This is not a traditional project manager role. The workstream functions more like a scrum of scrums, coordinating technical dependencies, open gaps, development commitments, and resolution efforts across multiple Project Athena workstreams, Newrez teams, and Valon.
The ideal candidate needs a strong combination of:
- Mortgage servicing system conversion experience
- Solution Architecture-level technical depth
- Technical program/project leadership
- Agile delivery / RTE experience
- Strong understanding of data, integrations, APIs, and cross-system dependencies
They do not necessarily need to be a hands-on architect designing solutions every day, but they need enough architecture experience to understand technical decisions, challenge teams, assess downstream impacts, and drive technical gaps through resolution.
Must-Haves
1. Mortgage Servicing System Conversion Experience
This is one of the most important requirements.
Candidates need direct, successful experience with mortgage servicing system conversions, preferably in a primary or senior role.
Relevant platforms could include: Valon, MSP / Black Knight, ICE, Sagent, Cenlar, or other enterprise mortgage servicing platforms
They should be able to explain the servicing platform being implemented or replaced, the surrounding ecosystem, impacted systems, data conversion strategy, integration dependencies, testing, and gap resolution.
2. Data Conversion / Data Mapping Knowledge
A major part of Project Athena involves the movement and accessibility of servicing data through Valon Data Schema (VDS).
Strong candidates should understand:
- Source-to-target mapping
- Data mapping
- ETL processes
- Data conversion validation
- Data reconciliation
- Data ingestion
- How data changes impact downstream systems and reporting
They do not necessarily need to personally build ETL processes or perform the mappings, but they need to understand the work well enough to identify gaps and manage resolution across teams.
3. Product / Mortgage Servicing Domain Knowledge
Candidates should also have Product Manager or Product Owner-level understanding of mortgage servicing.
They need enough servicing knowledge to understand how technical and data gaps could impact business processes, servicing functionality, downstream systems, vendors, reporting, accounting, and other areas of the servicing ecosystem.
4. Solution Architecture Experience or Equivalent Technical Depth
This person needs a legitimate Solution Architecture and DevOps frame of reference within mortgage servicing technology.
They should understand: End-to-end application architecture, System-to-system integrations, APIs and REST services, Middleware, Data exchanges, Application dependencies, Upstream and downstream impacts, Integration testing, Development dependencies, Technical design and architecture decisions
They do not have to be actively coding or designing architecture every day, but they need enough technical depth to work credibly with architects, developers, data teams, and engineering leaders.
5. Agile Delivery / RTE Experience
The role also requires strong software development lifecycle and delivery management experience.
The strongest candidates will have experience coordinating multiple technical teams, tracking dependencies, managing risks and issues, and driving development commitments through delivery.
Key Responsibilities
- Partner closely with Bill and the broader Project Athena leadership team.
- Lead the VDS Sufficiency and Gap Closure workstream.
- Coordinate technical dependencies across multiple Project Athena workstreams.
- Maintain visibility into open data and functionality gaps.
- Track gap resolution paths and development commitments.
- Maintain a clear matrix of: Open gaps, Impacted teams, Current status, Next steps, Due dates, Upstream and downstream dependencies
- Work proactively with Valon regarding development dependencies and roadmap commitments.
- Obtain and distribute development specifications to impacted teams.
- Ensure impacted teams understand changes and are prepared for delivery.
- Follow development commitments through completion.
- Coordinate gap resolution efforts across Newrez and Valon teams.
- Identify and manage risks, action items, issues, and dependencies.
- Escalate issues when necessary.
- Provide clear status reporting to stakeholders and leadership.
- Serve as a bridge between architects, developers, data teams, product teams, business leaders, and vendors.
Ideal Candidate Profile
Mortgage Servicing Solution Architect who has moved into Technical Program Leadership or Technical Program Manager / RTE with deep Solution Architecture and mortgage servicing conversion experience. They should be able to operate comfortably across architecture, data, development, product, and delivery
