Sr. Director, Operational Risk Management

At Early Warning, we've powered and protected the U.S. financial system for over thirty years with cutting-edge solutions like Zelle, Paze, and so much more. As a trusted name in payments, we partner with thousands of institutions to increase access to financial services and protect transactions for hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses.

Positions located in Scottsdale, San Francisco, Chicago, or New York follow a hybrid work model to allow for a more collaborative working environment.

Candidates responding to this posting must independently possess the eligibility to work in the United States, for any employer, at the date of hire. This position is ineligible for employment Visa sponsorship.

Overall Purpose

The Senior Director, Operational Risk Management, will lead business-aligned risk coverage teams within the Second Line of Defense (SLOD). This role is responsible for providing independent review and challenge, as well as advisory support, across all business units and enterprise functions to ensure the company's risk-taking is consistent with its strategy, risk appetite, and regulatory expectations. The role reports to the Head of Operational Risk and is a critical member of the firm's operational risk leadership team.

Essential Functions

Strategic Leadership

• Define and drive the business coverage team's strategy, ensuring alignment with enterprise and operational risk frameworks and regulatory standards.

• Establishes and leads the methodology for select ORM programs including, the strategy and scope for second line independent control testing/validation.

• Provide risk insights and thought leadership to senior executives, business leaders, and governing committees.

• Champion a culture of accountability, transparency, and effective risk management across the enterprise.

Independent Review & Challenge

• Lead teams to independently assess business units' risk identification, mitigation, and monitoring practices, as well as adherence to operational risk program requirements.

• Challenge risk decisions where appropriate and ensure escalation protocols are robust and effective.

• Works with other operational risk domain owners to support first-line's understanding of risk/control requirements and to provide integrated risk management oversight on cross-risk assessments.

• Develops and drives periodic executive level reporting regarding operational risk management to support decision-making and escalation regarding risks that may not be consistent with the business risk tolerance.

Advisory & Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to first-line business and functional leaders, balancing strong risk oversight with enabling business objectives.

• Collaborate with Enterprise Risk, other ORM Risk Domains, Technology & Security Risk and Legal to ensure coordinated risk management practices.

• Provide timely and actionable feedback to strengthen first-line risk ownership and accountability.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of risk managers providing coverage across multiple lines of business and enterprise functions.

• Foster a high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative team culture.

• Ensure risk talent is developed to meet future enterprise needs.

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow instructions and perform other related duties as assigned by their supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education and/or experience typically obtained through completion of a Bachelor's degree or equivalent

• Minimum of 12+ years of operational risk management experience, preferably in financial services or other highly regulated industries.

• Proven leader with at least 5 years in a leadership role with direct reports.

• Strong understanding of operational risk programs (e.g. RCSA, Risk Events, Issue Management, KRIs, etc.) and risk domains (including technology, cyber, third-party, fraud / scams, and data risk)

• Exceptional communication skills with ability to synthesize and present complex risk issues clearly and persuasively.

• Proven strategic thinker and creative problem solver who also demonstrates strong attention to detail and efficiency.

• Ability to drive change in a dynamic business environment.

• Strong relationship building skills.

• Excellent organizational, analytical and project management skills.

• Background and drug screen

Preferred Qualifications

• Risk management, internal control, or internal audit certification(s)

Physical Requirements

Working conditions consist of a normal office environment. Work is primarily sedentary and requires extensive use of a computer and involves sitting for periods of approximately four hours. Work may require occasional standing, walking, kneeling, and reaching. Must be able to lift 10 pounds occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently. Requires visual acuity and dexterity to view, prepare, and manipulate documents and office equipment including personal computers. Requires the ability to communicate with internal and/or external customers.

Employee must be able to perform essential functions and physical requirements of position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Some of the Ways We Prioritize Your Health and Happiness

• Healthcare Coverage-Competitive medical (PPO/HDHP), dental, and vision plans as well as company contributions to your Health Savings Account (HSA) or pre-tax savings through flexible spending accounts (FSA) for commuting, health & dependent care expenses.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan-Featuring a 100% Company Safe Harbor Match on your first 6% deferral immediately upon eligibility.
• Paid Time Off -Unlimited Time Off for Exempt (salaried) employees, as well as generous PTO for Non-Exempt (hourly) employees, plus 11 paid company holidays and a paid volunteer day.
• 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Maven Family Planning - provides support through your Parenting journey including egg freezing, fertility, adoption, surrogacy, pregnancy, postpartum, early pediatrics, and returning to work.

AndSOmuch more! We continue to enhance our program, so be sure tocheck our Benefits page here for the latest. Ourteamcan share more during the interview process!

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Early Warning Services, LLC ("Early Warning") considers for employment, hires, retains and promotes qualified candidates on the basis of ability, potential, and valid qualifications without regard to race, religious creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, protected veteran or disability status or any factor prohibited by law, and as such affirms in policy and practice to support and promote equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and municipal laws. The company also prohibits discrimination on other bases such as medical condition, marital status or any other factor that is irrelevant to the performance of our employees.