Real Estate Underwriting Manager

Salary Range: $ - $

Exact compensation may vary based on skill and experience.

Hybrid opportunity requiring a local candidate to the greater Sacramento region.

• Professional Development Opportunities
  :
  Offering training programs, workshops, and mentorship.
• Recognition and Appreciation
  :
  Regularly acknowledging employee achievements and contributions.
• Flexible Work Arrangements
  :
  Providing options for remote work and flexible scheduling.
• Positive Company Culture
  :
  Fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and supportive work environment.
• Career Growth
  :
  Clear paths for career advancement and internal promotions.
• Work-Life Balance
  :
  Encouraging a healthy balance between professional and personal life.
• Employee Empowerment
  :
  Allowing employees to make decisions and have autonomy in their roles.
• Space of Belonging
  : ERGs, YOUnity Council and a focus around diversity, equity inclusion and belonging.
• Wellness Programs
  :
  Promoting physical and mental health through wellness initiatives and resources.
• Strong Leadership
  :
  Having leaders who inspire, support, and guide their teams effectively.
• Sense of Purpose
  :
  Creating a sense of mission and aligning company goals with employees' personal values.

The Real Estate Underwriting Manager provides strategic leadership and oversight of real estate underwriting operations, including the Underwriting Supervisor/Team Lead and Real Estate Loan Underwriters. This role is accountable for ensuring sound credit decision‑making that aligns with SAFE’s risk appetite, portfolio performance objectives, and service standards.

The Manager ensures underwriting practices comply with all applicable federal and state regulations, investor guidelines (FNMA/FHLMC), and internal credit policy, while achieving consistent turnaround times and high‑quality member and partner experience. The role serves as a key thought partner to Real Estate Lending Leadership and Credit Risk in maintaining a strong and sustainable credit culture.

• Lead, coach, and develop underwriting leadership and staff, fostering a culture of accountability, consistency, and continuous improvement.
• Establish clear, measurable performance goals for direct reports; ensure timely and meaningful performance evaluations, feedback, and development planning.
• Maintain overall accountability for credit quality and risk management across all real estate originations.
• Partner with the VP, Credit Risk and Real Estate Lending Leadership to develop, maintain, and refine credit policy, underwriting standards, and risk evaluation frameworks aligned with Board‑approved credit culture and risk tolerance.
• Monitor underwriting exceptions, trends, and decision outcomes; ensure fair, consistent application of guidelines using appropriate compensating factors.
• Analyze underwriting guidelines to identify emerging risk trends or growth opportunities; present data‑supported recommendations for policy enhancements.
• Collaborate with Credit Risk and portfolio teams to monitor loan performance and assess whether underwriting guidance adjustments are warranted.
• Ensure underwriting quality control by overseeing the review of underwriter decision samples (approvals, declines, counters) and implementing corrective actions, training, or process improvements as needed.
• Perform monthly quality reviews of Underwriting Supervisor/Team Lead decisions.
• Maintain expert knowledge of applicable federal, state, and investor regulatory requirements; implement policy and procedural changes as required.
• Review Quality Assurance findings and collaborate with QA leadership and Real Estate management to address root causes and improve loan quality.
• Serve as a subject‑matter expert to internal stakeholders including Secondary Marketing, Product Development, Marketing, and enterprise project teams.
• Support a culture of compliance, ethics, inclusivity, and sound risk management.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

One of the following: a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four‑year college or university; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant industry experience.

• NMLS…