What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lending Operations Specialist position at Vanderbilt Mortgage?
Business Title: Lending Operations Specialist Career Level: P2 11
Reports to: Director of Loan Originations Department: Connect Lending (Greensboro)
Amount of Travel: 15% Job Status: Full-time
The expected hiring range for this position is from $64,400 to $80,500 plus additional bonus opportunity. The stated hiring range is based on experience, qualifications, and other relevant factors. Final compensation decisions will take into account a variety of considerations, including individual skills, internal equity, and organizational needs.
Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc. was established in 1974 and currently services over 150,000 loans. Our strength as an organization is rooted in the quality of our people and products. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse workforce. Furthermore, we're financially strong, with a reputation for leading the industry with unsurpassed products, a broad range of services and a coast-to-coast presence. We're professionally strong, from entry level to more experienced positions, we're actively recruiting individuals who are passionate, positive, and eager to learn. As a member of our team, we will equip you for success, you'll enjoy excellent benefits, opportunities for growth, and an encouraging culture that supports work/life balance.
JOB SUMMARY
The Lending Operations Specialist serves as a Loan Origination Subject Matter Expert (SME), collaborating cross-functionally to optimize loan operation workflows, ensure regulatory compliance, and foster strong Retail partnerships to ultimately enhance borrower experience. Reporting to the Director of Originations, the Lending Operations Specialist maintains expertise in the mortgage loan origination process including loan origination, processing, underwriting, closing, and land exam. Leveraging this knowledge, this role supports process improvements, technology initiatives, training programs, compliance updates, and operational efficiencies by performing thorough analyses of current processes, facilitating pilot programs, and examination of data driven results.
JOB FUNCTIONS
Participates in Loan Operations System (LOS) Enhancements, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), Workflow Automation and Other Initiatives to Improve Loan Origination and Customer Experience
- Remains current on role responsibilities of Loan Originations, Underwriting, Processing, and Closing to effectively drive change and propose technology improvements.
- Partners with leadership to lead UAT efforts.
- Facilitates pilot programs for process improvement initiatives.
- Creates enhancement requests resulting from pilot program findings.
- Analyzes existing workflows to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
- Proposes solutions to leadership for identified inefficiencies to enhance loan origination and customer experience.
- Improves the effectiveness of operations by leveraging automation tools and proactively identifying new opportunities for process automation.
- Implements mitigation strategies by monitoring risk factors in loan origination workflows.
- Creates and implements project plans for small to medium-sized initiatives aimed at enhancing operational efficiency.
- Assists in the execution of comprehensive project plans for larger initiatives, outlining scope, goals, deliverables, timelines, and resources needed.
- Leads training efforts by facilitating “train the trainer” sessions, equipping the Training team to teach team members new processes when ready for rollout.
- Develops and documents standardized procedures to improve productivity, ensure compliance, and enhance accuracy.
Ensures Compliance of Loan Origination Processes
- Develops and maintains expertise in loan origination, processing, closing, and land exam functions.
- Serves as the loan operations Subject Matter Expert (SME), providing guidance on processes, technology, and compliance in discussions with team members, trainers, and leadership.
- Remains current on industry regulations, compliance requirements, and investor guidelines.
- Ensures operational processes and workflows align with investor and regulatory standards.
- Develops and maintains expertise in all company products including Vanderbilt portfolio products and promotions, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Title I & Title II, and Manufactured Housing (MH) Advantage financing program.
Participates in Cross-Functional Collaboration with Internal and External Stakeholders
- Partners with Retail, independent dealers, realtors, and other internal and external stakeholders including but not limited to Loan Origination, Processing, Underwriting, and Compliance teams to support initiatives.
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Promotes cross-functional collaboration with Technology Department, Vanderbilt Marketing, Legal and Loan Originations teams to understand project requirements and dependencies.
- Gathers insights from frontline teams regarding operational roadblocks impacting efficiency, and makes recommendations for features, enhancements, and process improvements.
- Partners with internal teams to maintain process documentation related to technology implementations.
- Serves as liaison between Operations department and the Technology department to improve system functionality and adoption of LOS enhancements.
Uses Data Analytics and Reporting to Drive Process Improvement
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Utilizes data-driven insights such as loan cycle times, funding timelines, and operational efficiency metrics to recommend workflow improvements.
- Analyzes key performance indicators (KPIs) using a variety of methods, including reporting dashboards and delivers recommendations to leadership.
Other duties as assigned
- This job description is not an exhaustive list of all the functions that a team member and other duties may be assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Education: High School Diploma or Equivalent required
- Experience: Minimum of 5 years related experience
- Experience in mortgage operations or related functions (loan origination, processing, closing, servicing, title, compliance, or audit).
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to assess workflows and identify improvements.
- Familiarity with loan origination systems (LOS), UAT, and system implementation processes is a plus.
- Ability to learn and master various functions within mortgage operations, translating that knowledge into process improvement and training initiatives.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience in process documentation.
- Detail-oriented with the ability to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
- Demonstrated ability to meet commitments, build consensus, negotiate resolutions and garner respect from other teams.
- Must have strong computer skills with ability to navigate Microsoft Office Suite.
- Capability of gathering facts accurately, analyzing causes, evaluating alternate solutions, and arriving at sound conclusions on action to be taken.
- Provides exceptional project management and communication skills throughout all processes.
- Goal-oriented, self-motivated personality with the capacity to meet and exceed assigned goals
- Ability to manage multiple and/or conflicting responsibilities.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work internally across all teams
- Willing to learn, hard-working, determined, and assertive
- Great attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Ability to work in a team environment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Must be able to remain in a stationary position 75% of the time.
- Constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a telephone, calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
- 75% of communication methods completed over the phone.
- Must be able to exchange accurate information at all times.
- Constantly works in an indoor temperature controlled, sealed window office environment.
BENEFITS:
- Medical and Dental Plan with Prescription Coverage and Vision
- Competitive benefits including 401(K) includes 100% company match of the first 4%
- Paid time off days (PTO), maternity/paternity leave, and holidays
- Community involvement including Volunteer Paid Time Off (VTO)
- Tuition Assistance for your first degree
- Enjoy coming “home” to our brand new, state-of-the-art Home Office equipped with onsite fitness facility with full gym, workout classes, volleyball and basketball courts, ping-pong, disc golf course, and onsite restaurant
- Wellness programs that focus on emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, physical, and financial well-being
- Collaborative and energetic work environment
- Professional development and promotion opportunities
- Competitive bonus programs
Here are some more reasons to choose Vanderbilt Mortgage!
- A Berkshire Hathaway Company – an integrity-based organization offering unlimited career growth
- Full-time team members have the flexibility to create their own health, dental, and vision benefits package. Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc. provides competitive 401(k) programs, including investment options and company matching for full and part time employees after one year to help our team members achieve their financial goals. Additional benefits include paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, Employee Assistance Programs, and more.
- Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance Inc. is a subsidiary of Clayton of which is proud to have earned spots on the following Forbes lists: America’s Best Employers, America’s Best Employers by State, Best Employers for Diversity, Best Employers for Women.
- As part of Vanderbilt Mortgage’s commitment to Opening Doors to a Better Life, VMF is now providing paid time for Team Members to volunteer to causes that are meaningful to them through the Clayton Impact program.
- At VMF, we encourage holistic wellness with physical, nutritional, social, financial, spiritual, and occupational programs available online or in-person for team members.
- Our newly renovated Home Office campus offers an onsite restaurant, onsite fitness facility with full gym, in-person and virtual workout classes, yoga/barre studio, volleyball, and basketball courts, walking paths, and a disc golf course.
Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance Inc. is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.
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