AVP, Mortgage Construction Lending

At VyStar, we offer competitive pay, an excellent benefit package that includes a 401(k) Plan, an extensive paid technical and on-the-job training program, and tuition reimbursement—available to all full and part-time employees. Part-time positions start at a minimum of 30 hours per week.

About the Role

The AVP, Mortgage Construction Lending oversees loan activity for VyStar Credit Union’s construction-to-permanent lending teams. This role directs the disclosure process in compliance with regulatory requirements and manages the loan lifecycle from processing through closing and post-closing, including construction loan activity from builder approval at origination through conversion to permanent financing. The position provides direction, leadership, and goal setting while supporting the coaching and development of Real Estate Lending staff to maintain high Member Service standards. The role is also responsible for managing file flow within the Mortgage Fulfillment function.

The incumbent ensures members receive a quality loan experience consistent with VyStar’s mortgage lending policies, practices, and procedures. This role maintains a strong focus on the member experience by regularly evaluating the mortgage loan process and implementing improvements that support a first-class experience. The incumbent also hires, develops, coaches, and evaluates staff to ensure excellent member service while maintaining compliance with Credit Union policies, procedures, processes, and all applicable laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Construction and Renovation-to-Permanent programs in their entirety, in coordination with the VP, Mortgage Fulfillment.
• Directly manage and lead the Construction Perm Team.
• Ensure the Mortgage Lending Team is appropriately trained and maintains continuing education regarding construction products and processes.
• Oversee the Construction Perm Welcome Call process to ensure members and builders are properly informed on the project process and excellent service is provided.
• Oversee the builder approval process including maintaining approval expiration dates and the recertification process.
• Confirm initial closing documents remain accurate and compliant.
• Oversee the team’s management of builder draw requests, cost breakdowns, draw conditions, and related requirements.
• Provide oversight of the inspection process and ensure invoices are submitted for payment in accordance with established procedures.
• Ensure the team tracks member documentation and obtains required release documents for each draw.
• Oversee the team’s requests for title updates and final title policies to confirm requirement compliance.
• Ensure timely builder disbursements in accordance with established guidelines.
• Ensure the team monitors monthly interest payments to confirm loans are current and payments are posted correctly before releasing future draws, reducing risk to VyStar.
• Ensure the team monitors hazard and liability insurance expirations, requests replacement coverage, and updates coverage as needed.
• Oversee the preparation and processing of loan modification agreements for maturity date extensions, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Oversee the preparation and processing of closing orders to title companies for recording modification agreements and ensure receipt of applicable endorsements is tracked.
• Provide guidance to the team on questions and collaborate with Servicing Management to support resolution of construction loan issues.
• Ensure the team communicates with members regarding documentation and funds required for conversion to permanent financing.
• Ensure the approved inspector list is maintained, including current licenses.
• Provide oversight to ensure the master procedures manual for construction-to-permanent lending remains current and accurate.
• Lead and motivate teams by establishing goals, driving achievement, and supporting strategic initiatives.
• Maintain advanced knowledge of residential lending and provide guidance on complex or unusual transactions.
• Lead teams through changing business environments while supporting analysis, processing, closing, and post-closing responsibilities for a growing portfolio.
• Ensure staff properly apply procedures and policies to deliver a quality member experience.
• Analyze the financial condition and risk of financing requests within VyStar policies, procedures, and current economic and industry conditions.
• Monitor industry advancements and identify innovative ways to keep VyStar competitive for members and builders.
• Provide oversight of builder software in coordination with the VP, Mortgage Fulfillment, including expertise on implementation, setup, process, workflow, and compliance checkpoints.
• Maintain working knowledge of the loan origination system, including how construction and renovation loan workflows, documentation, disclosures, milestones, and compliance checkpoints are managed within the system.
• Improve productivity while maintaining confidentiality and security controls to support timely, positive responses to member service requests.
• Review and guide staff in handling exceptional transactions and member requests that fall outside established policies and procedures.
• Resolve or escalate member issues, investigate complaints, and troubleshoot unforeseen matters to achieve appropriate outcomes.
• Oversee active pipeline management to ensure timing milestones and goals are met, supporting a strong member experience while mitigating portfolio runoff and reputational risk.
• Review quality control reports, recommend enhancements or training for improvement areas, and ensure teams implement identified changes.
• Monitor and evaluate employee performance, counsel employees to improve performance and resolve work-related issues, and initiate or approve written personnel action records.
• Develop, recommend, and manage the department budget while monitoring expenses to support cost-efficient operations.
• Review and ensure proper completion, forwarding, and retention of records.
• Work with peers across Real Estate Lending, VyStar, and member-facing areas to resolve issues; demonstrate professionalism, initiative, and strong teamwork; monitor trends and provide updates to the VP, Mortgage Fulfillment on emerging issues and opportunities.
• Develop and administer training in coordination with peers, training partners, and other Credit Union teams as needed.
• Encourage positive interactions and strong working relationships with Sales Partners and all areas of Real Estate Lending.
• Perform other duties as assigned and consistently adhere to VyStar’s core values, Code of Ethics, and corporate values.
• Consistently demonstrate VyStar Excellence when serving members, Credit Union employees, and third-party vendors.
• Identify and recommend process improvements, service enhancements, and efficiency opportunities to Real Estate Lending Management.
• As the first line of defense, proactively identify, assess, manage, and report risks within areas of responsibility to safeguard operations and maintain regulatory compliance.

VyStar Excellence Behaviors

• Focus - Focus your full attention by carefully listening to and observing clients or members.
• Connect - Consistently be friendly and approachable. Demonstrate your care.
• Understand - Listen empathetically and ask questions (70%/30% rule).
• Counsel - Recommend solutions based on your member’s needs and objectives.
• Advance - Ensure that member’s expectations were exceeded. Verify necessary follow-up actions.

Judgment

The incumbent is expected to take independent action to ensure satisfactory services are provided to members. Immediate decisions are routinely made for exceptional handling of members’ requests for services. Judgment is required in anticipating Mortgage Construction Lending team requirements to develop the annual budget, which includes staffing and salary levels as well as facility and equipment needs. Judgments are made on loans within authority. The AVP, Mortgage Construction Lending determines handling of large or unusual transactions and must use discretion and judgment in advising members on financial matters.

Effect of Error

Errors in judgment can have a significant impact on the Credit Union. Poor planning and use of resources could result in increased operating costs and deficiencies in member services, both actual and perceived. Failure to properly train and educate staff could result in ineffective operations and violations of regulations, potentially subjecting the credit union to class action or individual lawsuits. It could also impact employee morale and the ability to provide members with quality service. Failure to handle or improper handling of staff grievances could result in claims of unfair labor practices and subject the credit union to time-consuming investigations and expensive legal actions. Errors would be difficult to detect in most instances and are likely to cause irreparable damage.

Errors could damage the professional image of VyStar as perceived by members, businesses, and the community, potentially resulting in loss of deposits or income-producing business if members are dissatisfied with services. Errors could subject VyStar to fines for non-compliance with regulations or secondary market requirements. If errors were not corrected in a timely manner, VyStar’s seller/servicer ID for secondary market transactions could be revoked, suspending all loan sales to FNMA/FHLMC and resulting in substantial revenue losses.

Public Relations

The incumbent has daily personal contact with members and with employees directly supervised. The AVP, Mortgage Construction Lending is responsible for maintaining harmonious relationships between the Real Estate Lending Department and other VyStar staff, members, vendors, service bureaus, officials, government agencies, servicing banks, and other businesses or persons that may have contact with the incumbent or the mortgage loan staff.

The successful candidate must have excellent leadership and communication skills for developing their team. The incumbent should have the ability to interface effectively with members, realtors, builders, and potential clients to ensure smooth workflow and provide efficient service to members while staying abreast of changing policies and procedures. Continuing education via local conferences, workshops, and membership in affiliated builder associations should be established as time and resources allow for updates on federal regulations and secondary market requirements.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma is required. Bachelor’s degree in a business-related field is preferred.
• Certifications: The employee must meet and maintain all requirements as a registered mortgage loan originator employed by a federally regulated institution with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (NMLS). The employee must comply with all provisions of the Act as defined in the Secure and Fair Enforcement of Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (S.A.F.E. Act) and credit union S.A.F.E. Act Procedures.
• Experience:
  • 6+ years of experience in the mortgage industry.
  • 3+ years of management experience.
  • 2+ years of construction-to-perm experience.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: The incumbent must understand all applicable mortgage loan processes, regulations, and compliance requirements.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• 401(k) Plan
• Extensive paid technical and on-the-job training program
• Tuition reimbursement (available to all full and part-time employees)

Schedule

Part-time positions start at a minimum of 30 hours per week.