Head of Smoove Lender Services in Thame

Hi, we're Smoove, part of the PEXA Group. Our vision is to simplify and revolutionise the home moving and ownership experience for everyone. We are on a mission to deliver products and services that remove the pain, frustration, uncertainty, friction and stress that the current process creates.

We are a leading provider of tech in the property sector - founded in 2003, our product focus has been our conveyancer two-sided marketplace, connecting consumers with a range of quality conveyancers to choose from at competitive prices via our easy-to-use tech platform. We are now building out our ecosystem so consumers can benefit from our services either via their Estate Agent or their Mortgage Broker, through smarter conveyancing platforms, making the home buying or selling process easier, quicker, safer and more transparent.

Are you an experienced conveyancing leader with strong commercial acumen and established lender relationships? We're looking for a strategic and commercially minded Head of Smoove Lender Panel Services to lead and grow our Lender Panel Management (LPM) and Fees-Assisted Remortgage (FAR) functions. This is a hybrid role with travel to Thame or Leeds as required (around twice a month). This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for someone who combines extensive conveyancing expertise with the ability to build lender partnerships, drive operational excellence and lead a high-performing team.

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Growth Officer, you'll take ownership of the strategic direction, commercial performance and operational delivery of our LPM and FAR services. You'll lead a specialist team responsible for managing lender law firm panels, supporting lender relationships, ensuring compliance standards are maintained and identifying opportunities for future growth and innovation. This role would suit a senior legal professional who has operated at Partner, Head of Department or equivalent leadership level within conveyancing and is now looking to move into a broader strategic and commercial leadership position.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Lender Panel Management and FAR functions
• Build and strengthen relationships with lender clients and key industry stakeholders
• Drive business growth through strategic planning and commercial initiatives
• Negotiate commercial agreements with lenders and suppliers
• Develop and execute departmental business plans aligned to wider company objectives
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team
• Identify opportunities for operational improvement and service innovation
• Manage departmental budgets and commercial performance
• Ensure compliance, governance and risk management standards are maintained
• Work collaboratively across the wider business to support strategic objectives

About You

We're looking for someone who can bring both legal credibility and commercial leadership experience. You will likely have:

• Extensive practical conveyancing experience
• Experience operating at Partner, Junior Partner, Head of Department or equivalent senior level
• Strong commercial negotiation and stakeholder management skills
• Experience working with lenders, lender panels or mortgage-related services
• Proven leadership and team management capability
• Strategic thinking with the ability to drive business growth
• Excellent relationship-building and influencing skills
• The ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment

A practising certificate is not required for this role.

£100,000 - £110,000 a year Plus Annual Bonus

Why join Smoove?

Great question! We pride ourselves on attracting, developing and retaining a diverse range of people in an equally diverse range of roles and specialisms - who together achieve outstanding results. Our transparent approach and open-door policy make Smoove a great place to work and as our business expands, we are looking for ambitious, talented people to join us.

Benefits for PEXA employees include:

• Annual Leave: 25 days per year (Jan-Dec), increasing to 27 days after 5 years, plus Bank Holidays (pro-rata for part-time).
• Annual Leave Purchase: Option to purchase up to 1 working week of additional leave.
• Wellness Days: 4 paid days per year to rest and recharge (pro-rata for part-time). We kindly ask you take 1 per quarter.
• Paid Volunteer Day: 1 paid day per year to volunteer at a charity of your choice.
• Pension scheme (Aviva): 6% employer contribution, 4% employee contribution.
• Life Assurance: 4x basic salary.
• Health Flex Pot via Benifex: - £800 flexible benefit to spend on health options of your choice, including: Private Health Insurance / Health Cash Plan / Dental Plan / Health Assessments.
• Additional Benifex perks: Voluntary opt-in for additional benefits including Activity Pass, discounts via Perkbox, Beauty and Fitness Discount Card, Cycle to Work, Motor Breakdown, Will Writing, or enhance your cover of benefits provided by company.
• Critical Illness Cover: 1x basic salary.
• Group-wide Equity Plan: Eligibility for participation in our Group-wide employee share plan, subject to annual invitation.
• Enhanced Maternity/Adoption Pay: Up to 20 weeks full pay. Enhanced Paternity Pay: Up to 4 weeks full pay.
• Performance-based Incentive Scheme: Eligibility for a discretionary Short Term Incentive plan, based on job role and level.
• Learning & Development: Access to LinkedIn Learning, reimbursement of your professional membership costs.
• Additional: Access to our Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing resources, eye test vouchers and VDU glasses contribution.
• Office Space: Use of our PEXA office workspaces in Leeds and Thame. Our new Leeds office is in West Village, managed by Bruntwood SciTech and allows you access to Bruntwood hosted local events.