Director of Operations - Non QM Lending

TEAM ARCHITECTS; Salisbury (MD); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Performance upside

Job summary

Strategic Lending, based in Salisbury, MD, seeks a Director of Operations to own the operational engine behind its fast-growing Non-QM residential and commercial lending platform. This is a build, optimize, and scale role in a high-velocity environment.

You will lead across loan processing, underwriting coordination, and secondary market activities, driving efficiency, compliance, and strategic alignment with leadership on growth and capital deployment.

Qualifications

• Deep experience in Non-QM residential lending and/or commercial lending operations.
• Strong understanding of loan structuring, underwriting flow, and secondary market execution.
• Proven operator — you build, fix, and scale systems.
• Experience managing loan pipelines, investor relationships, and note sales.
• Detail-oriented but able to think strategically at a high level.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and optimize all operational functions across Non-QM residential and commercial lending platform.
• Oversee the full loan lifecycle — intake to funding to secondary market execution.
• Manage and streamline loan processing, underwriting coordination, closing, and post-closing workflows.
• Drive efficiency in secondary mortgage operations, including packaging and selling loans.
• Build and implement systems, SOPs, and workflows to increase speed, accuracy, and scalability.
• Ensure compliance across all lending activities and align with growth targets.

Skills

Non-QM lending

Commercial lending ops

Loan structuring

Underwriting flow

Secondary market execution

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Process improvement

Job description

Are you a high-level operator in the lending space who understands how to scale Non-QM and commercial lending platforms?

Do you thrive in environments where speed, precision, and execution drive real revenue?

We’re looking for a Director of Operations to take ownership of the operational engine behind a fast-growing lending business focused on Non-QM residential and commercial lending.

This is not a maintenance role — this is a build, optimize, and scale role.

Strategic Lending is a financial services and lending solutions company focused on helping individuals and businesses secure funding through a variety of loan products. Based in Salisbury, the company operates as a broker-style lender/financing partner, connecting clients with lending options tailored to their specific financial needs.

What You’ll Own

• Lead and optimize all operational functions across our Non-QM residential and commercial lending platform
• Oversee the full loan lifecycle — from intake to funding to secondary market execution (note sales)
• Manage and streamline loan processing, underwriting coordination, closing, and post-closing workflows
• Drive efficiency in secondary mortgage operations, including packaging and selling loans on the secondary market
• Build and implement systems, SOPs, and workflows that increase speed, accuracy, and scalability
• Ensure compliance across all lending activities, including Non-QM and commercial lending guidelines
• Work directly with leadership to align operations with growth targets and capital deployment strategies

Requirements

Who You Are

• Deep experience in Non-QM residential lending and/or commercial lending operations
• Strong understanding of loan structuring, underwriting flow, and secondary market execution
• Proven operator — you don’t just manage, you build, fix, and scale systems
• Experience managing loan pipelines, investor relationships, and note sales
• Detail-oriented but able to think strategically at a high level
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment where things move quickly

Requirements

• Based in Delaware or Maryland (proximity to Salisbury, MD preferred)
• Ability to be in-office quarterly (minimum)
• Strong leadership, communication, and execution skills

Benefits

What This Role Offers

• Opportunity to help build and scale a high-growth lending platform
• Direct access to leadership and involvement in strategic decision-making
• Competitive compensation + performance upside
• A seat at the table as we expand across Non-QM and commercial lending markets