Location: Washington or Oregon

Korn Ferry has partnered with our client on their search for VP, Real Estate Lending.

This is a rare opportunity for a strategic and entrepreneurial mortgage leader to step into a strong foundation and take it to the next level. The new VP of Real Estate Lending will build upon existing infrastructure, lead a fully remote team across operations and sales, and drive the organization’s evolution toward becoming a direct seller to Fannie and Freddie. Our client offers the investment, autonomy, and executive-level backing needed to shape the future of its mortgage platform and leave a lasting mark. There is a clear and vocal commitment from the CEO and senior leadership team to see this area of the business thrive. The person stepping into this role will leave a lasting imprint across product, process, people, and performance.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and scale all areas of real estate lending, including mortgage production, home equity, secondary markets, and operations (Lock Desk, Closing, Loan Officers, Processors).
Design and implement reporting, compliance, and disclosure infrastructure to meet investor standards and regulatory guidelines (e.g., HMDA).
Guide the company toward becoming a direct seller to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; currently operating through FHLB.
Build a growth strategy in Oregon and expand into Washington — setting geographic and production targets.
Drive sales culture development, including self-sourced incentive plans and origination strategy.
Evaluate and implement essential technology, including CRM selection (Encompass currently in place).
Inspire and lead a team of ~18 remote mortgage professionals, providing structure, clarity, and consistency.
Champion innovation through potential fintech and broker partnerships.
Work closely with the SVP of Lending and cross-functional peers to align real estate lending with overall organizational goals.

Professional Qualifications:

Minimum of 5+ years leading mortgage lending functions, with proven experience in sales and operations oversight.
Demonstrated success in building and growing a lending operation — not just maintaining one.
Deep understanding of secondary market guidelines, investor requirements, and compliance (HMDA, etc.).
Experience managing remote or distributed teams with a focus on performance, accountability, and cohesion.
Hands-on leadership in building systems, tools, and process infrastructure from the ground up.
Strong analytical and strategic planning skills.
Knowledge of Encompass and CRM solutions preferred.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.

Ideal Candidate Profile

You are entrepreneurial, structured, and outcomes-driven — someone who thrives in ambiguity and builds where others maintain. You are just as comfortable designing incentive plans and tech stacks as you are rallying loan officers around stretch goals. You see the lack of infrastructure not as a problem, but as an opportunity to architect the future of mortgage lending for a modern financial institution.

Salary Range: $175,000 - $200,000 plus incentive bonus.

SE# 510725907

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VP, Real Estate Lending

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