Position Summary
The Vice President, Legal & Compliance serves as BrightShore Mortgage's senior legal, regulatory, governance, and compliance executive, providing strategic leadership and practical business counsel in support of BrightShore’s continued growth while protecting the organization from legal, regulatory, operational, financial, and reputational risk. This role oversees BrightShore’s legal affairs, Compliance Management System (CMS), corporate governance, enterprise licensing, regulatory change management, enterprise risk initiatives, and compliance operations, ensuring BrightShore operates with integrity, transparency, and full compliance with applicable federal and state laws, agency requirements, investor guidelines, and corporate policies.
The Vice President partners closely with executive leadership to provide timely legal guidance, evaluate business initiatives, negotiate and review contracts, oversee regulatory examinations, support licensing activities, direct corporate governance, and strengthen BrightShores’ compliance framework. This role develops practical, risk-based solutions that balance regulatory expectations with operational efficiency while supporting innovation, technology adoption, automation, artificial intelligence, and continued organizational growth.
Working collaboratively across the organization, the Vice President leads legal, compliance, governance, licensing, vendor risk management, policy administration, oversight of regulatory and compliance training, and enterprise compliance initiatives while fostering a proactive culture of accountability, ethical decision-making, and continuous improvement. This position serves as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies, outside legal counsel, investors, auditors, licensing authorities, and other external business partners on legal and compliance matters affecting the organization.
Success in this role requires exceptional legal judgment, business acumen, executive leadership, and the ability to translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into practical operational solutions. Through strategic leadership, sound counsel, proactive risk management, and a commitment to operational excellence, the Vice President, Legal & Compliance helps safeguard BrightShore's long-term success while reinforcing the Company's pillars of Leadership, Raving Fans, Transparency, High Performance, and Tenacity.
Core Competencies:
- Provides strategic legal counsel to enable continied business growth while protecting the organization from legal, regulatory, operational, financial, and reputational risk
- Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of mortgage servicing laws, regulations, agency requirements, investor guidelines, corporate governance, contract law, privacy regulations, and enterprise risk management principles
- Provides practical, risk-based legal guidance by translating complex legal and regulatory requirements into operationally effective business solutions
- Demonstrates executive leadership in developing, implementing, and continuously improving BrightShore’s Compliance Management System (CMS), governance framework, and enterprise compliance programs
- Maintains exceptional business judgment by balancing legal risk, regulatory expectations, operational efficiency, customer experience, and strategic business objectives
- Oversees enterprise licensing, regulatory reporting, corporate governance, entity management, board governance, and corporate recordkeeping while ensuring ongoing compliance with applicable requirements and regulations
- Demonstrates strong expertise in contract negotiation, contract drafting, vendor agreements, client contracts, technology agreements, confidentiality agreements, servicing agreements, and other commercial legal matters
- Maintains working knowledge of federal and state mortgage servicing laws and regulations, including RESPA, TILA, FDCPA, FCRA, UDAAP, Fair Lending, AML, BSA, SCRA, GLBA, privacy requirements, state servicing laws, and agency servicing guidelines
- Demonstrates leadership in enterprise risk management by proactively identifying legal, regulatory, operational, cybersecurity, third-party, and compliance risks while implementing practical mitigation strategies
- Demonstrates exceptional communication and negotiation skills while interacting with executive leadership, boards, regulators, investors, outside counsel, auditors, clients, vendors, and government agencies
- Promotes a proactive culture of ethics, accountability, transparency, and regulatory excellence throughout the organization
- Leverages technology, automation, artificial intelligence, workflow solutions, and data analytics to strengthen legal operations, compliance monitoring, contract management, governance, and regulatory reporting
- Demonstrates strategic leadership by anticipating emerging legal, regulatory, technology, and industry trends while preparing the organization for future regulatory and operational challenges
- Serves as a trusted strategic advisor to executive leadership by providing timely, practical, and business-oriented legal counsel to enable informed decision-making while appropriately managing enterprise risk
- Demonstrates the ability to build scalable governance frameworks, compliance programs, and legal processes that support rapid organizational growth while maintaining regulatory integrity and operational excellence
- Upholds BrightShore's pillars of Leadership, Raving Fans, Transparency, High Performance, and Tenacity through ethical leadership, sound judgment, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement
Supervisor Responsibilities (if applicable):
Leadership
- Establish a culture of integrity, accountability, collaboration, and sound judgment Provide strategic leadership, coaching, mentoring, and professional development opportunities that empower team members to achieve individual and organizational success
- Set clear expectations, establish measurable performance goals, provide timely feedback, and promote continuous learning and career development
- Build a high-performing team by recruiting, developing, and retaining talented professionals while fostering engagement, innovation, and operational excellence
- Lead by example through ethical decision-making, professionalism, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to BrightShore's mission, vision, and values
Raving Fans
- Promote a service-first culture by delivering timely, practical, and solution-oriented legal and compliance support to internal and external stakeholders
- Develop trusted partnerships with employees, clients, regulators, investors, vendors, and business partners through responsiveness, professionalism, and exceptional service
- Encourage proactive communication and collaboration that builds confidence, trust, and long-term business relationships
- Continuously evaluate opportunities to improve the client, regulator, and stakeholder experience while maintaining regulatory integrity
Transparency
- Promote open, honest, and timely communication across all levels of the organization
- Provide executive leadership with clear, practical, and actionable legal and compliance guidance that supports informed business decisions
- Maintain accurate documentation, governance records, compliance reporting, and audit readiness while fostering organizational accountability
- Encourage ethical reporting, constructive dialogue, and a culture where concerns may be raised without fear of retaliation
High Performance
- Establish measurable objectives, key performance indicators, and accountability standards that drive operational excellenceContinuously evaluate departmental processes, technology, automation, artificial intelligence, and reporting capabilities to improve efficiency, scalability, and risk management
- Promote data-driven decision-making by leveraging analytics, operational metrics, and regulatory reporting to guide strategic initiatives
- Encourage continuous improvement, innovation, and disciplined execution in support of BrightShore's long-term strategic objectives
Tenacity
- Demonstrate resilience and sound judgment while navigating complex legal, regulatory, operational, and organizational challenges
- Lead the organization through regulatory changes, examinations, investigations, audits, litigation, and strategic initiatives with confidence and professionalism
- Encourage creative problem-solving, adaptability, and persistence in overcoming obstacles while maintaining compliance and protecting BrightShore’s interests
- Champion a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement, inspiring others to pursue excellence and deliver meaningful results
Duties/Responsibilities
- Serve as BrightShore’s primary legal advisor, providing practical, timely, and strategic counsel to executive leadership on legal, regulatory, operational, contractual, governance, and business matters
- Lead and continuously enhance BrightShore's enterprise Compliance Management System (CMS), ensuring compliance with applicable federal and state laws, agency requirements, investor guidelines, and internal policies
- Provide legal guidance supporting mortgage servicing operations, loan administration, default servicing, customer experience, vendor management, information technology, artificial intelligence initiatives, marketing, and corporate governance
- Research, interpret, and communicate federal and state laws, regulations, agency guidance, investor requirements, and emerging legal developments that impact BrightShore's business operations
- Develop practical, risk-based legal strategies to support business objectives while appropriately managing legal, regulatory, operational, financial, and reputational risk
- Oversee enterprise licensing, regulatory registrations, NMLS administration, foreign qualifications, corporate filings, annual reports, and entity governance requirements
- Lead corporate governance activities, including board governance, corporate records, resolutions, entity management, governance documentation, and organizational compliance
- Draft, review, negotiate, and manage commercial agreements, client contracts, vendor agreements, technology agreements, confidentiality agreements, servicing agreements, and other legal documents
- Oversee enterprise policy and procedure governance by ensuring policies remain current, compliant, operationally effective, and aligned with regulatory expectations and business objectives
- Direct regulatory change management activities by evaluating new laws and regulations, coordinating implementation efforts, and validating organizational readiness
- Oversee regulatory examinations, investor reviews, internal audits, external audits, agency inquiries, licensing examinations, and governmental investigations while serving as BrightShore’s primary legal liaison
- Oversee enterprise compliance training programs covering regulatory requirements, ethics, information security, fraud prevention, and organizational compliance obligations
- Lead enterprise vendor risk management activities, including contract oversight, legal review, due diligence, ongoing risk assessments, and third-party governance
- Advise executive leadership regarding litigation, claims, disputes, subpoenas, regulatory matters, and legal strategy while coordinating with outside legal counsel as appropriate
- Oversee consumer complaint governance, Qualified Written Requests (QWRs), Requests for Information (RFIs), Notices of Error (NOEs), regulatory complaints, litigation support, and executive escalations involving legal or regulatory risk
- Establish and monitor enterprise legal, compliance, governance, licensing, audit, and risk management metrics while reporting significant trends and emerging risks to executive leadership
- Partner with Automation to evaluate legal and regulatory considerations associated with automation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, privacy, data governance, digital servicing platforms, and emerging technologies
- Foster a culture of ethics, integrity, accountability, transparency, and proactive risk management throughout the organization
- Build, mentor, and develop high-performing Legal and Compliance professionals while promoting collaboration, continuous learning, and leadership development
- Develop departmental budgets, strategic initiatives, staffing plans, and long-term operational roadmaps supporting organizational growth and regulatory readiness
- Positively represent BrightShore in communications with regulators, investors, clients, outside counsel, auditors, licensing authorities, vendors, and other external stakeholders
- Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership by evaluating business opportunities, acquisitions, new products, strategic partnerships, and operational initiatives from legal, regulatory, governance, and enterprise risk perspectives
- Promote a business-first, solutions-oriented legal philosophy by helping departments identify compliant paths to achieve strategic objectives rather than serving solely as a legal gatekeeper
- Establish a forward-looking governance framework that anticipates regulatory change, supports organizational scalability, and positions BrightShore to confidently pursue new markets, products, technologies, and strategic growth initiatives
- Continuously evaluate opportunities to improve legal operations, governance, compliance monitoring, automation, contract management, regulatory reporting, and organizational efficiency through technology and process innovation
- Perform additional duties and strategic initiatives as assigned in support of BrightShore's continued growth, operational excellence, regulatory integrity, and long-term business success
Education, Experience and /or Skills
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school required
- Active membership in good standing with at least one state bar required; eligibility for in-house counsel registration in Florida, if applicable, preferred
- Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible legal, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, risk management, or executive leadership experience, preferably within mortgage banking, mortgage servicing, financial services, banking, insurance, fintech, or other highly regulated industries
- Demonstrated experience advising executive leadership on legal, regulatory, operational, contractual, governance, and strategic business matters
- Strong knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations affecting mortgage servicing and financial institutions, including RESPA, TILA, FDCPA, FCRA, UDAAP, Fair Lending, ECOA, GLBA, AML, BSA, SCRA, privacy regulations, state licensing requirements, and agency servicing guidelines
- Experience designing, implementing, and managing Compliance Management Systems (CMS), regulatory change management programs, enterprise governance initiatives, and risk management frameworks
- Demonstrated experience negotiating, drafting, reviewing, and administering commercial agreements, technology contracts, servicing agreements, vendor contracts, confidentiality agreements, and other complex legal documents
- Experience overseeing corporate governance activities, entity management, board governance, licensing, regulatory filings, corporate recordkeeping, and organizational compliance programs
- Experience managing regulatory examinations, agency inquiries, internal audits, external audits, litigation support, corrective action plans, and interactions with federal and state regulatory agencies
- Demonstrated ability to identify legal, regulatory, operational, cybersecurity, third-party, and reputational risks while developing practical, business-oriented mitigation strategies
- Strong financial and business acumen with the ability to evaluate legal matters in the context of operational efficiency, organizational objectives, and long-term strategic growth
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and experience utilizing contract management systems, governance platforms, compliance management software, workflow automation tools, reporting platforms, artificial intelligence solutions, and other legal technology applications preferred
- Exceptional analytical, negotiation, communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence executive decision-making and build trusted relationships across all levels of the organization
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex priorities while exercising sound judgment, maintaining confidentiality, and delivering timely, practical, and well-reasoned legal guidance
- Demonstrated ability to serve as both legal counsel and strategic business partner by balancing legal risk with commercial objectives, enabling innovation while protecting the BrightShore’s long-term interests
- Demonstrated success building scalable legal, compliance, governance, and enterprise risk functions capable of supporting rapid organizational growth, evolving regulatory requirements, and increasingly complex business operations
- Commitment to continuous professional development and maintaining current knowledge of evolving laws, regulations, agency guidance, governance practices, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, privacy, and industry trends
- Demonstrated commitment to BrightShore's pillars of Leadership, Raving Fans, Transparency, High Performance, and Tenacity through ethical leadership, strategic thinking, collaboration, accountability, and operational excellence
Computer & Equipment Skills
- Intermediate in Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Word processing (speed and accuracy)
- MSP or FICS’ Mortgage Servicer a plus
- Email
- Internet software
- Use typical office equipment (computers, fax, phones, copiers, scanners, etc.)
Physical Requirement
- Vision (with or without correction) sufficient to read a computer screen and to operate office equipment
- Clear speaking voice on the telephone, in person, and recorded
- Hearing within normal ranges in noise environments typical of office
- Able to sit for long periods of time at computer or other workstation and in meetings
- Able to use computers and operate equipment
- Able to lift 10 pounds occasionally unassisted
EEO Statement: As part of our dedication to the diversity of our workforce, BrightShore Mortgage is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital/domestic partner status, military and veteran status, genetic information or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.