Senior Manager, Commercial Credit Administration

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.

We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.

Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.

We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.

This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.

Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.

We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.

Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.

What You'll Contribute

The Senior Manager, Commercial Credit Administration will serve as a key first line of defense risk leader responsible for the credit assessment, onboarding approval, and ongoing monitoring of for‑profit school partners. This role ensures institutional risk remains within Sallie Mae’s risk appetite, while supporting sustainable growth through strong partnership with Relationship Management and cross‑functional stakeholders.

This position will be responsible for performing commercial underwriting and institutional risk assessments based on audited financial statements, financial stability, management strength, governance practices, and student outcome performance. The role requires independent judgment on moderate to highly complex risk decisions and frequent interaction with senior leadership and governance forums.

The Senior Manager will also play a critical role in establishing and maintaining controls, policies, and procedures governing for‑profit school risk, including on‑site campus assessments, review of regulatory actions, marketing practices, and discharge activity.
 

What You'll Do

Commercial Underwriting & Institutional Credit Assessment (25%)

• Lead commercial underwriting and credit reviews for for‑profit school partners, including analysis of audited financial statements, liquidity, cash flow sustainability, leverage, and operating performance.

• Assess management quality, ownership structure, governance, and strategic stability as part of institutional risk determinations.

• Evaluate student outcome indicators, including current loan performance, delinquency trends, cohort behavior, and discharge claims, and incorporate findings into credit decisions.

• Provide clear, well‑documented risk recommendations for new school onboarding, renewals, and material relationship changes.

• Present underwriting conclusions and risk assessments to internal credit committees and senior stakeholders.

Ongoing Monitoring & Portfolio Risk Management (25%)

• Oversee ongoing monitoring of approved schools, including periodic financial reviews, performance scorecards, and early‑warning indicators.

• Identify emerging risks related to financial deterioration, regulatory exposure, operational changes, or adverse student outcomes.

• Partner with Relationship Management to ensure risk insights are incorporated into client strategy, engagement, and escalation decisions.

• Recommend enhanced monitoring, remediation plans, or risk actions when thresholds or risk appetite limits are breached.
   

Cross‑Team Partnership & Relationship Management Support (20%)

• Act as a strategic risk partner to Relationship Management, providing credit and risk guidance to support informed engagement with school partners.

• Collaborate closely with Credit Risk, Compliance, Legal, Operations, and Product teams to align institutional risk management with enterprise objectives.

• Participate in joint meetings with Relationship Management and school leadership, including on‑site campus visits, to assess operational, governan