Credit Policy Manager

Summary:

The Credit Policy Manager oversees the development and maintenance of residential mortgage credit policies and product guidelines, supports policy governance and committee processes, and communicates credit-related changes across the organization. This role collaborates with Operations, Capital Markets, Compliance, Quality Control, and Sales to ensure products are compliant, competitive, and aligned with the company’s risk appetite. This is an individual contributor role with broad influence across the organization.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

●     Maintains all lending guides, product matrices, and associated content, which includes researching regulatory requirements, investor guidelines, and industry trends.

●     Drafts, revises, and implements credit policies and product guidelines to reflect changes in risk appetite, regulatory requirements, investor standards, and market conditions.

●     Ensures policy documentation is accurate, consistent, and clearly articulated for operational execution.

●     Conducts periodic reviews of policies to identify gaps, ambiguities, or opportunities for simplification and risk mitigation.

●     Communicates policy, guideline, and product changes to internal stakeholders and correspondent lenders through formal updates.

●     Facilitates regularly scheduled Product Guideline and Credit Committee meetings, including agenda development, presentation materials, and documentation of decisions.

●     Serves as a subject matter expert for credit policy interpretation and application across the organization.

●     Participates in the design, evaluation, and rollout of new mortgage products, program enhancements, and guideline changes from a credit risk perspective.

●     Partners with Operations, Sales, and Capital Markets to ensure operational readiness for new or modified products.

●     Monitors competitive offerings and market trends to ensure product guidelines remain aligned with strategic objectives and risk tolerance.

●     Analyzes product performance, credit risk metrics, exception trends, and investor feedback to recommend guideline adjustments or new product features.

●     Supports product approval processes by preparing credit risk assessments, policy proposals, and supporting documentation for Product Guideline and Credit Committee review.

●     Reviews and analyzes credit-related reporting, including exception trends, scenario requests, defect findings, and loan performance data.

●     Identifies emerging credit risks and recommends policy or process changes to mitigate exposure.

●     Provides credit risk insight and data-driven recommendations to senior management and committees.

●     Tracks exception activity to identify systemic issues, training needs, or policy clarification opportunities.

●     Performs other duties as assigned.

Performance Measurements

1.    Possesses excellent written and verbal communication skills.

2.    Demonstrates superior research, analytic, and problem-solving skills.

3.    Handles multiple projects/tasks simultaneously, managing time and resources to ensure that work is completed accurately and efficiently within established time frames.

4.    Demonstrates the ability to manage complex problems, requiring analysis of information; weighing the potential outcome of a decision or advice provided.

5.    Maintains advanced knowledge of all mortgage products and guidelines in accordance with investor and agency requirements.

6.    Demonstrates an ability to manage responsibilities in an ever-changing environment, and respond promptly shifting priorities, demands, and timelines.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Experience

7 years of experience in the mortgage industry, with a background in underwriting. An FHA direct endorsement (DE) designation is required. Previous management experience is preferred.

Education

A high school diploma or equivalent is required. A Bachelor's degree is preferred.

Interpersonal Skills

The position requires a balance of leadership and subject matter expertise with excellent verbal and written communication skills. The ability to motivate, influence, and persuade others is a material or major part of the job, requiring a significant level of diplomacy and trust. Obtaining cooperation (internally and externally) is an important part of the job and a high level of interpersonal skills is critical to the success of this position. Work frequently involves interactions requiring considerable discussion of problems, material presentations, and resolving issues impacting departments or the organization as a whole.

Other Skills

Thorough knowledge of mortgage banking practices and procedures.

Strong working knowledge of credit policy and underwriting guidelines for Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, and non-QM loan programs.

Proficiency with loan origination systems.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

Physical Requirements

Requires effective communication with employees and third parties using common telecommunications and computer equipment. Must be able to read, examine, and organize documents. May require the ability to sit, stand, and walk around for extended periods of time. May also require the ability to lift up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

• The position will often be in a busy office environment. The ability to multitask and focus in this environment is essential.