - Hyrbid

Department:  MetLife Investment Management | Agricultural Finance

The Role: MetLife is one of the largest commercial mortgage lenders globally; it is also one of the largest agricultural mortgage lenders in North America. Our real estate and agricultural investments are an important part of MetLife’s asset-liability matching program. The long-term nature of these investments makes them a good match for the long-term liabilities the company writes. MetLife’s commercial agricultural portfolio  currently consists of approximately $24 billion in assets under management with regional offices located in Fresno, CA, Overland Park, KS, and Germantown, TN. MetLife has been lending in agriculture for more than 100 years.

MetLife Agricultural Finance is seeking an exceptional and experienced Agricultural Real Estate Loan Officer to originate loans and service an existing loan portfolio primarily in Fresno, Madera, and Monterey Counties, CA. The Director, Mortgage Originator  will report directly to the Regional Director based in Fresno, CA and will be part of a team responsible for the origination and servicing of agricultural real estate loans in nine-western states and Latin America.

Key Responsibilities:

• Business development and loan originations in Fresno, Madera and Monterey Counties, CA.
• Networking and marketing with all Centers of Influence including industry organizations, banks, brokers, etc.
• Relationship management of existing portfolio and Centers of Influence.
• Manage Loan Origination process, including credit underwriting, debt structuring, pricing strategy, transaction negotiation and closing, and collateral due diligence review.
• Proactive asset management duties on existing loan portfolio, with support from Regional Office, and other servicing matters.
• Fulfill the investment needs of investor client groups.
• Pro-active risk management and servicing of the existing loan portfolio.
• Senior member of WRO Team; providing leadership, coaching, and mentoring to analysts and less tenured mortgage originators.
• Successful management and oversight of large and diverse Farm & Ranch territory.

Key Relationships:

• Reports to: Regional Director - Western Regional Office
• Key Stakeholders: Agricultural Strategies Group, Operations, Finance, Compliance, Portfolio Management Unit, Risk, Research & Analytics, Investor Client Group, Legal, Regional Directors

Candidate Qualifications:

   Essential Business Experience and Technical Skills:

• 10+ years of experience with credit analysis and credit decision.
• 10+ years relevant experience with a proven track record of underwriting successful agricultural debt deals.
• Strong credit and analytical skills, superior knowledge of lending principles, credit procedures, collateral, and credit. 
• Proficiency in Word and Excel-based applications.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong relationship management skill set.
• Strong financial, accounting and credit analysis skills.
• Extensive California agricultural lending experience, ideally including experience in core regional crops (e.g., nut crops, row & vegetable, crops, dairy, livestock, wine, raisin, & table grapes, citrus, tree fruit, and various other permanent and specialty crops).
• Farm real estate valuation knowledge.
• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or Banking as well as any other related field of expertise; MBA or master’s degree a plus.

      MetLife Success Principles

• Experiment with Confidence – Courageously learn and test new ideas without fear of failure

• Act with Urgency – Demonstrate speed to action with agility and determination
• Seek Diverse Perspectives – Source ideas and feedback to expand thinking and make informed decisions
• Seize Opportunity – Drive responsible growth and identify areas for continuous improvement
• Champion Inclusion – Foster an environment where everyone is valued, heard, and can speak up
• Create Alignment – Partner with others across the organization with candor and transparency
• Take Responsibility – Be accountable and act in pursuit of the right outcomes
• Enable Solutions – Anticipate and address obstacles while managing risk
• Deliver What Matters – Execute meaningful priorities and follow through on commitments

MetLife:

MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

We are one of the largest institutional investors in the U.S. with $642.4 billion of total assets under management as of March 31, 2021. We are ranked #46 on the Fortune 500 list for 2021. In 2020, we were named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the fifth year in a row. DJSI is a global index to track the leading sustainability-driven companies. We are proud to have been named to Fortune magazine’s 2021 list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies.”      

MetLife is committed to building a purpose-driven and inclusive culture that energizes our people. Our employees work every day to help build a more confident future for people around the world.

We want to make it simple for all interested and qualified candidates to apply for employment opportunities with MetLife. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to accommodations@metlife.com or call our Employee Relations Department at 1-877-843-3711.

MetLife is a proud Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer dedicated to attracting, retaining, and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at MetLife without regards to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, national origin, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status, uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.