Senior Mortgage Executive - Lending Support Services

Senior Mortgage Executive - Lending Support Services

We are seeking a seasoned mortgage executive to lead our Mortgage Operations and Secondary Marketing functions. This individual will play a critical leadership role in driving operational excellence, supporting production growth, and optimizing secondary market execution.

As a key member of the Retail Lending leadership team, this role is responsible for the full lifecycle support of residential mortgage origination, including credit policy, underwriting oversight, operational execution, and secondary marketing strategy. The position will report directly to the EVP Chief Retail Lending Officer.

Location:

Westerly, Rhode Island (Hybrid). Candidates must be based in New England with Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Connecticut preferred.

Position Overview

This leader will ensure a high-performing, scalable mortgage platform that balances growth, efficiency, and risk discipline. The role requires strong collaboration with sales leadership, a deep understanding of credit and capital markets, and the ability to modernize processes through technology and workflow optimization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all mortgage operations and secondary marketing functions, ensuring alignment with divisional growth and profitability objectives
• Oversee loan approval authority within established credit policy, maintaining strong credit quality and risk standards
• Evaluate economic trends and recommend updates to credit policy, product offerings, and underwriting guidelines
• Direct secondary marketing strategy, including pricing, hedging, investor selection, and execution optimization
• Manage mortgage pipeline hedging activities and ensure appropriate risk controls are in place
• Partner with sales leadership to support production goals through efficient, responsive operational execution
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including workflow optimization, automation, and technology enhancements
• Oversee development and implementation of streamlined approval and documentation processes
• Ensure effective allocation of resources across operations and secondary teams to support volume and service levels
• Coach and develop managers and team leaders, building a strong leadership bench and fostering a performance-driven culture
• Coordinate training programs across credit, operations, and sales to enhance consistency and capability
• Maintain strong communication and alignment across sales, operations, and capital markets functions
• Oversee mortgage portfolio performance, including credit quality, asset duration, and risk mitigation strategies
• Manage departmental budgets and provide financial analysis and insights to support strategic decisions
• Identify and maintain critical function continuity plans across all mortgage-related areas

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in mortgage lending, including operations leadership and management
• Strong credit expertise with direct experience in underwriting and loan approval authority
• Proven ability to lead and scale operational teams while supporting a high-performing sales organization
• Demonstrated experience in secondary marketing and capital markets, including hedging and investor execution (preferred)
• Strong analytical and financial management skills, including budgeting and performance tracking
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data-driven decision-making
• Experience leveraging technology, workflow design, and cross-functional training to improve efficiency and scalability
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization
• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) required

What Success Looks Like

• Seamless alignment between sales and operations, enabling consistent production growth
• Improved cycle times and operational efficiency without compromising credit quality
• Enhanced secondary market execution and investor pricing outcomes
• Strong leadership bench and engaged, high-performing teams
• A well-managed risk profile with disciplined credit standards

Compensation: A good-faith, reasonable estimate of the base salary range for this role is $200,000-$240,000, and the actual offer will depend on factors such as experience, skills, training, certifications, and education. This base salary reflects one component of our competitive compensation package. This position may be eligible for an annual bonus and includes a comprehensive benefits package.

Our employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, which includes health and welfare benefits, paid time-off, work-life program, and a 401(k) plan. We believe employees who are valued, recognized, rewarded and empowered, will achieve personal and professional growth. Apply today and find out why we have been voted one of the Best Places to Work in Rhode Island since 2011!

The Washington Trust Company, and each of its subsidiaries and affiliates are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants as protected by state and/or…