Underwriting Manager

Zippy was founded with one mission: to make getting a loan for a manufactured home simple, fast, and fully online. We believe modern manufactured homes are affordable, well-built, eco-friendly, and stylish, but finding a lender who understands this market can be challenging. That’s why Zippy focuses exclusively on manufactured home loans, offering a seamless, digital experience.

Headquartered in Dallas, TX, with an office in Tempe, AZ, Zippy provides home loans and insurance to manufactured home buyers throughout the United States. Our remote-first team is spread across cities like Dallas, Houston, Knoxville, Omaha, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and several other states and cities. Backed by institutional investors, we offer competitive pay, stock options, and excellent benefits. At Zippy, we pride ourselves on our commitment to finance happiness through the power of home. We are dedicated to enhancing consumers' financial outcomes and tackling the affordable housing crisis through cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions.

The Underwriting Manager oversees the underwriting department, ensuring all policies, loans, and financial products align with company guidelines, risk standards, and regulatory requirements. This role leads a team of underwriters, reviews complex cases, develops and implements strategies, and drives performance, profitability, and risk management goals.

• Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of underwriters and underwriting assistants.

• Establish clear performance goals, monitor results, and ensure accuracy, productivity, and adherence to timelines.

• Execute departmental strategies to achieve key metrics, providing regular coaching, feedback, and motivation to empower team success.

• Provide ongoing training and professional development to maintain consistency and expertise across the team.

• Set the standard for effective communication and collaboration within the department, across functions, and with senior leadership.

• Partner with other managers to align on priorities and influence overall business direction.

• Review and approve complex or high-value applications within delegated authority levels.

• Ensure consistent application of underwriting policies, procedures, and best practices.

• Monitor underwriting quality and risk exposure across portfolios, aligning decisions with company risk appetite and compliance requirements.

• Collaborate with sales, compliance, QA, and processing teams to support business objectives and maintain regulatory alignment.

• Stay current on market trends, emerging risks, and competitor practices to inform risk management and underwriting strategies.

• Contribute to the development and refinement of underwriting policies, pricing strategies, and product guidelines.

• Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.

• Introduce effective systems for managing initiatives and workflows across upstream and downstream processes.

• Escalate procedural issues to QA or Risk for updates and seek clarity to maintain operational integrity.

• Support technology and automation initiatives to enhance underwriting systems and data-driven decision-making.

• Provide expert guidance and support to operators and dealers on underwriting criteria, policies, and issues.

• Participate in client meetings to discuss terms, negotiate agreements, and resolve complex situations.

• Deliver underwriting insights, portfolio analyses, and performance reports to senior management.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Risk Management, or a related field (Master’s preferred).

• Experience: 5–10 years of underwriting experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership or managerial role.

• Certifications (Preferred): CPCU, ACII, ARM, or other relevant professional designations.

• Strong analytical and decision-making abilities.

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.

• Proficiency with underwriting software and data analysis tools.

• Deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and market trends in relevant industries (insurance, mortgage, commercial lending, etc.).

Important Applicant Information

• While many of our interviews are conducted virtually, all applicants should be prepared to potentially meet in person as part of the process.

• As a participating employer, we will use E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility.

• Please note that we are currently only hiring candidates who reside in the following states: Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. Applicants that do not reside in the bolded states will be rejected.

Total Rewards

At Zippy, we're passionate about creating a workplace where people love to work. We put a lot of heart into building and nurturing a company culture that not only supports our team but also inspires them to do their best work.

Our benefits and perks are always evolving, but here’s what we offer right now:

• Competitive Compensation: We offer a competitive salary with the potential for annual bonuses and variable pay, depending on your skills and experience.

• Equity for All: As a part of our commitment to shared success, all employees receive equity in the company, allowing you to share in the growth and achievements of Zippy.

• Remote Work: Enjoy the flexibility of working from home in a dynamic, remote-first environment.

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: We provide medical, dental, and vision insurance, along with company-subsidized benefits like STD, LTD, and life insurance for you and your family.

• Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of medical & dependent care FSAs to help manage your expenses.

• Training & Licensing Support: We invest in your professional growth with resources for training and licensing.

• Paid Time Off: We offer generous PTO—and we encourage you to use it!

• Wellbeing Programs: Access a variety of wellbeing resources, including Headspace, Gympass+, Fetch, Spring Health, SoFi, Perkspot, Ladder, and more through our Sequoia Wellbeing Programs.

• Parental Leave: We provide paid parental leave to support you and your growing family.

• No Meeting Wednesdays: Enjoy a mid-week break from meetings to focus and recharge.

• Vibrant Slack Community: Engage with colleagues in our lively remote Slack community, featuring fun channels that connect people around shared interests like travel, pets, sports, food, and more.

• Career Growth: We believe in promoting from within, offering you opportunities to grow your career with us.

Beyond the tangible benefits:

• Core Values: At the heart of everything we do are our core values: Lead with Passion, Own It, Build a Better Way, Results Driven, and The Golden Rule. These values guide our decisions, shape our culture, and inspire us to achieve our best every day.

• Join a Growing Team: Be part of a dynamic team at a pivotal moment in Zippy’s growth, where every contribution makes a significant impact.

• Innovative Work: Collaborate with sharp, passionate teammates to tackle unique challenges in the Manufactured Housing market, positioning our product as a top-tier lending solution.

• Supportive Culture: You’ll be welcomed into a collaborative environment that fosters camaraderie, respect, and a deep sense of belonging.

• Diversity & Inclusion: We’re committed to empowering a diverse and inclusive workforce, celebrating our differences, and ensuring everyone feels safe to bring their whole selves to work.

• Inspirational Leadership: Work alongside leaders who are not only approachable but also dedicated to providing guidance, mentorship, and support to help you succeed.

• Meaningful Impact: Be part of a mission-driven team that’s making housing more affordable for everyone, helping prospective buyers secure fast and simple online loans to purchase manufactured homes. By joining Zippy you will help improve the lives of over 22 million Americans who live in manufactured homes today.

Zippy is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or marital status. If you are excited about the role but do not meet 100% of the qualifications listed above, we encourage you to apply. Nothing in this job posting should be construed as an offer or guarantee of employment.