CONSUMER UNDERWRITING MANAGER

Consumer Underwriting Manager

Location: Albuquerque, NM 87109

Overview

Position Type: Full Time

Job Shift: Full Time

Education Level: Bachelor's Degree or Experience

Travel Percentage: Minimal Travel

Travel Category: Banking

Description

As a valued full-time team member, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and financial future:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Company paid Short-Term Disability, Life Insurance, and AD&D coverage
• Generous Paid Time Off; including Holidays, Vacation, Birthday, Floating Holiday & Sick Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement to support your professional growth and development
• 401(k) Plan with Employer Match
• Pension Plan to help you plan for long-term financial security
• Exciting Opportunities for Career Advancement

Overall Job Purpose At Sandia Area, every position plays a vital role in fulfilling our mission to deliver high-value banking and lending services that strengthen the financial well-being of our members and community. Each team member is expected to embody our core values of Service, Sustainability, Efficiency, Trust, Stewardship, and Growth, contributing to our vision of empowering lifelong achievement through better banking. While specific responsibilities vary by role, every position carries universal expectations aligned with its level of responsibility and authority across the organization.

As a Manager at Sandia Area, you are responsible for leading your team to achieve departmental goals while ensuring alignment with the organization's mission, vision, and values. Your role involves driving team performance, fostering professional development, and overseeing efficient operations that directly impact member satisfaction and organizational success. Through your leadership, you model accountability, collaboration, and a commitment to sustained growth and excellence.

Reporting directly to the Vice President Lending, the Consumer Underwriting Manager is responsible for overseeing the underwriting operations for consumer and real estate loans, ensuring sound credit decisions that align with the credit union's lending policies, risk tolerance, and strategic goals. The Manager leads a team of underwriters, monitors loan quality, and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements while supporting efficient loan turnaround times and exceptional member service. This position requires a high level of accuracy, knowledge about consumer lending regulations, and the ability to maintain confidentiality and integrity in the lending process.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead by example, reinforce, and consistently uphold Sandia Area's Values: Service, Sustainability, Efficiency, Trust, Stewardship, and Growth.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and mentorship to employees, fostering a positive and high-performing team environment while ensuring alignment with organizational goals and priorities.
• Responsible for day-to-day operations, establishing strategies, and monitoring progress to ensure alignment with departmental and organizational objectives.
• Optimize resource allocation, including personnel {schedules, tasks, projects}, budget, and resources, to maximize effectiveness while controlling costs.
• Monitor performance expectations, provide regular feedback and coaching, and conduct performance evaluations to ensure goal achievement, member satisfaction, and regulatory compliance.
• Responsible for the recruitment, interviewing, and hiring process, ensuring candidates align with Sandia Area's mission, values, and service culture.
• Oversee onboarding, training, and continuous development of employees to support professional growth and high team engagement.

Application Review & Initial Assessment

• Ensure loan applications are completed within established turnaround times.
• Request and review all documentation necessary to complete each transaction ensuring all required documentation has been obtained and is accurate.
• Accurately calculate critical underwriting ratios such as debt-to-income, loan-to-value and, if necessary, unsecured debt ratios for all loan applications.
• Verify all information in the loan origination system is accurate.
• Determine eligibility of loan co-maker, relationship to applicant and creditworthiness of the co-maker.

Risk Assessment & Decision Making

• Review, approve, or decline consumer and residential real estate loan applications within delegated authority and in accordance with Credit Union guidelines, and risk appetite.
• Ensure consistent application of underwriting guidelines, policies, and risk standards across the underwriting team.
• Ensure maximum efficiency of lending activities and rapid turnaround time on loan decisions.
• Oversee Lending Center queues and underwriter's personal queues to ensure timely loan review.
• Monitor loan quality, decision accuracy, and portfolio performance metrics.
• Provide guidance on complex credit decisions, including exceptions and policy interpretations.
• Provide second-level review on loan applications requiring higher-level approval authority.
• Perform second-level review of underwriter's cash flow analysis for accuracy and future training needs.
• Prepare recommendations for Loan Executive Committee on employee loans and loans considered complex or unusual.
• Explore options for members before denying requests including, but not limited to, the addition of collateral, guarantors or additional income, etc. Clearly communicate the denial reason(s) when no alternatives can be found or are not accepted.

Policy Adherence & Lending Operations

• Comply with requirements under the SAFE Act, including registering and maintaining registration as a Mortgage Loan Officer with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.
• Maintain compliance with all applicable regulations, including but not limited to Fair Lending, ECOA, Reg B, TRID, and other applicable federal and state requirements.
• Meet established turnaround times for all loan applications.
• Implement new loan products and systematic procedures in accordance with management direction.
• Ensure the VP Lending is kept fully informed regarding any problems or potential problems that occur.
• Provide feedback to the VP Lending regarding the automated decision-making process in the LOS and any potential concerns about the decision.
• Collaborate with lending teams, processing, and operations teams to improve workflow efficiency and turnaround times to ensure strong member experience.
• Collaborate with Special Accounts on restructuring loans and assisting with other workout scenarios, as appropriate.
• Develop and implement underwriting procedures and best practices.
• Review and recommend updates to lending policies and underwriting guidelines.

Expectations of all Sandia Area employees

Demonstrate a strong commitment to upholding the organization's mission, vision, and values in all interactions and responsibilities.

Represent the credit union with professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct at all times.

Maintain a thorough understanding and strict adherence to credit union regulations, compliance requirements, policies, procedures, and operational guidelines.

Consistently meet deadlines as assigned while ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and adherence to quality standards.

Foster a positive and supportive environment for both members and employees, ensuring interactions align with the credit union's mission and service philosophy.

Adhere to all regulatory and compliance policies, upholding the highest standards of security, confidentiality, and ethical financial practices in all interactions.

Maintain the confidentiality and security of information, records, and sensitive data, in compliance with credit union policies and regulatory requirements.

Adapt to evolving responsibilities, taking on additional duties as assigned to support the success of the organization.

Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning, professional development, and staying informed on industry trends and best practices.

Willing to undergo background and credit checks as required by federal and state regulations.

Understand and comply with all policies, procedures, and legal guidelines, including adherence to the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and other applicable financial regulations.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Expertise in underwriting consumer and real estate loans; with a requisite understanding of financial institution operations
• Strong knowledge of credit analysis, income calculation, and debt-to-income evaluation.
• Familiarity with credit union lending philosophy and member-focused service model.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements related to consumer and mortgage lending.
• Experience with automated underwriting systems and loan origination platforms.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills to convey goals, set expectations, provide feedback, and inspire and develop teams.
• Exceptional leadership and team development skills, fostering a high-performance culture through coaching, mentorship, and employee