Manager, Merger & Acquisition Operations & Integrations

This role combines expertise in project management, business operations, credit union merger integration, data analytics, and card data technology platforms to ensure seamless member experiences and operational excellence throughout the conversion lifecycle. The Manager is accountable for overseeing all loan portfolio conversion projects, managing complex workstreams, leading data migration with a technical and analytical focus, and establishing validation efforts and project governance practices that support organizational growth objectives.

Overview:

PenFed is hiring a (Hybrid) Manager, Merger & Acquisition Operations & Integrations at our Tysons, Virginia location. The Manager, M&A Operations & Integrations, is responsible for leading the planning, execution, and successful assimilation of businesses associated with mergers and/or acquisitions. The role also provides additional project management assistance to the Sr Leadership as required. This position serves as the primary project leader, coordinating efforts across Operations, Information Technology, Digital Banking, Compliance, Legal, and Vendor Management stakeholders to ensure successful integration and conversion outcomes. 

 

The Manager is accountable for overseeing all loan portfolio conversion projects, managing complex workstreams, leading data migration with a technical and analytical focus, and establishing validation efforts and project governance practices that support organizational growth objectives. This role combines expertise in project management, business operations, credit union merger integration, data analytics, and card data technology platforms to ensure seamless member experiences and operational excellence throughout the conversion lifecycle.

 

This position serves as a key subject matter expert in various areas to include but not limited to loan portfolio conversions, merger and acquisition integrations, data management, systems connectivity, and business intelligence reporting while providing strategic recommendations to support business growth and overall operational effectiveness for growth initiatives.

Responsibilities:

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job duties, and the position will perform other duties as assigned.

 

M&A Project Leadership, Business Assimilation, & Portfolio Conversions

• Lead end-to-end loan portfolio conversion and integration initiatives resulting from mergers, acquisitions, or other strategic partnerships that could involve portfolio transfers or data mapping needs.
• Manage all phases of project delivery including planning, requirements gathering, implementation, testing, conversion execution, and post-conversion stabilization.
• Develop detailed project plans, milestones, dependencies, risk mitigation strategies, and executive reporting packages.
• Serve as the primary liaison between internal business units, acquired institutions, technology teams, and external vendors.
• Coordinate conversion readiness activities including operational, technical, regulatory, communications, and training workstreams.
• Support merger and acquisition due diligence efforts by assessing card portfolios, operational processes, systems, and conversion requirements.
• Evaluate post-conversion performance and implement continuous improvement opportunities.

Management & Governance

• Assist senior leadership in executing multiple concurrent projects and initiatives while maintaining timelines, budgets, resource plans, and stakeholder alignment.
• Assist senior leadership with leading steering committee meetings, project governance routines, and cross-functional working sessions.
• Identify, assess, document, track, and mitigate project risks and issues while driving timely resolution.
• Develop status reports and materials for multiple reviewers involved in the acquisition process, including regulatory reviews and approvals and executive team reviews and decision points.

Data Analytics & IT Integration

• Lead data migration, mapping, reconciliation, validation, and quality assurance efforts associated with acquisition target portfolio conversions.
• Analyze portfolio, member, operational, and financial data to support conversion planning and integration decision-making.
• Utilize SQL, Power BI, Tableau, Excel, and other reporting tools to identify trends, anomalies, risks, and opportunities.
• Partners with Information Technology teams define business requirements and support system integration efforts.
• Coordinate system testing, user acceptance testing, file validation, and production implementation activities.
• Support enterprise data governance standards, data quality improvement initiatives, and reporting accuracy.
• Develop executive dashboards and analytical reporting that provide visibility into conversion progress, portfolio health, and operational performance.
• Translate business requirements into technical specifications and ensure successful implementation of technology solutions.
• Demonstrate a high degree of imagination in employing AI and automation to improve related processes, improve efficiency, and accelerate project completion.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Help key stakeholders manage relationships with card processors, technology providers, consultants, and external integration partners.
• Collaborate across Card Operations, Digital Banking, Finance, Strategy, Risk, Compliance, Marketing, and Member Experience teams
• Present project updates, conversion readiness assessments, business cases, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership.
• Foster strong partnerships across internal and external stakeholder groups to achieve project objectives.
• Negotiate deliverables, implementation schedules, and issue resolution activities with third-party providers.

Qualifications:

Equivalent combination of education and experience is considered.

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, information systems, data analytics, project management, accounting, or a related field.

• Minimum six (6) years of experience in financial services, card services, project management, portfolio conversions, operations, business analysis, systems implementations, or related disciplines.

• Minimum three (3) years of direct experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, portfolio integrations, or large-scale conversion programs.

• Minimum of two (2) years of direct management experience.

• Demonstrated success as a key team lead of enterprise-wide initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, technology platforms, and vendor partners.

• Experience managing complex project plans, implementation schedules, and organizational change initiatives.

• Experience in project leadership for data migration, systems integration, and conversion projects.

• Strong understanding of card processing environments, payment systems, and credit union operations.

• Demonstrated ability to translate business objectives into executable project plans and technical requirements.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.

• Experience developing executive presentations, business cases, project documentation, and operational reporting to support the Director and program needs.

Preferred

• Master's degree or MBA.
• Experience with card processor conversions and servicing platform migrations.
• Advanced SQL and database analysis experience.
• Experience with enterprise reporting and business intelligence tools.
• Knowledge of NCUA regulations and credit union operating environments.
• Experience with A.I. tools preferred.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position will supervise employees.

 

Licenses and Certifications

No additional licenses or certifications required.

 

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to an indoor office setting with moderate noise.

*Most roles require working in an office setting with moderate noise and the ability to lift 25 pounds.*

 

Travel

Ability to travel to various worksites and be on call will be required.

 

Pay Transparency
The anticipated starting salary range for this role is $79,400.00 - $152,779.00
This position is eligible for an organizational performance based annual bonus, subject to board discretion and approval.
This position is eligible for an individual performance based annual bonus.