Consumer Direct Divisional Leader/Branch Manager

Golden Empire Mortgage Inc•Bakersfield, CA

14d•$200,000 - $240,000•Remote

About The Position

Ready to be part of a leading mortgage lender that truly puts clients first At GEM Mortgage, a division of Golden Empire Mortgage, we've been a respected leader in the industry for nearly 40 years, guided by our core belief that our borrowers' interests come first. We're dedicated to providing clients with expert financing advice and believe that everyone deserves access to credit. Our mission is to build long-lasting relationships with borrowers and real estate partners, be an employer of choice with growth opportunities for our team members, and operate as a trustworthy, financially sound enterprise that positively influences our communities. At Golden Empire Mortgage, our LEADER values guide everything: Loyalty to our team, borrowers, and partners. Excellence in all we do. Accountability—we take ownership. Driven for continuous improvement. Engaged to deliver success. Reliability you can count on. If you're passionate about making a real difference in people's lives, delivering exceptional service, and growing your career with a company that truly values its people and its purpose, we invite you to explore opportunities with us. Come join GEM Mortgage and help us empower clients and communities! Job Summary The Consumer Direct Divisional Leader is responsible for building, scaling, and leading Golden Empire Mortgage’s Consumer Direct channel. This role owns day-to-day execution, performance optimization, and vendor coordination across digital marketing, lead management, sales operations, and customer experience, while operating within the company’s compliance, risk, and financial guardrails. This position requires a balance of entrepreneurial leadership and operational discipline. The Divisional Leader is accountable for volume growth, cost efficiency, conversion performance, and team productivity, while partnering closely with executive leadership to ensure regulatory compliance, brand integrity, and sustainable profitability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, marketing, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Minimum of 7 years of mortgage industry experience, with at least 3–5 years in Consumer Direct,
call-center, or digital mortgage production leadership.
Demonstrated success scaling a Consumer Direct or high-velocity mortgage sales operation.
Strong working knowledge of mortgage compliance requirements (federal, state, and investor-specific).
Experience managing external vendors and marketing platforms with performance-based accountability.
Proven ability to lead teams through growth, change, and performance pressure.

Responsibilities

Lead the overall strategy, execution, and performance of the Consumer Direct division, with accountability for production volume, conversion rates, cost per loan, and profitability.
Manage daily operations including digital lead acquisition, call center sales execution, borrower engagement, and pipeline management.
Select, manage, and optimize third-party vendors (e.g., digital marketing platforms, CRM, AI voice/follow-up tools), ensuring performance aligns with agreed KPIs and budget constraints.
Develop and implement scalable workflows for lead intake, borrower follow-up, disclosures, compliance checks, and loan submission.
Recruit, train, coach, and performance-manage Consumer Direct loan officers, sales leaders, and support staff.
Establish data-driven performance management using dashboards, KPIs, and reporting to drive continuous improvement.
Partner with Compliance, Legal, Secondary, IT, and Operations to ensure all Consumer Direct activities meet regulatory, investor, and company requirements.
Maintain adherence to approved budgets and obtain executive approval for material changes to spend, strategy, or compliance-impacting initiatives.
Drive a culture of accountability, transparency, and ethical sales practices consistent with Golden Empire Mortgage’s values.
Prepare regular performance updates and strategic recommendations for executive leadership.