Chief Administrative Officer

Elevations Credit Union • Boulder, CO

6h • $270,000 - $330,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) provides executive leadership and strategic direction over key enterprise functions that safeguard the credit union’s stability, integrity, and long-term performance, including Credit Risk, Corporate Real Estate, and Payments & Controls. This role ensures strong governance, prudent risk management, and efficient infrastructure in support of the credit union’s mission to serve members responsibly and sustainably.
As a key member of the executive leadership team, the CAO partners with the President & CEO, senior leaders, and the Board to maintain prudent lending practices, strengthen internal controls, and align facilities and operations with strategic priorities. The CAO balances rigor with practicality—building scalable processes, high-performing teams, and a culture of accountability that enables growth while protecting members and the institution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience within a regulated financial institution, with significant experience at the executive or senior leadership level
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate strategy into scalable processes, clear accountability, and disciplined execution
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information and present clear recommendations
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present effectively to the Board of Directors, executive leadership, and external stakeholders
• Experience partnering with a Board of Directors and senior leadership team on governance, risk oversight and strategic execution
• Demonstrated success building, leading, and developing high-performing, multidisciplinary teams across complex operational environments
• Demonstrated experience overseeing credit risk management functions, including underwriting governance, loan operations, and collections/loss mitigation within a bank or credit union environment
• Proven executive leadership of payments, controls, and operational risk–related functions, such as fraud management, payment services, card operations, account services, and internal controls
• Experience overseeing or partnering closely on corporate real estate and facilities management, including branch strategy, construction or renovation projects, and facilities optimization
• Strong background working with federal and state regulators and leading or supporting safety and soundness, compliance, and operational risk examinations (e.g., NCUA or state regulators)
• Ability to assess risk holistically across credit, operations, payments, facilities, and controls, and to make sound, timely decisions
• Proven capability to lead through influence and partnership, particularly across executive peers and functional leaders
• Elevations uses multi-factor authentication to keep our data safe. As such, a personal smartphone is a requirement for employment with us.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) or relevant executive education strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success strengthening or modernizing payments, fraud, and control environments while enabling business and member growth
• Experience overseeing or influencing branch strategy and facilities optimization aligned to evolving member needs and operational efficiency
• Track record partnering effectively with regulators and Boards during periods of change, growth, or heightened scrutiny
• Leadership approach that blends risk discipline, operational rigor, and practical execution to support sustainable performance

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and executive-level leadership over Credit Risk Management (managing credit risk including underwriting for all lending areas, loan operations/support, and loan collections/loss mitigation).
• Provide strategic direction and executive-level leadership over payments & controls function including Fraud Management, Payment Services, Card Claims, Document Management, Account Services, and Retail Controls.
• Provide strategic direction and executive-level leadership over corporate real estate functions including locating new branch sites, managing construction and re-design projects, and maintaining our existing locations.

Benefits

• A competitive total rewards package with 4 weeks paid time off for full-time employees, work anniversary paid time off, paid volunteer time off, and 12 paid holidays
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with employer contributions to supercharge your Health Savings Account
• Up to a 4% match on 401(k) contributions
• Up to twelve weeks weeks of fully paid parental leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Program that provides personalized care options for your whole household
• Ample opportunity to learn, develop and grow with access to LinkedIn Learning, career and leadership development programs, job shadowing, a mentor program, and tuition reimbursement up to $5,250/year

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees