Real Estate Lending Manager

Valley First Credit Union•Modesto, CA

19h•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Vice President of Consumer Lending and Member Solutions, the Real Estate Lending Manager is responsible for the end-to-end leadership of the organization's real estate lending operations. This includes first mortgage and home equity origination, underwriting, secondary market execution, and correspondent and wholesale channel management. The manager holds loan approval authority within established credit parameters and is accountable for the performance, compliance, and member service quality of the real estate lending department. A central part of this role is the hands-on support and day-to-day direction of the real estate lending team, ensuring staff are equipped, coached, and held to clear performance standards - including KPI expectations. This role directly supervises a team of Mortgage Loan Officers, Real Estate Loan Processors and Underwriters and is accountable for the team's performance, workflow management, and adherence to regulatory and institutional standards. The ideal candidate combines deep technical knowledge of real estate underwriting and documentation with strong operational leadership capabilities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Minimum 5-10 years of progressively responsible experience in real estate lending, with demonstrated expertise spanning origination, underwriting, operations, and secondary market execution.
Prior supervisory or team leadership experience is strongly preferred.
Proven experience with direct secondary market delivery to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and working knowledge of Agency selling guide requirements, eligibility standards, and loan delivery processes.
Hands-on experience establishing and managing correspondent and wholesale lending relationships and evaluating loan participation and purchase transactions.
Strong underwriting proficiency consistent with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines; experience originating and underwriting loans for ITIN borrowers and home equity loan products.
Demonstrated experience managing third-party vendors and service providers - including LOS platforms, AMCs, contract underwriters, and loan servicers - with a focus on performance, compliance, and service quality.
Experience identifying, clearing, and formally responding to pre- and post-closing audit findings; prior experience with regulatory examinations is a plus.
Proven track record of meeting or exceeding production and performance goals; ability to monitor KPIs, identify trends, and drive results through the team.
Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills; experience developing staff and onboarding new hires in a lending environment.
Knowledge of applicable federal and state banking regulations and lending compliance requirements.
Exceptional attention to detail - ability to identify discrepancies across complex, multi-document loan packages with precision and consistency.
Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple loan files and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Leadership and team development capabilities, including the ability to delegate effectively, set clear expectations, and develop staff.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to clearly communicate documentation requirements to borrowers, attorneys, and internal stakeholders.
High degree of professional judgment and discretion when handling sensitive financial and legal information.
Collaborative and solutions-oriented mindset, with a proactive approach to problem-solving and process improvement.
Technical aptitude to understand complex programs and applications.
Displays courtesy, tact, and diplomacy during personal contact with others inside and/or outside of the organization for purposes of giving or obtaining information, building relationships, or soliciting cooperation.
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
Detail-oriented, organized, accurate and ability to adapt to change.
Excellent decision making and time management skills.
Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to trouble-shoot problems and research capabilities of current or proposed products.
Exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.
The incumbent is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; typing; viewing a computer screen and reading.
Climb/descend stairs in an emergency situation.
Operate routine office equipment including personal computers, copy machines, mobile and landline phones, calculator and others as needed.
Maintain working on a computer for six to eight hours daily, on average.
Work extended hours if required or requested by management.
Regular, reliable and timely attendance.
Must be able to routinely perform work indoors in climate-controlled shared work area with minimal noise.
Perform job functions independently, or with limited supervision, and work effectively either on own or as part of a team.
Read and carry out various written instructions and follow oral instructions.
Speak clearly and deliver information in a logical and understandable sequence.
Effectively handle multiple, simultaneous, and changing priorities.
Exercise highest level of discretion on both internal and external confidential matters.

Nice To Haves

Prior supervisory or team leadership experience is strongly preferred.
Prior experience with regulatory examinations is a plus.

Responsibilities

Oversee the full real estate lending operations lifecycle - origination, underwriting, processing, closing, post-closing, and secondary market delivery - ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance at every stage.
Establish and manage secondary market relationships, including direct loan delivery to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; maintain working knowledge of Agency selling guides, eligibility requirements, and investor delivery standards.
Build and manage correspondent and wholesale lending channel relationships and assist in evaluating and executing loan participation and loan purchase opportunities, including due diligence and ongoing oversight.
Underwrite and approve real estate loan requests - including first mortgages, home equity loans, and loans for ITIN borrowers - in accordance with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and internal credit guidelines, exercising delegated approval authority within established parameters.
Manage all third-party vendor relationships supporting the real estate lending function, including the Loan Origination System (LOS), Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs), contract underwriters, and loan servicers; monitor performance, service levels, and compliance obligations.
Own pre- and post-closing audit processes - identify, clear, and resolve findings in a timely manner; serve as the department's primary liaison for regulatory examinations and investor audits, with experience interfacing with regulators considered a strong plus.
Develop, implement, and maintain written policies, procedures, and SOPs for all real estate lending functions; revise as regulatory requirements, Agency guidelines, or internal practices change.
Monitor department performance against established KPIs and production goals; analyze results, identify gaps, and take corrective action to ensure the team meets or exceeds targets.
Onboard, mentor, and coach real estate lending staff and new hires; provide ongoing performance feedback and foster a culture of accountability, member service excellence, and continuous improvement.
Lead and expand first mortgage originations, developing strategies to grow application volume, improve pull-through rates, and ensure a consistent, high-quality member experience from application through closing.
Build and cultivate a strong real estate referral network, including real estate brokers, builders, developers, and community partners, to generate sustainable loan origination pipelines.
Develop and implement origination processes and sales support infrastructure as the organization transitions first mortgage production in-house, ensuring scalability, compliance, and alignment with secondary market requirements.
Lead 1st mortgage originations for the organization, overseeing the pipeline from application through closing and ensuring production goals, member experience standards, and Agency delivery requirements are consistently met.
Collaborate with the Consumer Lending Origination team on home equity loan submissions - providing timely feedback on submission quality, guiding loan officers on stipulation requirements, and ensuring files are operationally ready to support on-time closings.
Work with and monitor the performance of the Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO), ensuring alignment with the organization's lending standards, member service expectations, and production objectives; escalate performance concerns as appropriate.
As needed, engage directly with members to support loan origination, address post-closing follow-up items, or resolve outstanding documentation requirements.
Register with the National Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS).
Other duties as assigned by Lending leadership