Director, Commercial Real Estate Origination

Come join one of America’s fastest-growing insurance companies. Since 1848, National Life Group has aimed to keep our promises, providing families with stability in good times and in bad. Throughout that history, we have provided peace of mind to those families as they plan their futures.

Our mission extends beyond the insurance and annuities policies that we offer. We strive to make the world a better place through our grants from our charitable foundation, paid volunteer time for our employees, environmentally sustainable and healthy workplaces, and events that promote the work of nonprofits in our own backyard.

We foster a collaborative environment with opportunities for growth and encourage our associates to live our values: Do good. Be good. Make good.

About Us

NLG Capital, the investment management company of NLG, manages approximately $40+ billion in AUM. Our purpose is simple – to allow NLG to keep its promises. How we do this – an obsessive focus on delivering investment results. We drive results through a rigorous but collaborative investment process, and we hold ourselves to the highest of standards, both as investors and teammates. While our process is based on rigor, our culture is based on our guiding principles: Meritocracy, Uncompromising Transparency, Intellectual Honesty, Performance Driven Learning, Relentless Pursuit of Excellence. These principles serve as the foundation of our team.  They govern the way we conduct ourselves, how we interact with teammates and how we approach every investment decision.  We act with the integrity and humility required to make the investment decision that is right for the firm, and ultimately our policyholders.  Our culture has been deliberately built to foster curiosity and provide opportunities to learn and grow, both as people and investors. The flat and collaborative nature of our team promotes an atmosphere where the best ideas are continually expressed and rewarded. Our pursuit of excellence is unwavering.

Please note that we do not offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Role Summary

The Director, Commercial Mortgage Originations is a senior originator to lead the sourcing, structuring, and execution of commercial real estate debt investments.  This role is responsible for developing a consistent pipeline of institutional-quality opportunities and advancing the firm’s credit strategy and portfolio objectives.  The position is relationship-driven, focused on originating transactions across core property types while partnering closely with underwriting, asset management, and senior leadership through closing.

This position currently offers an onsite work schedule, with the expectation that you will be in the office four (4) days per week during onsite core days.  Our current onsite core days are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  The work schedule type and core days are subject to change with advance notification and manager discretion.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Origination & Relationship Management

• Build and maintain a pipeline of high-quality investment opportunities.
• Develop and manage relationships with sponsors, brokers, and mortgage bankers.
• Travel to key markets for client meetings, broker engagement, and site visits.
• Represent NLG Capital through industry engagement and conferences.

Underwriting & Structuring

• Originate, structure, and close commercial mortgage loans (typically $15M–$60M).
• Underwrite stabilized, transitional (bridge), and construction loans.
• Assess business plans, lease-up risk, capital expenditures, and exit strategies.
• Structure loans within credit parameters aligned with risk-return objectives.
• Perform cash flow analysis, market evaluation, and sponsor credit review.

Execution & Credit Approval

• Prepare and present investment memoranda to internal credit committees.
• Negotiate loan terms, pricing, covenants, and legal documentation.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders through closing.

Portfolio & Market Strategy

• Monitor market conditions and capital markets trends.
• Partner with portfolio management on diversification across assets and geographies.
• Collaborate with asset management to support portfolio performance and risk mitigation.

All other duties as assigned.

 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Real Estate, or related field and 6 - 8 years of related experience.
• 6 or more years of commercial real estate lending experience with a track record of originations.
• Experience underwriting stabilized, transitional/bridge, and construction loans.
• Strong knowledge of credit underwriting, real estate fundamentals, and loan structuring.
• Established network of sponsors, brokers, and mortgage bankers.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.
• Experience using commercial real estate (CRE) software used for valuation and cash flow modeling.
• Strong analytical, research, and communication skills.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and disciplined risk approach.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA with concentration in Finance, Real Estate, or related field.
• At least 8 years progressive experience commercial real estate lending and origination.
• Experience with ARGUS CRE Valuation software.

AI Proficiency Expectations

At National Life Group, we view AI as an enabler of human potential. We use AI to help us work smarter, serve more clients, and keep our promises, while remaining a relationship-driven business where our people are our greatest strength.

All applicants are expected to:

• Leverage approved AI tools, where appropriate, to improve the efficiency, quality, and impact of their work.
• Stay curious and open to new AI-enabled ways of working.
• Exercise sound judgment by reviewing and validating AI-generated content.
• Maintain accountability for the accuracy, quality, fairness, and integrity of work products by adhering to National Life’s AI guiding principles.
• Use AI responsibly and in accordance with company policies related to confidentiality, data privacy, security, compliance, retention and intellectual property.

Benefits

• Your benefits start day one and are flexible and customizable to your and your family’s specific needs. Check out the BENEFITS of a Career at National Life!

Base Pay Range.  The base pay range for this position is the range National Life reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for the position taking into account the wide variety of factors, including: prior experience and job-related knowledge; education, training and certificates; current business needs; and market factors.  The final salary or hourly wages offered may be outside of this range based on other reasons and individual circumstances.

Additional Compensation and Benefits. The total compensation package for this position may also include 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. The successful candidate may also be eligible to participate in National Life’s discretionary annual incentive programs, subject to the rules governing such programs. If hired, the employee will be in an "at-will position" and National Life reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

National Life is accepting applications for this role on an ongoing basis and the role remains open until filled.

Salary Pay Range

$135,000—$198,000 USD

National Life Group® is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, VT – founded in 1848, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, Addison, TX – chartered in 1955, and their affiliates. Each company of National Life Group is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. Life Insurance Company of the Southwest is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York. Equity Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, is a Broker/Dealer and Registered Investment Adviser affiliate of National Life Insurance Company. All other entities are independent of the companies of National Life Group.

Fortune 1000 status is based on the consolidated financial results of all National Life Group companies.

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National Life Group

1 National Life Dr

Montpelier, VT 05604