Underwriting Manager – Mortgage Operations

Location: Buffalo, NY (Headquarters; Hybrid or Remote available for the right candidate across existing operational footprints: AL, AZ, CO, FL, MA, and Upstate NY)

The Numbers: 85K – 100K Base Comp (Flexibility based on experience; incentive bonus program tied to production upside)

The Big Picture

Our client is an established, full-service mortgage banking platform deeply integrated within a premier regional real estate and financial services enterprise. Unlike high-volatility broker shops or transactional non-delegated lenders, their origination engine is driven primarily by captive, steady purchase volume through direct sister companies in residential brokerage and commercial insurance. Backed by multi-decade institutional stability, they operate on a deliberate, counter-cyclical model: hiring thoughtfully, sustaining operational capacity, and protecting back-office careers across market cycles.

The Mission

This seat provides the operational backbone for retail purchase lending. Leading a tight, high-competency underwriting pod of 7 to 8 underwriters, you will direct frontline credit decisioning, maintain clean agency audit trails, and ensure clear, direct communication between credit evaluation and retail origination. The mandate is balance: upholding pristine credit quality and investor tolerances while keeping purchase turn-times sharp and predictable.

The Daily Grind (The Good Kind)

• Underwriting Team Leadership: Direct day-to-day workflow, capacity allocation, and second-signature reviews for a dedicated team of 7 to 8 frontline mortgage underwriters (predominantly DE/SAR designated).
• Credit Authority & Pipeline Flow: Act as the final escalation point on complex credit structures, agency guideline interpretations, and conditional approvals across purchase-heavy retail pipelines.
• FHA / VA Governance: Maintain operational adherence to FHA Direct Endorsement standards, agency credit policy updates, and investor overlays to secure zero-defect audit integrity.
• Origination Partnership: Serve as the calm, decisive technical liaison with retail branch production, maintaining clear credit parameters without needless back-office friction.

Your Toolkit

• The Battle Scars: 6+ years of frontline residential credit underwriting experience with 2+ years leading, mentoring, or managing underwriting personnel.
• Agency Designations: Active FHA Direct Endorsement (DE) authority is required. VA SAR/LAPP credentials are strongly preferred.
• Technical Mastery: Deep fluency with agency automated underwriting systems (DU/LP), manual underwriting protocols, Encompass or equivalent enterprise LOS environments, and investor overlay navigation.
• Purchase Pipeline Rhythm: Demonstrated judgment handling purchase-money transaction urgency, escrow deadlines, and builder/broker coordination.

The Payoff

• Operational Stability: Join an integrated purchase ecosystem that avoids boom-and-bust staffing reductions by maintaining sustainable overhead and high operational discipline.
• Culture & Trajectory: Work directly with senior executive leadership within a high-amenity headquarters featuring an executive-level environment and gourmet facility, with hybrid and remote flexibility across active regional states.
• Performance Upside: Transparent base comp structure (85K – 100K with flexibility for senior technical leadership) paired with an incentive bonus program that rewards volume expansion.

Our Partnership Approach

Thank you for trusting Lupton Partners with your career transition. We take immense pride in our work, but our focus is always on the outcome—for both the candidates we represent and the companies we serve. If the first role we discuss isn't the perfect fit, we won't force it. Our goal is to land you in the right place, not just the next place. We also recognize that career changes—even the most exciting ones—come with a side of stress. That’s normal. We’re here to handle the heavy lifting and provide clarity at every step.

What to Expect

• The Introduction Call: This is a high-level chemistry check. We’ll dive into your history, map out your career goals, and get real about compensation and advancement targets.
• Active Searches: We’ll match your story to our clients' needs. We keep compensation targets front-and-center so nobody’s time is wasted.
• Client Submissions: It is our promise that we do not present your name or credentials to clients without clear communication and your explicit permission.
• Interview Feedback: This is where we earn our keep. Call us as soon as you hit the parking lot. If you think you fumbled a question or found a better answer ten minutes too late, let’s talk.
• Background Checks: Absolute transparency. We manage red flags together before they become "surprises."
• Offers: No surprises. We align on numbers early so the formal letter is a "green light" celebration.

Questions? Reach out anytime. Travis Lupton

Office: 913-521-3303 | Mobile: 913-231-8472 travis@luptonpartners.com