The OpportunityA growing independent mortgage company with a retail residential focus is looking for a seasoned Underwriting Manager who's ready to lead from the front — not from behind a desk. This is a true player/coach role where your fingerprints will be on credit decisions, team culture, and the quality of every file that moves through the pipeline. If you've been waiting for a seat at the table where your voice actually carries weight, this is it.What You'll DoLead, mentor, and calibrate a team of retail residential underwriters — setting the standard for quality, consistency, and turn timeOwn escalated and exception files while maintaining production flow and protecting the company's credit profileServe as a cross-functional partner to sales, operations, and processing — removing friction, solving bottlenecks, and keeping the pipeline movingDevelop and maintain a robust underwriting quality feedback loop that drives continuous improvement across the teamMonitor agency guideline updates (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA and beyond) and translate changes into clean, workable overlays the team can execute onEnsure all underwriting activity meets state-by-state compliance standards in an IMC environment — where regulatory precision matters and there is no federal preemption safety netContribute to senior-level credit and production conversations as a credible, experienced voice in the roomWhy This OpportunityIndependent mortgage companies move differently — fewer layers, faster decisions, and a culture where strong operators actually shape outcomes. This company has built a retail residential team that values expertise and rewards accountability, and at five direct reports, this is the kind of close-knit leadership role where you can genuinely develop people rather than just manage headcount. Add in a real voice with senior credit and sales leadership, full benefits, and a compensation structure designed to attract top-tier talent, and this is a rare combination worth a conversation.Job requirementsWhat We're Looking For5 years of mortgage underwriting management experience in a retail residential setting — this must be your most recent role Deep, working mastery of agency guidelines: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA at minimum; additional product knowledge is a plusHands-on proficiency with Encompass LOS — you should be comfortable navigating it daily, not learning it on the jobDemonstrated ability to lead and develop a team in a fast-moving independent mortgage company environment — IMC experience is strongly preferredComfort operating with autonomy in a nimble, non-depository setting where decisions move quickly and compliance knowledge is your foundationBonus points — valued but not required:- DE, SAR or LAPP authority- Experience with USDA, bond/grant programs, jumbo, or non-QM products- Prior leadership experience managing a team of five or more underwriters at an IMC
