Director of Closing

Summary of Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Closing team through effective hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management—fostering a culture of accountability, independence, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and enforce clear processes that drive efficiency, accuracy, and compliance across Closing, Funding, and Post-Closing operations.
• Proactively monitor the loan pipeline to identify potential bottlenecks or issues early and implement solutions before they escalate.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for closing status and pipeline updates to senior management, ensuring transparency and timely communication.
• Review and approve loans prior to funding to confirm all requirements are met, escalating exceptions as necessary.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key vendors and partners (title, escrow, custodians, banks, and loan buyers) to ensure smooth transactions and collateral management.
• Champion an exceptional borrower experience by ensuring clear communication and resolving escalated issues promptly and professionally.
• Grow and optimize the Post-Closing department, implementing best practices and operational efficiencies.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Originations, Underwriting, Servicing, Compliance, Accounting, and Technology teams to streamline processes and enhance communication.
• Drive process innovation by identifying gaps, implementing improvements, and leveraging technology to increase scalability and accuracy.
• Maintain and continuously refine department policies and procedures to support compliance and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree preferred; advanced education or certifications in business, finance, or related fields a plus.
• 10+ years of experience in real estate lending operations, ideally within the private lending sector, including at least 3 years in a leadership role managing closing and funding teams.
• Proven ability to design, implement, and optimize processes that drive efficiency, compliance, and scalability.
• Deep knowledge of mortgage loan products, guidelines, and regulatory requirements.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with a proactive approach to anticipating and resolving issues.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, capable of thriving in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and professionally.
• Collaborative team leader and mentor, skilled at empowering staff and fostering independence.
• Experience with Salesforce preferred; comfort with technology and process automation is required.