Department Manager Jobs in Park Ridge, NJ (NOW HIRING)

About World Business Lenders 

• At World Business Lenders (WBL), we provide flexible, short-term commercial loans backed by real estate to help small and medium-sized businesses across the United States — particularly those facing difficulties with traditional financing. We're a fast-moving, results-driven organization that takes security seriously as we continue to grow.
• This is a Full-Time Independent Contractor role with working hours from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. We request that all CVs be submitted in English.
  

• The Closing Department Manager is responsible for leading the end-to-end mortgage closing function, ensuring loans are closed accurately, efficiently, and in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• This role oversees closing operations, manages internal teams and external title and settlement partners, provides guidance on complex legal and title matters, and collaborates closely with Underwriting, Credit, Processing, and Funding to drive operational excellence, mitigate risk, and support timely loan funding.
  

• Standardize closing procedures, legal checklists, and document standards to ensure compliant, error-free loan closings.
• Improve Clear-to-Close turnaround times by streamlining legal and documentation workflows.
• Strengthen quality control processes to reduce post-closing defects and mitigate legal risk.
• Build strong partnerships with closing attorneys, title companies, and settlement agents to improve service levels and operational efficiency.
• Serve as the legal and operational expert on complex transactions, supporting sound deal structuring and timely loan funding.

What You'll Be Doing (Key Responsibilities)

• Lead the Closing Team – Manage and develop closing staff while ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant loan closings.
• Oversee End-to-End Closings – Direct the closing process from Clear-to-Close (CTC) through funding, ensuring all legal, title, and funding conditions are satisfied.
• Provide Legal Oversight – Review and approve loan documents, title commitments, settlement statements, and legal exceptions to protect the company's collateral position.
• Manage Attorney & Title Relationships – Oversee closing attorneys, title companies, settlement agents, and escrow partners, establishing performance expectations and service levels.
• Resolve Complex Closing Issues – Serve as the primary escalation point for title defects, lien priority, vesting issues, legal disputes, and state-specific closing requirements.
• Ensure Regulatory Compliance – Maintain compliance with federal and state lending regulations, investor requirements, and company policies throughout the closing process.
• Partner with Cross-Functional Teams – Collaborate with Underwriting, Credit, Processing, Valuations, and Funding to resolve issues quickly and keep loans on schedule.
• Drive Process Improvement – Develop SOPs, implement quality controls, and streamline workflows to reduce closing cycle times and post-closing defects.
• Monitor Operational Performance – Track KPIs such as clear-to-close turnaround, closing cycle time, funding accuracy, defect rates, and attorney/title vendor performance.
• Support Complex Deal Structuring – Advise leadership on legal risks, document requirements, and transaction structures for complex or exception-based loans.

Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor's, Associate's, or equivalent legal education (including a J.D.) preferred.

Years of Experience:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in mortgage closing operations, title, escrow, or lending.
  

Must-Have Requirements

Please ensure you meet all of the following before applying:

• Extensive experience reviewing mortgage loan documentation, title matters, and legal closing requirements.
• Proven leadership experience managing closing teams, workflows, and third-party partners, including title companies, settlement agents, and closing attorneys.
• Strong knowledge of mortgage closing documentation, title review, lien perfection, and regulatory compliance, including TRID, RESPA, and TILA.
• Experience resolving complex closing, title, funding, and legal issues while ensuring timely and compliant loan closings.
  

Remote Work Requirements

• Stable, reliable internet connection.
• Professional and dedicated remote working setup.

Preferred Background / Industry Experience:

• Experience in Non-QM mortgage lending or Merchant Cash Advance (MCA).
  

Key Soft Skills:

• Leadership & Decision Making – Leads the closing team with confidence, makes timely legal and operational decisions, and drives accountability.
• Attention to Detail – Meticulously reviews legal documents, title matters, and closing packages to ensure accuracy and protect lien position.
• Communication & Negotiation – Clearly communicates with borrowers, attorneys, title companies, and internal stakeholders while effectively resolving conflicts and negotiating solutions.
• Problem Solving – Quickly identifies and resolves complex legal, title, funding, and closing issues to keep transactions on schedule.
• Organization & Prioritization – Effectively manages a high-volume closing pipeline, balancing competing priorities while consistently meeting deadlines and maintaining compliance.

Specific Technical Skills Needed:

• Mortgage Closing & Legal Expertise – Extensive knowledge of residential mortgage closings, loan documentation, title, escrow, and funding processes, preferably within the Non-QM or private lending sector.
• Real Estate & Lending Law – Strong understanding of mortgage law, lien perfection, title defects, vesting, UCC filings, state-specific closing requirements, and regulatory compliance (TRID, RESPA, TILA, etc.).
• Loan Documentation Review – Expertise reviewing and approving promissory notes, mortgages/deeds of trust, guaranties, settlement statements, payoff letters, and closing instructions.
• Title & Settlement Management – Ability to interpret title commitments, resolve title objections, coordinate with title companies and closing attorneys, and ensure first-lien perfection.
• Loan Origination & Closing Systems – Proficiency with Loan Origination Systems (e.g., Encompass), document preparation platforms, e-signature tools, and Microsoft Excel.
• Risk & Quality Control – Experience implementing legal quality controls, managing closing exceptions, minimizing post-closing defects, and ensuring investor and regulatory compliance..

Benefits

What We Offer

???? Compensation includes a base salary at $65,000-$85,000.

????️ Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage; a 401(k) with company match; and paid holidays and paid time off (PTO).

???? Work Environment: Fully remote work environment, with occasional travel as needed for leadership off-sites and corporate events.

Ready to Apply?

If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you - submit your CV in English and hit Apply!