Sr Manager Operational Risk & Controls

IMPACT YOU’LL MAKE: 

As the Senior Manager, Operational Risk & Controls, you will shape and lead a true first-line risk management function within MDX (Member & Digital Experience), transforming how risk, controls, and compliance are designed, owned, and executed. You will professionalize and centralize operational risk practices, moving them from fragmented and informal to scalable, enterprise-grade programs that support growth and an upcoming merger. Your work will directly strengthen regulatory readiness, operational resilience, and confidence in business decision-making. By partnering closely with business leaders, Technology, and Enterprise Risk, you will enable innovation while protecting members and the organization. This is a builder role where your expertise sets the foundation for long-term success.  

WHAT YOU’LL DO: 

• First Line Risk Leadership: Serve as the primary First Line of Defense Operational Risk leader for MDX, providing clear governance, oversight, monitoring, and reporting across all business activities. 

• Function Build & Maturity: Establish and lead the Operational Risk & Controls function, designing frameworks, standards, and practices that align with enterprise risk programs and support future scale. 

• People Leadership & Development: Lead, coach, and develop a team of risk and control professionals through clear objectives, ongoing feedback, and meaningful growth opportunities, while conducting timely performance evaluations. 

• Risk Assessment & Oversight: Drive consistent execution of risk assessments, including RCSAs, incident management, issue management, and process-level risk oversight. 

• Control Design & Inventory: Oversee control writing, control design, and maintenance of the Process Risk & Control Inventory (PRCI), ensuring accuracy, completeness, and alignment to enterprise standards. 

• PRCI Ownership & Testing: Ensure business-owned PRCIs are effectively designed, mapped to risks and processes, and tested in accordance with enterprise and regulatory expectations. 

• Control Automation & Optimization: Partner with Technology and Enterprise Risk to design, implement, and mature manual, semi-automated, and fully automated controls that improve efficiency, accuracy, and sustainability. 

• Control Health & Performance: Lead control health evaluations, performance monitoring, rationalization efforts, and ongoing improvement of control effectiveness. 

• Issue & Remediation Management: Oversee issue identification, remediation planning, and execution for control gaps, audit findings, and regulatory issues. 

• Regulatory & Audit Readiness: Own audit and exam preparedness, support regulatory interactions, and manage findings through resolution. 

• Risk Reporting & Insights: Assist in the development and delivery of dashboards, metrics, and reporting that provide senior leadership with transparent insights into emerging risks, control health, and operational performance. 

• Strategic Risk Partnership: Integrate risk considerations into strategic planning, change management, and new product or process initiatives in collaboration with senior leaders. 

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Operations, Marketing, Digital, Data, Product, Technology, and Enterprise Risk to embed risk awareness and enable operational excellence. 

• Risk Culture & Education: Act as both a builder and teacher by upskilling the organization, fostering accountability, transparency, and a strong risk-aware culture. 

• Emerging Risk Identification: Identify systemic and emerging risks, ensuring timely escalation and visibility aligned with organizational risk appetite. 

This isn’t just about ticking off tasks on a list. It's about making a significant, positive change in BECU’s journey, where your contributions are valued, and your growth is continually fostered. 

WHAT YOU’LL GAIN: 

• The opportunity to build and lead a newly designed, enterprise-critical Operational Risk & Controls function 

• High visibility and partnership with senior leaders across MDX, Technology, and Enterprise Risk 

• The ability to make a lasting impact as the organization prepares for future growth and an upcoming merger 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, risk management, operations, or equivalent work experience 

• 5-7 years of experience in operational risk management, internal controls, First Line of Defense oversight, or audit roles.

• 3 years of people leader experience 

• Previous experience working in financial services or credit unions 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Advanced degree, MBA, or relevant professional certification such as CRISC, CRCM, CISA, PMP, or Six Sigma 

• Demonstrated experience designing, executing, and/or automating operational controls 

• Advanced understanding of risk frameworks, including RCSA, incident management, issue management, and controls testing 

• Familiarity with PRCI frameworks and enterprise control management systems 

• Experience partnering with technology teams to design and implement control automation solutions 

• Previous experience identifying complex processes, identifying risks, and delivering clear, actionable recommendations 

• Excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to engage and challenge stakeholders at all levels 

• Demonstrated people leadership capabilities, including team management and cross-functional leadership 

• Strategic thinking, sound judgment, and a risk mindset that balances innovation with effective risk mitigation 

• Willingness to travel occasionally as required and ability to comply with organizational risk management, information security, and confidentiality policies 

JOIN THE JOURNEY 

Ready to make an indelible impact? Eager to be part of a collaborative and innovative team where your ideas and contributions don’t just fill a role but fuel the growth and success of BECU? This is more than a job – it’s a chance to elevate your career, skills, and future, all while contributing to the robust operational landscape of BECU.  

Embrace the opportunity to grow with us. Apply now, bring your expertise to the table, and let’s achieve excellence together at BECU. Your journey of influence, innovation, and impactful contribution starts now. #BECU #YourGrowth #BECUJourney