Director of Mortgage Lending

Director of Mortgage Lending Classification:

Exempt Salary Grade:

13 Reports to:

Director of Mortgage Banking Date:

March 2026 JOB

DESCRIPTION

Summary/Objective:

The Director of Mortgage Lending is responsible for overseeing the Bank s residential mortgage lending activities, including 1-4 family, multifamily, and acquisition, development, and construction loans. This role develops mortgage lending policies and procedures for approval by loan committee, managing officer, and directors to ensure compliance with regulatory standards, drive sales performance, and foster strong client and community relationships. The Director of Mortgage Lending will lead the mortgage loan officer team, manage the origination process, and implement strategies to grow the Bank s mortgage portfolio while maintaining high service and compliance standards.

Essential Functions:

Lead and manage the end-to-end residential mortgage loan origination process, including application intake, pre-qualification, underwriting, processing, closing, and post-closing review. Ensure strict compliance with Bank policies and agency guidelines, including those established by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Veterans Affairs (VA), and other secondary market investors. Monitor and manage the mortgage loan pipeline to ensure timely progression of files through each stage of the origination cycle to identify and resolve bottlenecks, delays, or compliance issues that may impact closing timelines or client satisfaction. Partner with the Mortgage Loan Operations Manager to ensure processing, underwriting and closing standards adhere to internal service level agreements and meet regulatory requirements. Maintain and enforce internal lending policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with regulatory standards and risk management practices. Regularly review and update policies to reflect changes in laws, market conditions, and operational needs. Provide guidance and support to loan officers and operational staff, ensuring consistent application of lending criteria and best practices across all mortgage products. Develop and execute comprehensive sales strategies aimed at expanding the Bank s residential mortgage portfolio, including identifying target markets, recruiting new loan officers, optimizing product offerings, and leveraging referral networks. Train and mentor new loan officers of the Bank. Conduct competitive analysis and market segmentation to identify growth opportunities, assess pricing strategies, and position the Bank s mortgage products effectively against competitors. Set clear, measurable performance goals for the mortgage team, including application volume, conversion rates, closing timelines, and client satisfaction benchmarks. Monitor individual and team performance metrics regularly, using dashboards and reporting tools to track progress, identify trends, and address underperformance through coaching and corrective action plans. Collaborate with marketing and business development teams to design and implement promotional campaigns, digital outreach, and community engagement initiatives that drive mortgage inquiries and applications. Adjust sales strategies proactively based on evolving market conditions, interest rate environments, regulatory changes, and consumer behavior trends to maintain competitiveness and profitability. Cultivate and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with a diverse network of clients, realtors, builders, financial advisors, and other referral sources to drive consistent mortgage application volume and long-term business growth. Serve as a visible ambassador of the Bank s residential mortgage services by actively participating in networking events, community involvement, and marketing initiatives. Promote the Bank s full suite of mortgage products and services, tailoring recommendations to meet the unique needs of each client and partner, and positioning the Bank as a trusted advisor in the home financing process. Ensure client-centric experiences by overseeing the delivery of timely, accurate, and personalized service throughout the loan lifecycle. Resolve escalated client concerns or issues with professionalism and urgency, maintaining the Bank s reputation for excellence and integrity in mortgage lending. Stay current on changes to underwriting criteria, loan delivery standards, and quality control requirements. Ensure staff adherence to lending standards, disclosure laws, and regulatory requirements. Maintain complete and accurate documentation. Conduct performance evaluations for staff and provide recommendations for salary adjustments, internal transfers, and promotional opportunities, ensuring alignment with employee performance, organizational goals, and personnel policies. Identify and implement process improvements to enhance operational efficiencies and risk mitigation. Comply with employment, government, regulatory, and Bank policies and procedures.

Other Duties:

Monitor and report on mortgage performance metrics, pipeline activity, and operational key performance indicators (KPIs). Perform other duties assigned, in support of departmental goals and organizational priorities.

Education and Experience:

Minimum of a bachelor s degree in business, finance, or related field required; master s degree or equivalent preferred. Minimum of seven years of experience in mortgage lending, with at least five years in a leadership role required. Registration with Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) required.

Key Competencies:

Requisite

• Requires several years of related experience and above average technical training and/or formal education. Authority
• Operates with some latitude of actions over people supervised and functional activities. Analytical
• Demands a high level of analytical skills, decisive thinking, and the ability to assess complex situations with confidence and precision. Supervision
• Provides leadership and direction to personnel, assigns duties, and monitors performance. Assists in coaching and professional growth, helping employees refine technical skills and workplace competencies. Interpersonal Relations/Customer Service
• Demands exceptional people skills at the highest level within the organization, with performance relying on the effective application of these critical abilities. Ethics/Integrity
• Possesses a comprehensive understanding of industry best practices, professional behaviors, and the applicable laws, rules, and regulations that govern ethical business conduct.

Consistently upholds the highest standards of integrity, demonstrating unwavering commitment to fairness, compliance, and respect in all interactions. Fosters a workplace culture rooted in professionalism, accountability, and ethical decision-making. Adaptability

• Knowledge of successful approaches, tools, and techniques to seamlessly transition processes, optimize workflows, and foster resilience in evolving environments. Productivity
• Manages workload effectively, ensuring tasks are prioritized and executed with efficiency. Maintains a purposeful approach, consistently meeting goals and objectives while optimizing resources and time management. Quality
• Identifies opportunities for improvement and delivers high-quality outcomes within established deadlines.

Knowledge and Performance Expectations:

Experience in sales leadership and staff development. In-depth knowledge of mortgage products, underwriting standards, and regulatory requirements. Complete understanding of mortgage programs and agency requirements. Excellent communication, sales strategy, and relationship-building skills. Proficient in mortgage origination systems, data analysis tools, and Microsoft Office Suite. Comfort with working in a dynamic environment where priorities can shift quickly. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with colleagues across various departments maintaining a professional demeanor. Efficiently perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position. Consistently attend work, meetings, and required training or staff events.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

The work environment is typically a professional office setting within a financial institution, which may include branch locations, administrative offices, and client-facing areas. Employees are expected to maintain a high level of professionalism and confidentiality in accordance with banking regulations and company policies. Work is generally performed indoors in a climate-controlled environment with standard office equipment such as computers, telephones, printers, and copiers. Physical demands of the position may include, but are not limited to: Prolonged periods of sitting or standing at a workstation or services counter. Manual dexterity and fine motor skills for operating computers, handling documents, and using standard office equipment. Routine walking within the office or branch to attend meetings, assist clients, or perform job-related tasks. Visual acuity to read printed materials, review electronic documents, and perform detailed work. Auditory ability to regularly communicate effectively in person and over the phone. Sustained concentration and attention to detail are critical for performing analytical tasks and ensuring accuracy. Occasional physical movements such as standing, reaching, bending, and twisting may be necessary. Light lifting, up to 10 pounds, may be required to transport files, office supplies, or small equipment.

Accommodations:

The work environment and physical demands described provide a detailed representation of what employees might encounter in the workplace while performing the essential duties of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Work Schedule and Availability:

The Bank maintains a standard 40-hour work week to ensure operational consistency and employee engagement. While some schedule flexibility is required based on location assignments, availability during core business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) is essential for supporting key functions. Occasional after-hours work may be required to accommodate client needs and participate in community events that promote the Bank s visibility.

Travel Requirements:

Frequent travel is required to other branch locations or offsite venues for training, meetings, or operational support. Travel is typically planned.

EEO Statement:

Community Bank is an equal employment opportunity employer. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. (Rev. March 2025)