Senior Underwriting Operations Manager

About the role

This is a true player-coach leadership role, ideal for a seasoned operations professional who combines deep underwriting expertise with a genuine passion for the mortgage business and a hands-on approach to leadership. You'll work directly alongside executive leadership to solve problems in real time, manage and mentor the operations team, and shape how our department runs as we scale into new markets.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day underwriting and operations workflow across the full loan lifecycle, from setup and disclosure through underwriting, closing, and post-closing
• Serve as the in-house underwriting authority across all residential loan types, including Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo, Non-QM, DSCR, bank statement, and foreign national programs
• Manage, train, and develop the operations team, setting clear standards for quality, turn times, and accountability
• Partner directly with executive leadership to identify bottlenecks, design solutions, and implement process improvements
• Develop, refine, and document operational procedures, pipelines, and service level expectations as the company scales
• Collaborate cross-functionally with sales, pricing, closing, secondary, and compliance teams
• Step into files personally when needed — reviewing, problem-solving, and keeping the pipeline moving
• Monitor pipeline health, turn times, and quality metrics, and report to leadership
• Support hiring, onboarding, and training as the operations team grows
• Ensure loans meet investor guidelines, internal credit standards, and regulatory requirements
• Stay current on investor guidelines, overlays, and regulatory changes

Requirements

• 7+ years of residential mortgage operations experience, with deep hands-on underwriting expertise
• Demonstrated experience underwriting across agency and non-agency products, including Non-QM, DSCR, and bank statement programs (DE/SAR certification a strong plus)
• Prior experience managing, training, and developing operations or underwriting teams
• Working knowledge of the full mortgage lifecycle across all departments, including origination, processing, closing, funding, post-closing, secondary, and compliance
• Encompass experience required; nCino and Optimal Blue experience a plus
• Solid understanding of federal and state mortgage regulations, including TILA, RESPA, TRID, and Fair Lending requirements
• Exceptionally organized and self-directed, with the ability to identify what needs to be done and execute without waiting to be asked
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A professional demeanor aligned with a high-touch client and referral partner experience
• A genuine passion for the mortgage business and a leadership style built on doing, not delegating