Real Estate Credit Risk Manager

Job title: Real Estate Credit Risk Manager                    

Corporate Title: Executive Director

Department: Credit Risk Management

Location: New York

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $220,000 and $260,000 /year* (see below footnote for additional compensation and benefits information).

Company overview

Nomura is a global financial services group with an integrated network spanning approximately 30 countries and regions. By connecting markets East & West, Nomura services the needs of individuals, institutions, corporates and governments through its three business divisions: Wealth Management, Investment Management, and Wholesale (Global Markets and Investment Banking). Founded in 1925, the firm is built on a tradition of disciplined entrepreneurship, serving clients with creative solutions and considered thought leadership. For further information about Nomura, visit www.nomura.com

Overview:

Nomura's Risk department plays a crucial role in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks across our business. We strive to protect the firm's assets, reputation, and financial stability by implementing robust risk management practices. Join our team and contribute to our proactive approach in managing risks, allowing us to make informed decisions and thrive in an ever-changing market environment. 

Credit Risk Management (CRM), as the second line of defense, is a key function in protecting and making sure that we take prudent risk for Nomura.  The group evaluates transactions and approves, declines, or modifies them depending on the credit quality of each counterparty and structure.  The department also assigns internal credit ratings, and establishes and manages credit risk limits in accordance with the risk tolerance.

Key Responsibilities:

The firm is seeking an experienced credit risk professional at the Executive Director level to help lead a team in the Americas providing strategic direction and oversight for Nomura’s Real Estate Finance Credit Risk team. The role requires experience evaluating counterparties, mortgage and real estate collateral, securitizations and new products/structures. In addition to product expertise, the candidate must exhibit familiarity with models, effective management ability and excellent communication as the role requires extensive collaboration across various functions and with clients. Candidate must be able to work with business partners to structure and negotiate on credit terms for real estate and mortgage warehouse transactions. This role covers products across both the commercial mortgage and business-purpose residential mortgage sectors. Residential mortgage products include Residential Transitional Loans (RTL), Investor (DSCR) Loans, Single-Family Rental (SFR), Built-to-Rent (B2R), and Small-Balance Commercial (SBC) Loans. Commercial real estate products include Conduit Loans, Balance Sheet Loans, Single Asset Single Borrower Securitizations (SASB/Large Loan), and warehouse lending across all commercial real estate product types.

Key Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with origination and structuring teams
• Act as the primary intermediary between clients, business units, auditors and department heads
• Present risk assessments and strategic recommendations to senior management & executive committees
• Provide clear, impactful communication of risk issues to senior management
• Partner with global teams across different jurisdictions and time zones
• Influence key decision makers on risk appetite and portfolio strategy

Risk Management Responsibilities

• Engage directly with front office deal teams as an independent credit authority on deal structuring, transaction design, and commercial terms across a diverse portfolio.
• Ongoing monitoring of portfolio collateral performance and counterparty financial performance
• Conduct on-site due diligence with counterparties to determine financial, operational and managerial capabilities
• Take ownership of analyzing and assigning internal credit ratings, evaluating key risks and mitigants across novel transactions, and preparing internal memorandums to document decision rationale.
• Oversee limit framework design, implementation and enforcement
• Guide development of risk analytics and reporting frameworks. Oversee regulatory reporting, including preparation and presentation of key portfolio trends to risk seniors and regulatory reporting teams
• Track developments in regulatory & industry-specific operating environments including key trends in securitization markets
• Monitor counterparty credit and changes in external ratings. Ensure pro-active socialization and / or escalation of such developments as needed.

Team Leadership

• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to junior staff
• Foster collaboration across risk and control functions
• Drive performance management and career development

Required Qualifications

• 12+ years of relevant risk experience
• Deep expertise and strong understanding of mortgage & real estate underwriting
• Proven experience managing stakeholder relationships at senior levels
• Experience managing junior members and helping them build skills and develop talents

Technical Knowledge

• Comprehensive understanding of credit risk rating methodologies
• Expert knowledge of risk metrics and limit frameworks
• Understanding of securitization structures and markets

Communication & Influence Skills

• Exceptional ability to communicate complex risk concepts clearly
• Experience presenting to executive committees
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution capabilities
• Ability to build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups
• Confidence in challenging senior stakeholders constructively
• Clear written & verbal communication for regulatory correspondence

Additional Requirements

• Experience managing through market and credit stress events
• Global mindset and cross-cultural awareness
• Crisis management and problem-solving abilities

Nomura competencies

Explore Insights & Vision

• Identify the underlying causes of problems faced by you or your team and define a clear vision and direction for the future.

Making Strategic Decisions

• Evaluate all the options for resolving the problems and effectively prioritize actions or recommendations.

Inspire Entrepreneurship in People

• Inspire team members through effective communication of ideas and motivate them to actively enhance productivity.

Elevate Organizational Capability

• Engage proactively in professional development and enhance team productivity through the promotion of knowledge sharing.

Inclusion

• Respect DEI, foster a culture of psychological safety in the workplace and cultivate a "Risk Culture" (Challenge, Escalate and Respect).
  
  

This role offers competitive compensation including base salary, bonus, and benefits package commensurate with experience level.

The successful candidate will combine technical expertise with outstanding stakeholder management skills to effectively navigate complex business and regulatory environments.

*base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, corporate and functional title and duties, job-related knowledge and advanced degrees, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a sign-on bonus, restricted stock units, and discretionary awards in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors”.

Nomura is an Equal Opportunity Employer