Head of Operations - Greenwood Village, United States - CoBank

Description

Benefits Overview

A career at CoBank can offer you the opportunity to make a personal impact on the people and communities where we do business. When you choose a career with CoBank, you make a difference by standing for something that matters. In order to be the best, we hire the best

Remarkable Benefits Offered by CoBank

• Careers with a purpose. Stand for something
• Time-Off Packages, boasting over 15 days of vacation, 10 paid sick days and 11 paid holidays
• Competitive Compensation & Incentive
• Hybrid work model: flexible arrangements for most positions
• Benefits Packages, including Medical, Dental and Vision coverage, Disability, AD&D, and Life Insurance
• Robust associate training and development with CoBank University
• Tuition reimbursement for higher education up to $10,000 per year
• Outstanding 401k: up to 6% matching and additional 3% non-elective contribution
• Community Impact: United Way Angel Day, Volunteer Day and Associate Directed Contribution
• Associate Resource Groups: creating a culture of diversity and inclusion
• Recognize a fellow associate through our GEM awards

Job Description

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Operations to lead our operations teams across various lines of business, payment processing, and customer service functions. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a proven track record of driving innovation and implementing automation to streamline operational processes. This person will serve as critical member of the senior leadership team for the Division. Leads all Operational teams, in partnership with the Department VPs and the Executive Leader. You will envision and drive the bank's efforts to leverage the product management framework, SAFe Agile as well as automation, including robotics process automation (RPA) and Optical Character Recognition (OCR), to enhance operational efficiency and lower operational control risks. Leads and develops staff to grow individual skills, knowledge and abilities and increase the bank's people capabilities, particularly developing associates to be knowledge/thought workers. Collaborates closely with Product Management to grow the bank's capabilities in the areas of technology and data maturity to maintain sustainable and high-performing Operation's Teams. Aligns, partners and works closely with Executive Management, and CoBank leadership, to drive achievement of CoBank's corporate goals and objectives within operations and beyond. Develops strategy, identifies opportunities, makes the necessary organizational and staffing changes to drive excellence. Develops and implements specific plans to ensure that these teams are aligned with the commitments to the organization, customer and partners. Accountable for supporting Operation's Teams in their efforts to maximize efficiencies and maintain scalable business processes and efficient use of technology, overseeing an effective control environment, and establishing, measuring and reporting key performance metrics to senior and executive management. Provides leadership to cross-functional and enterprise-wide initiatives. Monitors and provides an aggregated view of operation's initiatives to ensure alignment with the Bank's strategic priorities. Manages associates effectively to ensure accountability, understanding of expectations, and workplace inclusion and diversity.

Essential Functions

1. Lead and oversee six operations teams supporting all lines of business, payment processing, and customer service functions.
2. Aligns Operation's goals, objectives and activities with the strategic business objectives. Develops and implements strategic initiatives to optimize operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction. Establishes objectives and performance targets, and measures performance relative to these targets. Promotes a culture of delivery and achievement.
3. Monitors market and industry trends and contributes to the development of long-term planning with CoBank leadership. Serves as a key advisor to executive leadership on strategic operational vision, operational matters, and other bank matters.
4. Drives innovation by identifying opportunities to partner with Product Management to leverage technology and automation to streamline processes and enhance productivity.
5. Actively partner with Product management and the heads of business to identify opportunities to enhance both the customer and associate experience.
6. Establishes and maintains key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the effectiveness of operational processes and drive continuous improvement. Including, the key performance targets and measures for the teams' performance targets related to Control Effectiveness Testing (CET), Operation Loss monitoring, escalation, and reporting.
7. Determines the organizational structure, complement, skills and tools or systems necessary for each discipline necessary achieve the division's strategic and operational objectives. Collaborates with cross-functional teams to align operational goals with overall business objectives.
8. Monitors and audits process documentation to ensure adherence to standards and effective design of controls consistently across the division.
9. Responsible owner of internal controls (i.e., control owner), Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and SOC1 preparation for Operations.
10. Ensures that the design of ICFR, SOC and other operating controls are designed effectively to adhere to respective standards, and comply with regulatory requirements and bank policies or guidelines.
11. Promotes sound risk management and business continuity practices, and proactively escalates control weaknesses and emerging risks to executive management.
12. Works with Operational Leaders to minimize processing and servicing errors. Creates an environment where problems/errors are readily identified, appropriately communicated to stakeholders, promptly remediated and addressed at the root cause to prevent reoccurrence. Ensures Operational Loss escalations processes are followed and memorandums are fully transparent, identify root cause, and are timely in delivery.
13. Manages effective and ongoing relationships with internal business partners, including Direct Manager, Heads of Business Units and COO. Ensures partner processes, goals and strategies are understood and supported. Continuously seeks partner feedback to identify areas of improvement.
14. Partner with executive leadership to develop and execute operational strategies that support business growth and expansion.
15. Provides leadership and mentorship to operations leaders and team members, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
16. Fosters a culture of continuous improvement, including pro-actively identifying and delivering automation initiatives, standardizing and making processes more efficient and effective in order to provide customers with an exceptional experience, maximizing operational efficiency and mitigating risk.
17. Ensures complete and effective business recovery planning and testing for designated areas of responsibility. When necessary, directs recovery effort to ensure timely and complete return to normal operations.
18. Prepares budget for Operational teams. Develops and maintains relevant operational metrics to analyze unit cost and long-term staffing and financial dynamics. Monitors and controls operating expenses.
19. Manages staff. Sets work priorities and performance expectations, holds staff accountable, grants authorities, evaluates performance, recommends personnel actions in consultation with division leadership and Human Resources as appropriate.
20. Employs change management best practices when communicating and managing change, to ensure a high level of associate engagement and productivity.
21. Communicates and cascades the Bank's strategy to associates to properly align their activities with the broader enterprise.
22. Directs a leadership team to achieve business objectives through teamwork, appropriate risk taking, diversity of thought and innovation.
23. Develops staff to properly align individual knowledge, skills and intangibles with job functions. Focuses on development of direct reports and staff at large to ensure seamless leadership succession at all levels. Ensures team has the skills, training and support necessary to perform its function at levels that meet or exceed performance targets. Ensures appropriate focus on diversity and inclusion in the selection, retention, and development of associates within Lease Operations.
24. Directs effective succession planning and provides opportunities for growth at all levels, with a balanced focus on talent and interest.
25. Drives a high level of associate engagement, and promotes a culture of focused on inclusion and diversity. Maintains an environment that attracts, retains and supports a diverse, engaged and qualified workforce. Fosters a culture of integrity, teamwork, inclusion, personal excellence and accountability.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in business, finance, accounting or other relevant discipline. required

Work Experience

10 years of experience in financial services industry operations, required
8 years of experience managing direct reports required
5 years of experience in a senior leadership role required
1. Master's degree or MBA preferred.
2. Proven experience managing complex multi-functional operations teamsand processes, ideally in banking or financial services
3. Proven track record of successfully leading and transforming operational teams to drive innovation and automation.
4. Strong strategic planning and execution skills, with the ability to translate business objectives into actionable plans.
5. Knowledge of and experience with operational risk management best practices, reporting within the financial services industry with an understanding of Farm Credit System operations, preferred.
6. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively influence and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.
7. In-depth knowledge of current and evolving operations systems, tools, techniques, trends and best practices.
8. Understanding of Farm Credit System operations preferred.
9. Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and lead teams through change and ambiguity.
10. Experience leading teams through major organizational and/or business transformation initiatives focused on reducing risk, increasing efficiencies and ROI.
11. Exceptional judgement and a pragmatic business mindset with strong customer experience orientation.
12. Excellent leadership, people management and organizational development skills, with the proven ability to strategically inspire, engage, motivate and guide associates through change at all levels, and to influence outcomes both within and across organizational lines.
13. Demonstrated track record of successful human capital development including succession planning, skills development and development plan creation, implementation and management.
14. Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively build and maintain effective working relationships and effectively influence key decisions with all levels of management and staff.
15. Demonstrated commitment to operational excellence tools, methodologies and practices.
16. Advanced customer service and relationship management skills, demonstrating leadership of successful product delivery within a team environment under demanding time lines.
17. Experience developing, implementing and managing vendor programs preferred.
18. Advanced strategic and analytical orientation. Adept at analyzing and understanding industry and market trends to identify and react to new opportunities.
19. Strong business acumen, with the ability to build strong business cases, gain support for recommended solutions that move the operating model forward, and draw on internal and external resources to develop and carry out business strategies and initiatives.
20. Ability to innovate and think broadly and beyond immediate needs to foster and implement effective and positive change and process improvement.
21. Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills.
22. Strong attention to detail, and an ability to execute with precision while balancing multiple initiatives and priorities.
23. Ability to work effectively under deadline pressures, and adjust quickly and effectively to changing priorities.

About CoBank

The typical base pay range for this role is between $186,409 - $259,201. Compensation may vary based on individual job-related knowledge, skills, expertise, and experience. This position is eligible for a discretionary annual incentive program driven by organization and individual performance.

The listed salary, other compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. CoBank reserves the right to adjust compensation for all positions and to modify or discontinue benefits programs at any time in its sole discretion, subject to applicable law.

CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 76,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country. CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

We are committed to ensuring that our online application process provides an equal employment opportunity to all applicants, including qualified individuals with disabilities. If you are an applicant with a disability, or are assisting an applicant with a disability, and require accessibility assistance or would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any aspect of the application process, including completing an application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please submit a request by emailing Include your contact information and specific details about your requested accommodation.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

CoBank is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.