Senior Director, Underwriting Strategies

Sallie Mae; Newark (DE); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salaries

Bonus incentives

Generous PTO and holidays

401k with employer match

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision

Flexible hybrid working arrangements

Parental leave and adoption assistance

Wellness programs

Job summary

Sallie Mae is seeking a Senior Director of Underwriting Strategy to lead design, development, and optimization of credit underwriting across the organization. You will balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution to drive growth, risk management, and strong customer outcomes.

The role partners with Credit Risk, Product, Compliance, Operations, Analytics, and Technology to translate insights into actionable solutions that deliver measurable results and sustain responsible lending

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in credit risk, underwriting strategy, or related functions within consumer lending.
• Proven leadership experience managing teams and influencing cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with proficiency in data driven decision making.
• Deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and risk management principles.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement underwriting strategies aligned with business objectives, risk appetite, and regulatory requirements.
• Own underwriting strategies end-to-end, from concept development and business case creation through implementation and post-launch evaluation.
• Lead strategy testing, policy enhancements, and decisioning improvements to drive portfolio performance and customer outcomes.
• Collaborate across Credit Risk, Product, Compliance, Operations, Analytics, and Technology teams to drive successful implementation of underwriting strategies.
• Ensure governance and regulatory compliance including ECOA, UDAAP, and FDIC guidance.

Skills

Credit risk

Underwriting strategy

Leadership

Data-driven decision making

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Economics/Business

Job description

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.

We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.

Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.

We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.

This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.

Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.

We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.

Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.

What You'll Contribute

The Senior Director of Underwriting Strategy will lead the design, development, implementation, and optimization of credit underwriting strategies across the organization. This role is responsible for balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution, ensuring sound risk management practices while driving business growth, operational excellence, and customer outcomes.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable defining long‑term underwriting strategy and personally leading high‑impact initiatives through implementation, testing, monitoring, and continuous improvement. This individual will partner closely with Credit Risk, Product, Compliance, Operations, Analytics, and Technology teams to transform insights into actionable solutions that deliver measurable results.

What You’ll Do

Strategy Development, Implementation & Optimization (40%)

• Design, develop, and implement underwriting strategies aligned with business objectives, risk appetite, and regulatory requirements.
• Own underwriting strategies end-to-end, from concept development and business case creation through implementation and post-launch evaluation.
• Develop and optimize income verification frameworks and capacity-to-repay methodologies using data-driven insights.
• Lead strategy testing, policy enhancements, and decisioning improvements to drive portfolio performance and customer outcomes.
• Partner with Technology and Operations teams to translate strategy into implementation-ready requirements and ensure successful execution.
• Monitor strategy effectiveness and drive ongoing enhancements based on performance results.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Execution (25%)

• Lead and mentor a team of underwriting strategy professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Serve as a hands‑on leader who balances team development with direct ownership of critical strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate across Credit Risk, Product, Compliance, Operations, Analytics, and Technology teams to drive successful implementation of underwriting strategies.
• Represent underwriting strategy in governance forums and provide thoughtful challenge and recommendations on proposed changes.
• Influence senior leadership through data-driven insights, strategic recommendations, and execution plans.

Analysis, Testing & Continuous Improvement (20%)

• Conduct deep‑drive analyses of portfolio performance, underwriting effectiveness, market trends, and customer outcomes.
• Identify opportunities, quantify impact, and develop actionable recommendations that improve business performance.
• Lead champion/challenger testing, strategy evaluations, and performance assessments of underwriting policies and decision strategies.
• Drive automation, process improvements, and operational efficiencies to enhance customer experience and decision quality.
• Use data and analytics to diagnose issues, develop solutions, and deliver measurable results.

Governance & Regulatory Compliance (15%)

• Ensure adherence to internal policies, risk management standards, and regulatory requirements, including ECOA, UDAAP, and applicable FDIC guidance.
• Maintain underwriting standards, governance documentation, and exception management processes.
• Partner with Compliance and Legal teams to ensure fair lending principles and regulatory expectations are embedded within underwriting strategies.
• Support examinations, audits, and regulatory reviews as needed.

The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job; it is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees in this role.

What You Have

Minimum:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in credit risk, underwriting strategy, or related functions within consumer lending.
• Proven leadership experience managing teams and influencing cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with proficiency in data driven decision making.
• Deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and risk management principles.

Preferred:

• Expertise in credit scoring models and decisioning systems.
• Familiarity with income verification automation and capacity to repay methodologies.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for executive level reporting.

The Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination by employers, in compensation and employment opportunities, against qualified individuals with disabilities who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the “essential functions” of a job. A function may be essential for any of several reasons, including: the job exists to perform that function, the employee holding the job was hired for his/her expertise in performing the function, or only a limited number of employees are available to perform that function.

Feeling your best helps you do your best:

Our benefits take care of the whole you—so you can build your work around your life (not the other way around!).

• Competitive base salaries
• Bonus incentives
• Generous PTO, Floating Holidays and 12 Federal Holidays observed
• Support for financial‑well-being and retirement 401k with employer match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance and more
• Employer paid short-term/long-term disability and basic life insurance
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements.
• Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs
• Free access to on‑site staffed fitness centers (in Delaware) and gym subsidy (for locations outside Delaware)
• Confidential counseling support (EAP), Health Advocacy services and Wellness program with financial incentives
• Tuition Reimbursement and Family Scholarship Programs
• Career development and training opportunities

Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process.

Sallie Mae is proud to be an equal opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, gender identity, disability, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Sallie Mae is proud to be an equal opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, gender identity, disability, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.