Direct Origination Specialist

Job Description 

Department: Direct Origination
Reports To: Chief Strategy Officer (CSO)
Day-to-Day Oversight: Direct Origination Team Lead
Location: In-office only – Seal Beach, California (Corporate Office)
Base Salary: Starting at $70,400 annually (California compliant)
Additional Compensation: Performance-based bonus (No commission) 

Role Overview 

The Direct Origination Specialist (DOS) is a salaried, execution-focused originator responsible for converting FSF-generated borrower demand into funded loans. This role operates in a high-volume, performance-driven environment and requires consistent borrower outreach, disciplined follow-up, and strong execution from first contact through funding. 

This is not a traditional loan originator role. Direct Origination Specialists do not self-source business, set pricing, negotiate loan terms, or manage an independent book of business. Instead, the role is designed for professionals who can work warm, qualified CRE and SFR leads at scale, maintain rigorous CRM discipline, and drive loans to close through consistent phone, email, and SMS engagement. 

The position provides income stability through a salaried base while maintaining clear performance expectations and accountability. 

In-Office Requirement:  This position is fully in-office at FSF’s Seal Beach corporate office. 

• No remote or hybrid option 
• Daily in-person collaboration with Direct Origination, Operations, and Underwriting teams 
• Real-time coaching, escalation, and execution support 

This structure is intentional and designed to support execution speed, quality control, and team accountability. 

Execution & Outreach Expectations:  This role requires sustained daily effort and proactive borrower engagement. 

Direct Origination Specialists are expected to: 

• Work a high volume of FSF-sourced warm and recycled leads 
• Perform frequent outbound calling to qualified CRE and SFR prospects 
• Execute structured follow-up cadences via phone, email, and SMS 
• Maintain same-day and multi-touch engagement standards 
• Actively manage pipeline momentum from initial contact through funding 
• Convert marketing-qualified leads into underwriting-ready applications 

This is a phone- and CRM-intensive role. Candidates must be comfortable with consistent outreach and measurable activity expectations. 

Core Responsibilities 

• Immediate response to assigned inbound leads 
• Borrower, property, and exit strategy qualification 
• Application intake and documentation collection 
• Preparation of underwriting-ready loan packages 
• Coordination with underwriting, closing, and funding teams 
• Ongoing borrower communication and status updates 
• Accurate CRM management and documentation of all activity 
• Adherence to FSF quality, compliance, and execution standards 

Performance Expectations 

• Consistent SLA-compliant borrower response times 
• High-quality, underwriting-ready file submissions 
• Strong approval-to-funding pull-through 
• Disciplined follow-up and engagement activity 
• Positive borrower experience feedback 
• Full compliance with FSF processes and documentation standards 

Why This Role 

This role is ideal for professionals who want security without complacency, stable compensation paired with real performance expectations. 

Qualifications 

• Experience in residential or private lending origination, processing, or underwriting support preferred 
• Comfort with high-volume outbound calling and follow-up 
• Strong organizational and communication skills 
• Ability to execute in a structured, metrics-driven environment 
• Familiarity with DSCR, bridge, or fix-and-flip lending preferred 
• CRM experience required 

Meet Foundation:  

Foundation Specialty Finance is a tech-enabled specialty finance company transforming how real estate capital is deployed, managed, and resolved. Based in Seal Beach, California, we bring together decades of industry experience to deliver fully integrated Special Servicing, Loan Origination, and a Digital Marketplace—powered by our proprietary platform, ACHIEVE™. 

We serve financial institutions across the country, including private lenders, regional banks, and private equity firms. Our loan programs and acquisition strategies span non-owner-occupied residential properties, small-balance commercial real estate, and CRE loans originated by third parties. ACHIEVE™ offers real-time access to pricing, asset data, and loan-level decisioning across the full investment lifecycle. 

At the helm is Ron McMahan, CEO and Founder. With over 25 years in capital markets, distressed asset management, and fund oversight, Ron has raised more than $6 billion in debt and equity and overseen the acquisition and resolution of over 20,000 assets. He previously led American Mortgage Investment Partners (AMIP), where many of the strategies now embedded in ACHIEVE™ were first developed. His leadership is grounded in disciplined growth, operational excellence, and investor performance. 

Foundation continues to scale through technology, talent, and a sharp focus on market opportunity, positioning the firm as a trusted partner to institutions across the real estate finance landscape. 

FOUNDATION is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. We look forward to hearing from you!