Head of Underwriting – Bridging & Specialist BTL Mortgages

About the role

We are partnering with a Hampshire‑based lender to find a Head of Underwriting who will lead the underwriting function for Bridging and Specialist Buy‑to‑Let (BTL) mortgages. This senior position combines strategic oversight with hands‑on decision‑making in a fast‑moving specialist lending environment.

Key responsibilities

• Hold and exercise a delegated personal lending mandate across Bridging and Specialist BTL cases.
• Lead the end‑to‑end underwriting lifecycle for complex, time‑critical transactions.
• Ensure every bridging loan has a robust, credible, and verified exit strategy.
• Assess non‑standard BTL structures such as Ltd Co, HMO, MUFB and Expat portfolios.
• Develop, mentor and manage a team of underwriters, embedding commercial but prudent decision‑making.
• Own underwriting performance against SLAs, speed‑to‑offer and quality metrics.
• Present complex cases to the Credit Committee and influence credit and risk policy.
• Build strong relationships with brokers, solicitors and valuation partners.
• Champion governance, regulatory compliance (SMCR, FCA) and excellent customer outcomes.

Required profile

• Proven experience in manual underwriting within Bridging and Specialist BTL lending.
• Deep expertise in non‑standard lending and complex property/income structures.
• Experience operating with delegated lending authority and presenting to Credit Committees.
• Strong understanding of FCA regulation across regulated and non‑regulated lending.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop and motivate a specialist underwriting team.
• Excellent stakeholder management across intermediary and professional panels.

Required skills

What we offer

• Competitive salary up to £120k per year.
• Performance bonus linked to individual and company results.
• Generous contributory pension and life assurance.
• 28 days’ holiday plus the option to buy/sell 5 days and an additional paid volunteering day.
• Private healthcare, gym discounts and season‑ticket travel loans.
• Supportive, inclusive culture where your work has real impact.