First Northern Credit Union
Director of Mortgage Operations
First Northern Credit Union, Rockford, Illinois, United States, 61103
Director of Mortgage Operations
If you are interested in working for a leader in the credit union industry, then we are looking for you! We are a dynamic company with growth opportunities. Our membership base consists of Commonwealth Edison, Exelon, Northwestern Medicine and Northwestern University employees and students, as well as a 12‑county community charter including Evanston and Rockford.
Company: First Northern Credit Union
Job Location(s): Rockford, IL – Hybrid/Remote
Start Date: March 2026
Employment Term: Regular
Employment Type: Full Time
Hours per Week: 40
Work Hours: Monday - Friday (daytime)
Salary/Benefit Notes: First Northern Credit Union offers a generous benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance, free life and disability plans, 401k with company match after 1 year of employment, annual performance, incentive plans and more.
Required Education: A bachelor's degree in finance, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred.
Required Experience: Minimum 7-10 years of experience in mortgage lending within a financial institution, with at least 3 years in a leadership or management role. Thorough knowledge of real‑estate loan origination, underwriting, and the secondary market (e.g., secondary market guidelines). Experience working in a credit union environment is preferred.
Position Purpose The Director of Mortgage Lending is a key leadership role responsible for the strategic direction, growth, and oversight of the credit union's residential Mortgage Department. This position involves managing nearly all facets of the mortgage lifecycle, from origination and processing to underwriting, closing (not servicing), while ensuring a high level of member service and strict adherence to all applicable state and federal regulations. The Director will drive process efficiencies, lead and develop a high‑performing team, and collaborate with senior management to meet the credit union's strategic lending goals in the territory we offer mortgages in.
In this role, you will also oversee the sales and business development functions related to the origination of first mortgages. You will be held responsible for achieving the assigned sales goals related to first mortgage loan growth and "other income" generation – including yield spread premiums, service retained income and fees. You will also need to develop overall business strategies for first mortgage product lines. You will ensure the Mortgage Operations Manager adheres to compliance and quality control related to FNCU's Mortgage Department. You will need to work with other departments to ensure that proper incoming business levels can be generated to support the Financial Service Department's required sales and production levels. You will create profitable and competitive first mortgage loan products through the research and development of them, through partnering with other businesses, and through the delivery and application process. As the Director of Mortgage Operations, mortgage related training will also be an area of responsibility – staff, member/borrower, and community training will be provided (or coordinated) by you, as required. You will oversee certain reporting functions of the department, including the Credit Committee, you would be expected to fully understand the policies, procedures, auditing and compliance (including issues associated with portfolio sales on the secondary market). You will assist the President/CEO with various tasks including participating in, and/or coordinating special departmental projects, product implementation, budgeting and specialized training, recertifications, etc. You will also have certain operational/budget functions related to our mortgage office facility, including building maintenance and tenant assistance. You will collaborate with our third‑party mortgage auditing firm, as well as with state and federal examiners, and other external auditing firms. Lastly, you may need to serve in a loan officer capacity, in back‑up scenarios, originating residential real‑estate mortgage loans as needed.
Please be advised that FNCU conducts credit checks and obtains consumer reports from consumer reporting agencies (including credit bureaus) for employment purposes only.
If you are interested in this employment opportunity, please email cover letter and resume to the email address provided.
EOE Drug‑free environment #J-18808-Ljbffr
Company: First Northern Credit Union
Job Location(s): Rockford, IL – Hybrid/Remote
Start Date: March 2026
Employment Term: Regular
Employment Type: Full Time
Hours per Week: 40
Work Hours: Monday - Friday (daytime)
Salary/Benefit Notes: First Northern Credit Union offers a generous benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance, free life and disability plans, 401k with company match after 1 year of employment, annual performance, incentive plans and more.
Required Education: A bachelor's degree in finance, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred.
Required Experience: Minimum 7-10 years of experience in mortgage lending within a financial institution, with at least 3 years in a leadership or management role. Thorough knowledge of real‑estate loan origination, underwriting, and the secondary market (e.g., secondary market guidelines). Experience working in a credit union environment is preferred.
Position Purpose The Director of Mortgage Lending is a key leadership role responsible for the strategic direction, growth, and oversight of the credit union's residential Mortgage Department. This position involves managing nearly all facets of the mortgage lifecycle, from origination and processing to underwriting, closing (not servicing), while ensuring a high level of member service and strict adherence to all applicable state and federal regulations. The Director will drive process efficiencies, lead and develop a high‑performing team, and collaborate with senior management to meet the credit union's strategic lending goals in the territory we offer mortgages in.
In this role, you will also oversee the sales and business development functions related to the origination of first mortgages. You will be held responsible for achieving the assigned sales goals related to first mortgage loan growth and "other income" generation – including yield spread premiums, service retained income and fees. You will also need to develop overall business strategies for first mortgage product lines. You will ensure the Mortgage Operations Manager adheres to compliance and quality control related to FNCU's Mortgage Department. You will need to work with other departments to ensure that proper incoming business levels can be generated to support the Financial Service Department's required sales and production levels. You will create profitable and competitive first mortgage loan products through the research and development of them, through partnering with other businesses, and through the delivery and application process. As the Director of Mortgage Operations, mortgage related training will also be an area of responsibility – staff, member/borrower, and community training will be provided (or coordinated) by you, as required. You will oversee certain reporting functions of the department, including the Credit Committee, you would be expected to fully understand the policies, procedures, auditing and compliance (including issues associated with portfolio sales on the secondary market). You will assist the President/CEO with various tasks including participating in, and/or coordinating special departmental projects, product implementation, budgeting and specialized training, recertifications, etc. You will also have certain operational/budget functions related to our mortgage office facility, including building maintenance and tenant assistance. You will collaborate with our third‑party mortgage auditing firm, as well as with state and federal examiners, and other external auditing firms. Lastly, you may need to serve in a loan officer capacity, in back‑up scenarios, originating residential real‑estate mortgage loans as needed.
Please be advised that FNCU conducts credit checks and obtains consumer reports from consumer reporting agencies (including credit bureaus) for employment purposes only.
If you are interested in this employment opportunity, please email cover letter and resume to the email address provided.
EOE Drug‑free environment #J-18808-Ljbffr