Mortgage Underwriting Leader – Strategy & Growth

The Nottingham Building Society; Redmile; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car Allowance

Bupa Healthcare

Medicash healthcare

29 days annual leave

Discretionary bonus

Job summary

The Nottingham Building Society is recruiting for Head of Mortgage Underwriting at Head Office in Nottingham. This senior role combines strategic leadership of mortgage origination and underwriting with robust governance and people development.

You will shape underwriting strategy, drive performance, ensure compliant lending and collaborate with brokers, solicitors and partners to deliver exceptional customer outcomes while overseeing third-party services and business continuity.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience across mortgage origination, underwriting and portfolio management, including residential, buy-to-let, commercial, self-build and specialist lending.
• A strong understanding of responsible lending, mortgage operations and customer servicing best practice.
• In-depth knowledge of regulatory frameworks, including MCOB, FCA requirements and financial crime controls.
• Proven experience leading high-performing operational teams, driving excellent customer outcomes while developing and coaching colleagues to reach their full potential.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret MI, KPIs and performance data to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
• Experience of operational resilience, business continuity, risk management and incident recovery within a regulated environment.
• A track record of delivering change, transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Outstanding stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build credibility with senior leaders, regulators, industry bodies and external partners.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the confidence to navigate complex challenges, lead through change and make sound decisions in high-pressure situations.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver the Mortgage Origination and Underwriting strategy, supporting the Society's growth, lending and customer ambitions.
• Lead, motivate and develop high-performing teams, creating a customer and intermediary-focused culture.
• Maintain robust underwriting standards and oversight, ensuring lending decisions are consistent, prudent and compliant.
• Drive operational efficiency, service excellence and continuous improvement across mortgage journeys and processes.
• Use data, customer feedback and performance insights to identify trends, manage risks and improve customer outcomes.
• Lead change initiatives and transformation programmes, embedding new ways of working and enhancing colleague capability.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, effective risk management and strong governance controls.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including brokers, solicitors, valuation partners, Credit Risk and Compliance teams.
• Oversee third-party suppliers and outsourced services, ensuring high standards of service and customer delivery.
• Champion operational resilience and business continuity, ensuring the function remains resilient and responsive to change.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Regulatory knowledge

Analytical skills

Change management

Team development

Job description

The Nottingham Building Society is recruiting for Head of Mortgage Underwriting at Head Office in Nottingham. This senior role combines strategic leadership of mortgage origination and underwriting with robust governance and people development.

You will shape underwriting strategy, drive performance, ensure compliant lending and collaborate with brokers, solicitors and partners to deliver exceptional customer outcomes while overseeing third-party services and business continuity.