Head of Lending Distribution

**Introduction**:
About us.
A unique life requires a unique bank.
Defence Bank is a member-owned bank that has been proudly serving the Defence Community for 50 years. With 26 branches across Australia and our award-winning app, Defence Bank is where our members need us - anywhere, anytime.
The bank provides financial products and services to the Australian Defence Force and its unique community, reinvesting profits for the benefit of our members. We are a leader in our sector and our people led, technology enabled environment, celebrates the individual talents, personalities, interests and needs of our people.
Winner of the Best Reward & Recognition program 2024 and a finalist for Employer of Choice 2024, it is not only our employees who think our bank is truly one of the best places to work.
**Description**:
The opportunity.
Lead a Thriving Team into an Exciting New Era.
Are you a dynamic, forward-thinking leader ready to make a real impact? We’re on the lookout for a Head of Lending Distribution to help take our rapidly growing business to the next level.
Reporting directly to the Chief Member and Growth Officer, this is more than just a leadership role — it's a unique opportunity to shape the future of lending across our national network of mobile and virtual bankers. You’ll be stepping into big shoes, as the role has been led by an inspiring and respected leader who recently relocated overseas for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They leave behind a thriving, motivated team — perfectly positioned for the next phase of growth.
Our business is growing fast, and we’re proud of the strong, collaborative culture that drives our success. We’re a team that supports each other, celebrates wins, and is passionate about delivering exceptional experiences to our members.
In this pivotal role, you’ll lead a high-performing team to drive asset growth through home loan acquisition and retention. You’ll also play a key part in shaping our evolution toward a digital-first, omni-channel lending experience — putting innovation and member needs at the heart of everything we do.
If you're energised by challenge, excited by growth, and motivated to lead a capable team into its next chapter, we’d love to hear from you.
Your key responsibilities will include (but are not limited to):

- Inspire and lead a high-performing national team of mobile and virtual bankers, fostering a culture of growth, collaboration, and excellence in service delivery.
- Develop and drive a forward-looking lending distribution strategy, aligning with business goals and positioning the team for long-term success.
- Accelerate asset growth by increasing new lending acquisition and strengthening member retention across our home lending portfolio.
- Champion our digital and omni-channel transformation, reshaping how we deliver lending experiences to improve member access, speed, and satisfaction.
- Stay ahead of the curve by leveraging market intelligence, customer insights, and emerging technologies to refine strategy and maintain a competitive edge.
- Advocate for impactful lending products and policies, ensuring offerings remain compelling, competitive, and aligned with our DHOAS responsibilities.
- Ensure robust risk and compliance practices, maintaining full adherence to all regulatory requirements and internal governance frameworks.
- Drive operational excellence, continuously improving processes through automation, smart workflows, and effective team rhythms.
- Lead with data, managing budgets effectively and promoting best-practice data management and insights-led decision-making.
- Connect with our people and industry, with regular monthly travel to branches, team engagements, and key sector events.

**Skills and Experiences**:
About you.
You’re a visionary leader with a proven track record in managing distributed lending teams and driving sustainable asset growth. You’re data-driven, digitally minded, and passionate about delivering a seamless, member-first lending experience.
**You will have**:

- Demonstrated success in leading national or regionally dispersed lending teams.
- Credit risk acumen.
- Experience driving performance in acquisition and retention across lending portfolios.
- Knowledge of digital and omni-channel lending environments.
- Proficiency with lending origination systems, CRM platforms, and performance analytics.
- Strong understanding of regulatory requirements and lending risk frameworks.
- Experience in change management, team building, and leadership development.
- A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
- Familiarity with AI and automation tools (preferred).

You’re also a collaborative leader who thrives in cross-functional environments, actively shaping a constructive culture aligned to our values and strategic goals.
We count on you. And you can count on us.
**We have a great range of employee benefits including**:

- Savings and discounts across our range of products and services.
- Innovative Work-Life fit pr