Bank Operational Risk Manager – First Century Bank
First Century Bank is seeking a full-time operational risk leader to join its growing Risk Management organization. This individual will support the continued development and maturation of the Bank's enterprise risk management program, with a focus on building and leading operational risk oversight activities. This individual will also support ongoing activities to oversee and monitor third party risk.
This role will work closely with executive leadership, cross-functional stakeholders, external auditors, and fintech partners to ensure effective risk management practices across the Bank's programs.
First Century Bank specializes in providing financial services through innovative, technology-driven channels. This position will have comprehensive visibility to the Bank's products, partnerships, and risk frameworks in a dynamic and evolving environment.
Responsibilities Include:
Bank Operational Risk Management
Lead the development of risk management programs to enhance the Bank's operational risk framework
Develop and monitor key risk indicators (KRIs), including thresholds and escalation triggers; support management in maintaining critical risk measurements in alignment with defined thresholds
Serve as the central point for aggregating risk metrics and preparing risk management reporting in the form of risk dashboards and board level reporting
Identify and document key risks and controls across business processes and programs
Lead risk assessments and evaluation of controls design, coordinate risk and control self-assessments across departments and consolidate results
Third-Party & Fintech Risk Oversight
Lead due diligence and ongoing monitoring and oversight routines for critical vendors and strategic fintech partner relationships
Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure timely resolution of identified issues
Participate in onsite or remote reviews of strategic partners
Additional Duties
Assist in policy and procedure development and maintenance
Support audit engagements as needed, maintain risk and issue tracking systems, verify completion of corrective actions prior to issue closure
Develop and maintain departmental policies and procedures as needed
Perform other duties as may be assigned or which inherently or logically belong to this position or overall risk management functions
Exemplify FCB's values while carrying out its mission, organizational goals, and priorities
Qualifications
Ideal candidates will possess a Bachelor's degree in a related field and 5 – 10 years of relevant experience in risk management, internal audit, compliance, consulting, or related financial services roles, or a combination of education and experience.
Preferred Experience Includes:
Experience in banking, financial services, or fintech environments
Familiarity with financial regulator expectations related to operational risk and third-party risk
Exposure to operational risk frameworks (e.g., risk and control documentation, KRIs)
Experience supporting regulatory exams or audits
Experience supporting third-party risk management or vendor oversight programs
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact with all levels of the organization and prepare executive-level reporting
Position Attributes
Self-motivated with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across functions
High level of professionalism and executive presence
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Additional Information
This is a high-visibility role offering the opportunity to work directly with executive management and engage with the Bank's fintech partnerships. The position provides significant exposure across audit, operational risk, and third-party risk disciplines. Occasional travel may be required (approximately 2 to 3 days per quarter).