PRODUCT SPECIALIST

Job Title: Product Development Specialist
Department: Product Development
Reports to: James Carmody, Product Development Manager 
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Prepared By: Human Resources
Prepared Date: December 19,2025
Management Approval: Chief Operating Officer

Location: Remote or local (Roseville, CA)

Compensation: $55,000 - $65,000 per year, based on experience and location.

Summary: The Product Specialist supports the mortgage company's strategic and operational objectives by launching new loan programs and managing the full lifecycle of mortgage loan programs.

The Production Specialist responsibilities include overseeing the maintenance and improvement of existing products, coordinating the implementation of new loan programs, and ensuring compliance with investor and agency guidelines. The role collaborates cross-functionally with multiple departments at APM, including but not limited to operations, underwriting, compliance, closing, capital markets, credit admin, scenarios, accounting, marketing, lender relations, information technology, training, sales and production, etc.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Develop and launch new loan products, including preparing guideline documents, business requirement documents, training materials, and rollout plans for loan programs prioritized and assigned by Product Development Manager.

• Implement loan program updates to existing loan programs as changes from correspondent investors are released. Monitor performance, eligibility changes, and investor updates for all existing loan programs being maintained by Product Development.

• Manage and track all incoming correspondent requests, questions, and program updates. • Problem solve program-related challenges as needed.
 • Act as subject matter loan program expert for operations and production teams.
 • Identify trends of policies, guidelines, and activity for correspondent loan programs.

• Track investor guides, announcements, and industry news that may impact product strategy. Analyze competitor products and market trends to recommend enhancements.

• Research like products and educate requesting parties on options to limit additional correspondent or wholesale lenders.
 • Generate trend and analysis reporting based on volume
 • Manage, and communicate annual renewal and investor scorecard outcomes for existing lenders that we recertify with.
 • Ensure training and support materials are provided for new and existing programs, program changes, eligibility, and pricing updates.
 • Maintain product matrix for all approved lenders. 
 • Maintain Smartsheet to identify outstanding and completed tasks on new programs in development.
 • Hold business requirement meetings as needed for program launches.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are
 representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Experience: 

• 3+ years of mortgage industry experience, ideally in product development, capital markets, closing, or underwriting
• Familiarity with a wide range of loan programs and investors, including but not limited to Agency, Non-Agency (Non-QM/Jumbo), DPA, Equity (HELOC/CES/ Bridge), Renovation, Construction, Investor Portfolio Programs, Specialty Programs, etc
• Strong analytical, communication, and project management skills.

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Problem Solving – Superior analytical, evaluative, and problem solving. Identifies and resolve problems promptly; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Interpersonal Skills – Proven leadership ability. Ability to set and manage priorities judiciously Maintains confidentiality; keeps emotions under control.

Oral Communication – Ability to present ideas in business friendly and user-friendly language. Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; participates in meetings.

Written Communication – Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.

Teamwork – Ability to motivate in a team-oriented, collaborative environment. Contributes to building a positive team spirit.

Attendance/Punctuality – Is consistently at work and on time, ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent.

Dependability – Follows instructions, responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions; keeps commitments; commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; complete tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Initiative – Exceptionally self-motivated and directed, pro-active. Volunteers readily; undertakes self-development activities; seeks increased responsibilities.

Innovation – Displays original thinking and creativity; generates suggestions for improving work.

Education: High School Diploma or equivalent. Secondary marketing, pricing knowledge a plus.

Skills:

Language Skills: Ability to read and interpret documents, writes routine correspondence. Ability to speak effectively with investors/customers/vendors or other employees.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situation.

Computer Skills: Sound working knowledge of computer and office software operations and systems.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk and stop.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level and temperature in the work environment is usually moderate.