Director of Operations

Director of OperationsResidential Private Lending | Operations Leadership | Lakeland, FLBuild the Operating System Behind One of the Fastest Growing Private Lenders.At Central Lending, we're not simply growing, we're rebuilding what modern private lending should look like.

This year alone we'll fund more than 800 residential investment loans, and we're entering an exciting stage where operational excellence becomes our greatest competitive advantage.

We're looking for a Director of Operations who doesn't just manage people, they build systems.

Someone who has already solved the problems we're beginning to face.

Someone who's helped scale a private lending platform before and knows exactly what operational excellence looks like.

If you're energized by eliminating bottlenecks, leveraging technology, building scalable processes, and leading high-performing teams, we'd love to meet you.

Why Join Central LendingBuild, don't maintain.This isn't a role where you'll inherit a mature operation and simply keep it running. You'll help design the next chapter of our company.

Direct access to executive leadership.Work side-by-side with our Founder & CEO on strategic initiatives, operational improvements, and technology investments.

Make a measurable impact.Your work will directly improve customer experience, reduce operational costs, shorten closing timelines, and increase company profitability.

Help shape proprietary technology.Partner closely with our engineering team to improve our internal lending platform and implement AI-powered workflows that transform how lending operations function.

Lead an organization during rapid growth.We're evolving from a successful entrepreneurial company into a highly scalable lending platform—and operations sits at the center of that transformation.

The OpportunityAs Director of Operations, you'll own the operational engine that powers Central Lending.

You'll oversee the complete lending lifecycle while leading cross-functional operational teams responsible for processing, underwriting support, closing, servicing, and execution.

But this role goes far beyond people management.

You'll constantly ask questions like:

How can we remove friction?How can we automate this?How can we close faster without increasing risk?How do we create an exceptional borrower experience while lowering operational costs?This is a builder's role.

You'll report directly to the Founder/CEO and become one of the key leaders responsible for scaling the company over the next several years.

What You'll DoLead Lending OperationsOversee the operational execution of every loan from submission through fundingImprove communication and accountability across departmentsEnsure processing, underwriting, closing, and servicing operate as one unified systemCreate visibility into every stage of the loan pipelineBuild Better SystemsIdentify bottlenecks and eliminate unnecessary operational frictionDesign scalable workflows that improve efficiency and customer experienceContinuously refine SOPs, KPIs, dashboards, and operational reportingDrive measurable improvements in speed, quality, and profitabilityPartner with EngineeringTranslate operational challenges into software improvementsHelp prioritize new features and workflow enhancementsTest and implement new functionalityDrive automation and AI initiatives throughout the organizationLead High-Performing TeamsCoach and develop department leadersCreate accountability through clear KPIs and scorecardsFoster collaboration across multiple operational departmentsEnsure every team member understands how their work contributes to company goalsWhat Success Looks LikeWithin your first 6–12 months:

Loan closing timelines are significantly reducedOperational costs continue trending downwardDepartments work together with greater clarity and accountabilityCustomer experience improves across every stage of the lending processAI and automation replace repetitive manual workLeadership spends less time solving operational problems and more time growing the businessCentral Lending continues gaining market share through operational excellenceWho We're Looking ForWe're looking for someone who's already helped build what we're trying to become.

The ideal candidate brings experience from residential private lending, hard money lending, bridge lending, RTL, mortgage banking, or a similar lending environment and understands how to scale operations without sacrificing quality.

You thrive in fast-moving environments where every improvement matters.

You're highly analytical, detail-oriented, and naturally think in systems.

Most importantly, you're a builder—not a maintainer.

QualificationsRequired5+ years leading operations within residential private lending, mortgage banking, bridge lending, hard money, RTL, or similar lending environmentsExperience managing multi-disciplinary operations teamsStrong understanding of the residential loan lifecycleExperience improving operational efficiency through systems, technology, automation, or process redesignComfortable working alongside software engineers to improve internal technologyStrong leadership, communication, and organizational skillsPreferredExperience with proprietary lending platformsAI implementation or workflow automation experienceStrong understanding of APIs, integrations, and operational systemsExperience leading operational transformation within a high-growth organizationAdvanced experience with Monday.com or similar workflow platformsCompensation$150,000–$175,000 base salary + additional annual bonus About Central LendingCentral Lending is a technology-driven residential private lender focused on fix-and-flip, bridge, construction, and DSCR financing.

Our mission is simple:

Build the most efficient, technology-enabled lending platform in our industry while delivering an exceptional experience for borrowers, investors, and our team.

We're investing heavily in automation, AI, and proprietary technology—not to replace people, but to empower great operators to accomplish more.

If you're excited about building scalable operations that directly impact the future of private lending, we'd love to meet you.

Ready to Build Something Exceptional?If you've successfully scaled lending operations, enjoy solving complex operational challenges, and want the opportunity to build systems that will shape the future of a growing company, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today with your resume and complete the following job fit assessment:
https://TeamArchitects.asmt.io/X6FXPPWH6/DirectorofOperationsJob-Assessment