Director, Mortgage Broker & Auto Lending Channels

Description

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About this opportunity

At Meridian our aspiration is to integrate our purpose into everything we do for people, the planet, and communities. We believe that our greatest opportunity is to create opportunity and meet people where they are.

The Director Broker Mortgages & Auto Lending Channels sets and executes the strategy for Meridian’s third‑party mortgage broker and auto lending channels, balancing profitable growth, credit quality, and Member experience.

Reporting to the Vice President, Retail Product & Support, this role provides strategic leadership across channel growth, broker economics, credit policy interpretation, and complex deal negotiations, while partnering closely with Credit Risk, Underwriting, Finance, Legal, and Operations. You will act as Meridian’s senior escalation point for complex broker and auto lending transactions, exercising strong commercial judgment to structure solutions that meet Member needs while protecting the organization’s risk appetite and returns. This role is accountable for shaping broker channel strategy, influencing credit frameworks, and driving disciplined growth aligned to Meridian’s enterprise priorities. The Director plays a critical role in expanding Meridian’s reach while ensuring a consistent, high-quality broker and Member experience aligned to our cooperative values.

Key Accountabilities-

Broker Channel Strategy & Growth:

• Lead and execute the end-to-end strategy for Meridian’s Mortgage Broker Channel, driving sustainable growth, profitability, and market share
• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with external mortgage brokers, aggregators, and industry partners to position Meridian as a preferred lender
• Own broker channel performance, including volume, margin, mix, and credit quality, with clear accountability for results
• Develop and oversee broker-facing products, pricing, policies, and processes that balance competitiveness, risk management, and member experience
• Partner closely with senior leaders in Retail Banking, Credit Risk, Treasury, Operations, and Compliance to ensure alignment on strategy, capacity, and risk appetite
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and regulatory changes to inform proactive adjustments to broker channel strategy
• Ensure strong governance, controls, and compliance across the broker channel, including adherence to regulatory, underwriting, and conduct standards
• Use data, insights, and broker feedback to identify opportunities to improve turnaround times, service levels, and overall broker experience
• Represent Meridian externally as a senior leader in the broker community, enhancing brand presence and reputation in the marketplace

Member & Broker Experience:

• Champion a member-first mindset within the broker channel, ensuring externally originated mortgages deliver the same trusted Meridian experience as branch‑led journeys
• Ensure broker-originated members experience clear, transparent, and timely communication throughout the mortgage lifecycle—from application through funding and renewal
• Partner with Operations, Credit, and Digital teams to simplify processes, reduce friction, and improve turnaround times, directly improving member satisfaction and confidence
• Monitor member outcomes, complaints, and feedback related to broker-originated mortgages, using insights to drive continuous improvement
• Balance growth objectives with strong credit quality and long-term member value, ensuring sustainable relationships beyond mortgage funding
• Design and deliver a best-in-class broker experience, positioning Meridian as an easy, responsive, and reliable lender to work with
• Act as the owner of the broker journey, improving ease of doing business, clarity of policies, and consistency of decisioning
• Use broker feedback, performance data, and service metrics to identify and address pain points across the application, underwriting, and funding process
• Ensure brokers are supported with competitive products, clear guidelines, timely updates, and strong escalation pathways
• Build a service culture that treats brokers as strategic partners, reinforcing trust, loyalty, and repeat business

Leadership & People Development:

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Create a strong performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, and Member outcomes
• Support talent development, succession planning, and engagement across the broker channel team

DriveOn Vehicle Financing Program:

• Own the end‑to‑end performance of the Drive On auto lending program, including growth, profitability, and service outcomes
• Act as the internal lead and single point of accountability for Drive On, providing clarity, direction, and decision‑making across stakeholders
• Serve as the primary escalation point for Drive On issues, risks, and exceptions, ensuring timely resolution and clear communication
• Monitor program performance using data, insights, and feedback to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement
• Partner closely with Retail, DriveOn Team, and Credit Risk to align strategy, execution, and capacity for the program
• Provide regular updates and insights on Drive On performance to senior leadership, translating results into clear actions and recommendations
• Ensure Drive On operates within Meridian’s risk appetite, governance standards, and regulatory expectations, while supporting strong member outcomes
• Work with leadership of Auto lending team to ensure Meridian is meeting their lending targets.
• Devise and implement strategies to further franchise our new members through this channel.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities-

• Proven track record in proactive Sales leadership – must have worked in mortgage sales dealing with complex home financing.
• Sales oriented and Member focused, with the enthusiasm and tenacity to motivate self to meet and exceed goals and provide the right solutions.
• In-depth experience in Real Estate Lending, the Mortgage Industry, and knowledge of mortgage underwriting.
• Ability to think strategically and develop plans and recommendations that support the achievement of Meridian’s strategic objectives.
• Proven track record of bringing new ideas forward, while staying on top of trends in the marketplace.
• Strong partner orientation -ability to build collaborative relationships at all levels in the organization and with external – relationship building skills.
• Effective leadership and analytical skills including working knowledge of financial budget analysis, staffing models, scheduling, and telecom opportunities,
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills with the ability to negotiate effectively.

Education, Designations, Training, and Experience

• 8–10+ years of experience in mortgage lending, broker distribution, or retail banking
• 5+ years of progressive people leadership experience in a sales or distribution environment
• Minimum of bachelor’s degree or similar
• Strong understanding of broker-originated mortgages, credit policy, and underwriting practices
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams through change and deliver results in a regulated environment
• In depth knowledge of retail banking and/or credit adjudication.
• Alignment with Meridian’s purpose-driven, Member-first values.
• Demonstrated ability to drive performance improvements that enhanced member or customer experiences.

This role represents an existing vacancy. Internal candidates are being considered as part of our standard process.

Salary Range: CAD $125,000.00 to $150,000.00 annually.

Compensation for this role is based on a combination of skills, experience, and internal equity. Candidates with stronger alignment to the role’s requirements may be placed higher within the range. Your recruiter will share more information about our total rewards package during the hiring process.

Office Location: Toronto Corporate Office located at 3280 Bloor St W, Etobicoke, ON or St. Catharines Corporate Office, located at 75 Corporate Park Drive, St. Catharines, ON.

Meridian has a remote work policy that allows flexibility for employees to work remotely but also requires regular time in the office for purposeful meetings to collaborate, innovate and build effective relationships with your team, your colleagues and your leader which is very important to us.

What's in it for you?

• We have an inclusive and collaborative working environment that encourages creativity, curiosity, and celebrates success
• We provide you with the tools and technology needed to delight your candidates and clients
• You'll get to work with and learn from diverse industry leaders
• Hybrid work arrangements with in-person office time to collaborate, innovate and build relationships with your colleagues
• This isn't your typical "corporate" job. We work hard and we have fun!

Build the Future of Banking with Us

At Meridian, we’re not just adapting to the future—we’re shaping it. We see talent as a catalyst for sustainable growth, community impact, and future-readiness. As the financial landscape evolves, we’re looking for team members who bring:

• Embedding & leveraging technology – Confidence and willingness to learn and integrate AI and emerging technologies into new ways of working. Experience with low/no code tools like the Microsoft Power Platform and generative AI productivity tools like Microsoft Copilot is considered an asset
• Critical Thinking – The ability to analyze, evaluate and interpret information from various sources and apply logic and problem solving to make decisions.
• Data Driven– Leverage data and insights to identify, prioritize and improve member experience and business efficiency.
• Curiosity & Flexibility – Comfortable navigating and embracing change and uncertainty, ask more questions, explore more options. Continuously learn and grow.

Who we are:

Meridian is Ontario’s largest credit union, and second largest in Canada, helping to grow the lives of our more than 380,000 Members. Meridian has more than 80 years of banking history and is 100% owned by its members. With 87 retail branches and 15 Business Banking Centers across Ontario and $ 32B in assets under management, Meridian offers a full range of financial products and services to its retail, business banking and wealth members. With over 2200 employees and corporate offices located in Toronto and St. Catharines, Meridian has a track record of creating and delivering innovative new offerings and is committed to investing in the communities that we serve. Our plan is to build on our momentum as we deliver on our purpose - helping our members achieve their best life.

Find our story here: