Underwriting Mobilisation Lead

Help Build a New Secured Lending Capability from the Ground Up

At Zempler, we're entering an exciting new chapter as we build our Commercial Real Estate (CRE) secured lending proposition.

To support this growth, we're looking for an experienced Underwriting Mobilisation Lead to design, implement and embed the underwriting capability required to launch and scale a new secured lending business.

This is a unique opportunity for an underwriting leader who enjoys building rather than simply maintaining. You'll work at the heart of a major mobilisation programme, designing underwriting frameworks, governance, controls, processes and future-state capabilities that will support the launch of a new Commercial Real Estate lending proposition.

By the end of the engagement, you will have helped create a fully functioning underwriting operation, transferred knowledge into permanent teams, and established the foundations for future growth.

The Opportunity

As Underwriting Mobilisation Lead, you'll be responsible for creating and embedding the underwriting capability required to support Zempler's entry into Commercial Real Estate lending.

Working closely with the Head of Secured Lending Mobilisation, Risk, Operations, Technology, Data and Decision Science teams, you'll help shape how underwriting operates today while influencing how it evolves in the future.

You'll play a key role in developing both the initial manual underwriting model and the future automated underwriting capability that will support scalable growth.

This is a delivery-focused role where success will be measured through outcomes, capability creation and operational readiness rather than ongoing business-as-usual management.

What You'll Be Doing

Build the Underwriting Operating Model

• Design the target underwriting operating model for secured lending.
• Define roles, responsibilities, governance structures and decision-making authorities.
• Establish workflows, escalation routes and referral pathways.
• Create clear hand-offs across Origination, Credit, Operations, Risk and other key functions.
• Ensure the underwriting framework is scalable, controlled and customer-focused.

Develop Underwriting Standards and Governance

• Design and implement underwriting frameworks and standards.
• Establish delegated lending authorities and governance structures.
• Create policy exception management processes and approval frameworks.
• Develop quality assurance, file review and control monitoring activities.
• Help ensure consistent, fair and well-governed underwriting outcomes.

Support Mobilisation and Launch Readiness

• Document end-to-end underwriting procedures and guidance.
• Support testing, validation and operational readiness activities.
• Define launch acceptance criteria and go-live requirements.
• Ensure underwriting processes, controls and governance are embedded ahead of launch.
• Contribute to successful mobilisation and early portfolio growth.

Shape Future Automated Underwriting Capability

• Define future-state automated underwriting requirements.
• Work closely with Decision Science, Data and Technology teams to document decision rules, workflows and controls.
• Support the development of scalable decisioning capabilities.
• Help ensure appropriate governance, transparency and customer outcomes are built into future automation.
• Contribute to the long-term vision for secured lending at Zempler.

Create MI, Controls and Management Frameworks

• Design underwriting management information and performance reporting.
• Establish governance packs and regular operating metrics.
• Create first-line control monitoring and oversight frameworks.
• Develop reporting that supports effective decision-making and portfolio management.
• Ensure leaders have meaningful insight into underwriting performance and quality.

Build Capability for the Future

• Support recruitment and organisational design activities.
• Create training materials and onboarding resources.
• Coach and develop permanent team members.
• Transfer knowledge, expertise and best practice into the future BAU function.
• Deliver a structured handover and capability transfer before the end of the engagement.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who combines deep underwriting expertise with experience building new capabilities, operating models and governance frameworks.

You'll likely bring:

• Extensive underwriting experience within commercial, real estate, specialist or secured lending environments.
• Experience designing and implementing underwriting operating models and governance frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of delegated authorities, underwriting controls and quality assurance processes.
• Experience supporting the launch of new lending products or propositions.
• The ability to work effectively across Risk, Operations, Technology, Data and Commercial teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Experience documenting processes, procedures and operating frameworks.
• A hands-on approach and passion for building sustainable capabilities.

Experience within challenger banks, specialist lenders, commercial real estate finance or lending transformation programmes would be highly beneficial.

You'll have the chance to:

• Design the underwriting capability that will underpin a new Commercial Real Estate proposition.
• Influence how underwriting, governance and controls are established from day one.
• Work alongside senior leaders across Product, Risk, Operations, Data and Technology.
• Help shape the future of automated and technology-enabled lending.
• Leave a lasting legacy through the creation of a scalable underwriting function.

If you enjoy taking ownership, creating structure from ambiguity, and building capabilities that make a genuine commercial impact, this role offers a unique challenge.

About Zempler

Formerly Cashplus Bank, Zempler is a British business bank dedicated to making financial services simpler and more accessible for UK businesses.

We're combining innovative technology, data-driven decision-making and human expertise to create better banking experiences for our customers. As we grow, we're looking for people who share our ambition to challenge convention and build something meaningful.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

At Zempler, we believe that diverse teams create better outcomes for our customers, colleagues and communities.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. If you're excited about this opportunity but don't meet every requirement, we'd still encourage you to apply.

If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we'll be happy to support you.