Underwriting Manager

HUNT Mortgage Corporation•Buffalo, NY

6h•$85,000 - $100,000

About The Position

The Underwriting Manager leads, supervises, and oversees the performance and effectiveness of HUNT Mortgage's residential mortgage underwriting department. The role ensures mortgage loans are underwritten accurately, consistently, and efficiently in accordance with applicable agency, government, investor, regulatory, and company requirements. The manager maintains underwriting quality, oversees departmental workflow, sets performance expectations, develops staff, and supports timely decisions aligned with company production objectives. The position fosters a collaborative, solutions-oriented environment that balances sound credit decisions and regulatory compliance with operational efficiency and service to Mortgage Consultants and borrowers. It works closely with Sales, Processing, Closing, Secondary Marketing, Compliance, and executive management to address operational challenges, improve workflows, and support organizational goals. The manager also leads credit risk management, staff development, reporting, and operational improvement initiatives.

Requirements

Extensive residential mortgage underwriting experience, including conventional and government loan programs.
Thorough knowledge of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, USDA, and investor underwriting requirements.
Ability to evaluate complex income, asset, credit, collateral, and borrower eligibility scenarios.
Strong understanding of automated underwriting systems, including Desktop Underwriter (DU) and Loan Product Advisor (LPA).
Experience with mortgage loan origination systems and underwriting technology.
Strong analytical, organizational, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain underwriting quality in a production-oriented environment.

Nice To Haves

Prior underwriting management, supervisory, or team leadership experience.
FHA Direct Endorsement (DE) and VA underwriting authority or experience, as applicable.

Responsibilities

Lead, direct, and supervise the underwriting team and manage daily operations, loan assignments, pipeline priorities, and workload distribution.
Set and monitor departmental productivity, quality, and turnaround-time expectations, and allocate resources to meet production demands.
Hold regular staff meetings and provide coaching, training, feedback, performance evaluations, and support for recruiting, hiring, and onboarding.
Promote accountability, professionalism, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Ensure loans meet applicable Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, USDA, investor, and company requirements, maintaining consistent underwriting standards and sound credit risk practices.
Review complex loan scenarios, exceptions, and escalated underwriting matters; provide technical guidance on guideline interpretation and credit decisions.
Ensure underwriting conditions are appropriate, clearly communicated, and supported by applicable requirements.
Identify recurring underwriting deficiencies, implement corrective measures, and coordinate with Compliance and Quality Control on audit findings, loan defects, and investor concerns.
Monitor repurchase risk, investor eligibility, and loan quality trends, and maintain controls and escalation procedures for underwriting exceptions.
Monitor pipelines and turnaround times; evaluate procedures for inefficiencies, unnecessary conditions, duplicate reviews, and bottlenecks.
Improve initial underwriting and resubmission turnaround times, file quality, submission readiness, and efficient use of underwriting conditions.
Promote effective use of the loan origination system, automated underwriting systems, and other technology; collaborate on workflow enhancements and automation.
Build working relationships with Mortgage Consultants, Processors, Closers, and other departments, and assist with complex borrower scenarios and guideline questions.
Encourage early identification of underwriting issues and clear, professional communication of decisions and conditions.
Work with Sales and Processing leadership to improve communication, reduce delays, and support successful loan closings while maintaining sound underwriting standards.
Participate in discussions about new products, investor programs, and operational initiatives.
Maintain current knowledge of agency, government, investor, and regulatory requirements; communicate guideline changes and ensure staff receive appropriate training.
Coordinate with Compliance, review investor overlays, address investor underwriting questions and loan suspense issues, and maintain accurate procedures and reference materials.
Evaluate underwriter productivity, accuracy, guideline knowledge, and decision-making; identify training needs and develop technical skills.
Promote consistent guideline application, mentor less-experienced underwriters, support professional growth and independent decision-making, and develop cross-training opportunities.
Prepare and review reports on underwriting volume, turnaround times, productivity, quality, and outstanding conditions; identify trends and recommend corrective actions.
Collaborate with executive management on staffing, capacity planning, and departmental objectives; participate in operational improvement initiatives and implementation of products, technology, and procedures.
Perform additional management responsibilities and special projects as assigned.