AVP of Payments

PENAIR CREDIT UNION•Pensacola, FL

3d•$132,000

About The Position

The AVP of Payments provides strategic leadership for PenAir’s enterprise payments ecosystem, setting the vision and driving performance, modernization, and operational excellence across all payment channels. This role proactively monitors the payments landscape and industry standards to identify risks and opportunities, ensuring alignment with member needs and organizational objectives. The AVP of Payments builds and develops a high-performing team, fosters cross-functional collaboration, and ensures payment products and services remain competitive, secure, and supportive of the Credit Union’s strategic initiatives.

Requirements

Eight years to 10 years of similar or related experience, including preparatory experience.
(1) A bachelor's degree, or (2) equivalent industry experience
The ability to motivate or influence internal or external senior level professionals is a critical part of the job, requiring a significant level of influence and trust. Obtaining cooperation and agreement on important outcomes via frequently complex, senior level dialogues, as well as a professional level of written communication skills are essential to the position.
Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and analytical capability.
Must have knowledge of payments systems, NACHA rules, card network operating regulations, digital payments trends, and vendor/processor environments.
Able to use data to identify trends, anticipate risks, and guide strategic decisions.
Demonstrates ownership mindset, adaptability, and continuous improvement orientation.
Must be able to lead through complexity, align diverse stakeholders, and articulate strategic direction clearly.
Must exercise professional judgment and maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

Enterprise Payments Strategy: Provides strategic direction for all payment channels including consumer and business debit & credit, ACH, A2A/P2P, Bill Pay, digital payment flows, and real-time rails (RTP/FedNow). Sets the vision, roadmap, and governance to enhance competitiveness, member experience, and financial outcomes. Anticipates regulatory, technological, and competitive changes and leads modernization and innovation initiatives that position PenAir for future payment capabilities.
Debit & Credit Card Portfolio Management: Leads strategy, growth, and optimization for consumer and business debit & credit card portfolios. Monitors usage/transaction volumes, interchange trends, authorization/decline patterns, and member engagement. Conducts competitive analysis and recommends product changes to improve performance and profitability. Works collaboratively with Lending, Marketing, Risk Management, and other stakeholders to establish growth objectives and KPIs, align product strategy, develop/execute campaigns, and ensure financial goals are supported. Provides insights to leadership on product/program performance, payment behavior, and early risk indicators.
Card Operations and Servicing: Ensures reliable day to day operations for consumer and business debit & credit card programs. Oversees servicing platforms, card administration, instant issue equipment, rewards systems, and operational run state. Maintains high standards for accuracy, compliance, uptime, and member experience through the leadership of the Cards Services team.
Electronic Money Movement Oversight: Provides strategic oversight of PenAir’s electronic money movement environment, including ACH processing, origination, A2A/P2P transfers, Bill Pay product governance, and digital payment flows. Ensures these channels operate in a secure, compliant, efficient, and member-centric manner. Oversees team responsible for day-to-day processing and alignment with NACHA requirements, network rules, internal controls, and risk expectations.
Vendor, Processor & Network Leadership: Provides strategic leadership for vendor, processor, and network relationships across all payment channels. Evaluates performance, negotiates enhancements in collaboration with Procurement, ensures roadmap alignment, and oversees coordinated issue resolution to protect member experience and operational continuity. Provides strategic leadership for vendor, processor, and network relationships across all payment channels. Evaluates performance, negotiates enhancements in collaboration with Procurement, ensures roadmap alignment, and oversees coordinated issue resolution to protect member experience and operational continuity.
Team Leadership & Development: Develops and strengthens a high-performing Payments team. Provides direction, coaching, performance management, and alignment with organizational priorities. Builds capability in payments operations, analytics, modernization, and cross-functional partnership
Regulatory & Risk Alignment: Ensures payments policies, processes, and controls support regulatory readiness and compliance with NACHA rules, card network operating regulations, and internal risk frameworks. Supports audits, exams, and internal reviews to maintain strong operational and compliance standards.
Performs other job-related duties as assigned.