Summary/Objective

Responsible for the strategic direction, leadership, and oversight of all aspects of the credit union’s real estate lending operations. This includes mortgage origination, underwriting, processing, servicing, secondary market sales, and portfolio management. Ensures all activities align with the credit union’s strategic objectives, mission, regulatory requirements, member service standards, and financial goals. Participates in the strategic planning and has direct input into the development of Credit Union policies, procedures, and objectives.

Essential Functions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

Directs and monitors all aspects of credit union mortgage lending operations and successfully fulfill established strategic goals and objectives with respect to lending.
Directs mortgage loan officer training.
Monitors product delivery and quality and takes action to resolve problems and/or concerns timely.
Develops and implements long-term strategies to grow the credit union’s real estate loan production.
Establishes and implements short and long-range organizational goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures; monitors and evaluates program effectiveness; effects changes required for improvement.
Monitors lending landscape, including trends and technology. Proactively brings trends and uses of new technology to executive management. Welcomes change, be it new products/services, new delivery channels or service attitudes necessary to innovate and grow.
Leads strategic partnerships (e.g., with real estate agents, builders, secondary market investors, etc.).
Motivates and leads a high performing team, providing leadership and management to the mortgage areas.
Promotes a culture of accountability, member service, compliance, and continuous improvement.
Sets performance goals and provides regular coaching and evaluations.
Oversees mortgage origination, underwriting, closing, and servicing functions.
Ensures timely, accurate, and compliant processing of all real estate loan applications.
Monitors pipeline management and ensures an excellent member experience.
Ensures compliance with all federal and state lending laws, regulations (e.g., NCUA, RESPA, HMDA, TRID), and internal policies.
Works with internal and external auditors to maintain regulatory readiness.
Monitors credit quality and portfolio risk, including delinquency and loss mitigation strategies.
Manages relationships with secondary market investors (e.g., Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac) and mortgage insurers.
Oversees pricing, pooling, and delivery of loans sold in the secondary market.
Ensures loan salability and maximizes income from secondary market transactions.
Researches industry best practices and collaborates with internal business partners to develop recommendations on process improvements, vendor-based solutions, and strategic enhancements
Enhances digital mortgage capabilities and member experience.
Stays current with trends in real estate lending and fintech innovations.
Prepares and analyzes reports on production, portfolio performance, and profitability.
Participates in establishment of annual department budget and monitors performance to budget throughout the year; establishes annual sales goals (in conjunction with executive team and marketing) for lending programs and initiates action to achieve established goals.
Complies with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Competencies

Service excellence.
Proven leadership, team-building, and people management skills.
Ability to effectively communicate, negotiate, and present information to a wide range of audiences including management, vendors and community partners.
Exceptional communication, strategic thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
Strong professional demeanor required to respond to inquiries from members, employees, external contacts and executive management.
Stress management/composure.
Honesty and integrity.
Experience with mortgage LOS systems (e.g., Encompass, MortgageBot) and core banking systems.
Strong research, prioritization, analytical, and problem-solving ability.
Exceptional interpersonal skills, including oral and written communication, presentation and facilitation skills.
SAFE Act/NMLS licensing is required.
Must possess thorough knowledge of all external State and Federal rules and regulations for lending, compliance, credit, safety and security.
Supervisory Responsibility
This position has supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment
This job operates in an office setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Physical presence in the office is required. This position may be remote hybrid eligible with prior approval from executive management. Employee must acknowledge FCU Remote Teleworker guidelines and adhere to other terms and conditions which are subject to change at management discretion. Terms and/or conditions can be modified/terminated at any time with or without prior notice.

Physical Demands
This position requires manual dexterity, the ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. This position requires bending, stooping or standing as necessary.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
Ability to work a flexible schedule Monday through Friday.

Travel
Periodic travel to other FCU locations may be required.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance or related field required.
Minimum of 10 years’ management and leadership experience in mortgage lending, underwriting and approving loans within the credit union or financial services industry.
Preferred Education and Experience

Prior supervisory/leadership experience.
Previous experience with a credit union highly desirable.
Additional Eligibility Qualifications

Multi-lingual capabilities to include Spanish are a plus.
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.