Relationship Manager

AgWest Farm Credit is a member-owned financial cooperative that provides financing and related services to farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, commercial fishermen, timber producers, rural homeowners and crop insurance customers in a seven-state territory in the Western United States. AgWest is part of the 100+ year-old Farm Credit System – the leading provider of credit to American agriculture.

AgWest champions the growth and advancement of agriculture, the value of rural communities, and the vital contribution our customers make to the economy and society. We serve customers in 59 locations throughout the West.

We are in search of a Relationship Manager I or Relationship Manager II to join our California Lending and Insurance department in Bakersfield, California. This full-time position reports to the SVP, Portfolio Manager and is accountable for supporting the provision of high quality, profitable, and constructive credit and related services to customers.

Compensation Information

The base salary range for this position in Bakersfield, California is:

Level I:
Typical starting range: $72,600 - $97,800
Full base salary range: $72,600 - $110,400
Annual performance-based incentive target is 12% of base.

Level II:
Typical starting range: $80,000 - $110,100
Full base salary range: $80,000 - $137,800
Annual performance-based incentive target is 15% of base.

Essential Duties

• Market and sell products including loans and financially related services; establish rapport with and develop and maintain confidence of customers and prospective customers.
• Complete visits to customers' operations and document observations; this may include visually inspecting the condition and value of loan collateral and evaluate customers' management practices and expected repayment.
• Make quality credit decisions to ensure customer service, a high-quality loan portfolio and loan administration.
• Monitor loan performance and proactively service and manage assigned accounts with the objective of providing efficient customer service and maximizing return; this may include coordination with other teams and portfolio groups.
• Prepare credit analysis and submit recommendations to supervisor or loan committee for action; approve loans within delegated authority.
• Gather financial information through interviews in person and by phone, read audited financial statements, legal opinions, tax records and other financials; comply with documentation expectations, procedures, laws and regulations.
• Assist in credit investigations on applicants including public record searches, credit bureau reports, employment and income verification and asset and liability verification.
• Participate in loan closings by ensuring the appropriate documentation is completed and understood by the customer.
• Ensure a high degree of credit administration by developing and implementing sales/servicing plans and coordinating actions with credit analysts and loan specialists.
• Communicate with other groups and teams to ensure timely transfers between portfolio groups to meet customer service needs and organization objectives.
• Represent and communicate the values, purpose, and mission of the organization to employees, customers, the public, and other target audiences by joining or actively supporting appropriate agricultural organizations, civic groups or commodity groups and actively participating in sponsored events and programs.
• Perform all duties and maintain all standards in accordance with company policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Other duties as assigned.

Travel Requirements

• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25%, including overnight travel throughout the AgWest territory.
• AgWest employees may occasionally be asked to travel for all-staff or team meetings not included in the standard travel requirements for the role.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, economics, finance or equivalent, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Ability to read or learn to read audited financial statements, legal opinions, tax records and other financials
• Ability to establish rapport with, and develop and maintain the confidence of, customers and prospective customers
• Ability to effectively communicate and negotiate terms on behalf of the organization for low complexity and smaller size relationships, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to travel to perform certain required duties
• Valid driver's license

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of finance and accounting principles
• General understanding of credit related laws and regulations

Workplace Flexibility

• After an initial in-office training period, this position is eligible for workplace flexibility and a one-time home office stipend.

Benefits Offered by AgWest

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Basic term life and AD&D insurance (fully paid for by the company)
• Paid days off annually: 15 vacation*, 15 sick, 12 holidays and 3 volunteer
• 401(k) plan (6% match plus 3% employer contribution)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Program
• Jeans are welcome at work every day at AgWest!

• Vacation accrual rates increase with tenure.

Details about insurance and retirement benefits are available at:

#LI-Hybrid

Job level and starting annual salary will be based on a variety of factors including but not limited to experience, education, certifications/licensure, internal equity, location, business needs and market demands. The listed compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the posting date. AgWest reserves the right to adjust compensation for all positions and modify or discontinue benefits programs at its sole discretion, subject to applicable law.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender orientation, national origin, marital status, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by law.

When you apply for a position with AgWest Farm Credit, we collect personal identifiers (from your resume and other application information you submit), such as your name, email address, mailing address, telephone number(s) and employment and education related information. This helps us evaluate job applicants for hiring opportunities, and, communicate with them.

To comply with federal regulations for equal employment opportunity and affirmative action (EEO/AA), we track our applicants by gender, race/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, and the position for which they applied. You will be presented with a voluntary self-identification form as part of this application; we wanted you to know why we collect this information and what we do with it. Please be aware that this information is kept separate from your application, and not utilized in the selection process.

For more information about the information AgWest Farm Credit collects, please see the AgWest Farm Credit California Privacy Policy .