Principal Appraisal Underwriting Strategy & Governance

The role:

We are seeking a visionary Home Loans and Commercial Valuation Strategy & Governance to serve as the organization’s definitive Subject Matter Expert (SME) on all things property value. In this high-impact role you will be the architect of our enterprise valuation strategy across Conventional Jumbo FHA/VA/USDA Closed-End Seconds (CES) HELOC and Commercial (CRE/MF).

As the enterprise owner of valuation policy you will design the "Valuation Engine" of the future—moving away from manual one-size-fits-all workflows toward a sophisticated risk-tiered approach that utilizes appraisals evaluations and AVMs based on data-driven complexity triggers. You will lead the transition to an analytics-led operating model intervening directly on high-risk/complex files while automating the routine through rigorous governance.

What you’ll do: 

1. Property SME & Market Intelligence

Enterprise SME: Serve as the final authority on property valuation trends and risks across both Residential and Commercial (CRE/MF) asset classes.

Market Analysis: Maintain a deep understanding of the macro and micro-economic drivers of the housing and commercial markets.

Advisory: Provide strategic counsel to business line leaders and Credit Policy on how market shifts should impact lending appetite and collateral requirements.

1. HPI Oversight & Housing Surveillance Framework

Model Ownership: Exercise full oversight of House Price Index (HPI) models ensuring they accurately capture market movements and volatility.

Surveillance Framework: Build and maintain a comprehensive Housing Surveillance Framework. Use HPI models and external data to monitor regional trends identify price bubbles and establish geographic "hot zone" triggers.

Proactive Risk Management: Integrate surveillance outputs directly into the "Valuation Engine" to automatically escalate scrutiny in volatile markets.

1. Valuation Strategy Policy & Model Risk

Strategic Tiering: Define risk tiers and set coverage rules (Appraisal vs. Evaluation vs. AVM) based on exposure complexity and surveillance triggers.

The Policy Stack: Own and govern the complete policy suite including Real-Estate Valuation Evaluation Policy Reconsideration of Value (ROV) Framework and AVM Strategy.

Model Governance: Select and govern AVMs. Lead the program for testing back-testing and challenger modeling.

Quality & Fairness: Implement random-sample validation and bias/fairness checks. Publish performance scorecards and remediation plans to ensure alignment with OCC/Interagency guidance.

1. Strategic Partnerships & Execution

Cross-Functional Leadership: Coordinate with Credit Policy Model Risk Compliance/Fair Lending and Originations/Servicing to drive a seamless compliant valuation process.

RACI & Reporting: Define the enterprise RACI for valuation decisions; establish a monthly/quarterly reporting cadence for KRIs and KPIs to executive leadership.

What you’ll need:

• Experience: 15+ years of related experience in Real Estate Valuation Housing Economics or Collateral Risk Management.
• Education: Minimum Education Requirements such as:  Bachelor’s Degree or Higher
• SME Status: Deep technical knowledge of HPI modeling and a mastery of both Residential and Commercial property markets.
• Regulatory Mastery: Expert-level understanding of USPAP Interagency Appraisal and Evaluation Guidelines and AVM Quality Control expectations.
• Analytical Depth: Ability to build data-driven surveillance frameworks and manage complex model-risk environments.
• Influence: Proven ability to drive results through partnership moving the organization toward a sophisticated tech-enabled valuation future.
• Vision: A track record of transforming manual legacy processes into tech-enabled automated and risk-sensitive operating models.

What We Do

SoFi wasn’t built to be a bank. Or a technology company. We were built for one mission: help people achieve financial independence so they can realize their ambitions. Redefining an entire industry isn’t easy work—and it’s not for the faint of heart. It takes a certain kind of team. People with diverse perspectives and expertise united by a common sense of purpose. People willing to challenge assumptions but always do the right thing. People proving that innovation and responsibility don’t have to compete but can come together to create something truly unconventional in the world. For the last eight years we’ve been charting this new path forward. We call it The SoFi Way. At SoFi we don’t just talk about culture: we live it. The SoFi Way is how we show up every day how we make decisions and how we build for our members clients and each other.

Why Work With Us

Together with our members we’re changing the way people think about and interact with personal finance. We’re a next-generation Fintech company using innovative mobile-first technology to help our members reach their goals. The industry is going through an unprecedented transformation and we’re at the forefront.

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