Director IT Strategy & Operations

Stanford Federal Credit Union • Palo Alto, CA

77d

About The Position

We’re on a mission to improve financial lives! If you’re a high-energy, compassionate, and collaborative individual with a desire to make a difference, we encourage you to consider joining our SFCU team! Members really do come first at Stanford FCU because we’re non-profit and owned by our members. Our members work for Stanford University or some of the most innovative companies in Silicon Valley—and we provide them with the most generous financial benefits in our industry. Stanford FCU is a $4 billion company with a global reach of over 88,000 members in 90 countries and growing! Come grow with us and see what it’s like to work for a Bay Area Top Workplace. As our CEO says, “we work hard, and we play hard”, and we need your help to improve even more financial lives! We’re seeking a versatile, execution‑oriented leader to run the operational heartbeat of the Office of the CIO at our credit union. This role blends strategic program leadership, legal/contract coordination, administrative excellence, vendor and budget rigor, and data-driven benchmarking to help the CIO and Technology leadership team operate with clarity, speed, and compliance. If you thrive at the intersection of strategy, governance, and execution, we want to meet you.

Requirements

• 7–12 years in technology operations, PMO, chief‑of‑staff/strategic ops, vendor management, or IT finance roles; experience in regulated financial services (credit unions/banks/fintech) strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success coordinating legal reviews of technology/vendor agreements (you manage process/quality; hands‑on contract review/redlining experience; attorneys own the legal advice).
• Familiarity with third‑party risk artifacts (SOC 2, SLAs, DPAs, security exhibits) and regulatory context (e.g., GLBA/FFIEC) in collaboration with InfoSec GRC.
• Proven success running executive rhythms (board materials, flash reports, OKRs) and leading cross‑functional initiatives to completion.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen (budget tracking, forecasts, renewal analysis).
• Exceptional program/project management, prioritization, and stakeholder communication skills; executive presence and discretion.
• Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication; able to de‑conflict, influence, and drive accountability.
• Experience with credit union operations and regulators; basic familiarity with CCPA/CPRA coordination for technology/data is preferred.
• Working knowledge of best‑practice frameworks (e.g., COBIT, ITIL 4).
• Certifications a plus: PMP / PMI‑ACP, ITIL, COBIT, CISA/CTPRP, or similar.
• MBA, MIS, or related advanced degree.

Responsibilities

• Own contract governance (playbook alignment, redlining low/medium-risk agreements)
• Lead special projects for the CIO, cross-functional initiatives (e.g., cost optimization, vendor consolidation, data/reporting improvements, process modernization) from scoping to delivery
• Drive IT strategic planning and best-practice alignment (e.g., COBIT/ITIL)
• Manage vendor renewals and budgeting and coordinate real estate leases
• As a senior escalation point, resolve systemic issues and build trusted relationships across the organization.

Benefits

• 100% paid employee medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D and short-term disability insurance for the employee; 50% paid for dependents
• Quarterly incentives up to 10% of your salary
• Employer 401(k) matching up to 5% plus additional annual discretionary contributions
• Education reimbursement up to $5,200/year
• Employee recognition program with cash incentives
• Commuter Toll reimbursement $100-$200/month (based on position)
• Wellness Benefits up to $1,200 per year
• Paid Sick Time accrues at two weeks per year
• Paid Vacation Time accrues at three weeks per year
• Paid Federal banking holidays (approximately 11 per year)
• Ongoing training and education, seminars, and conferences
• Loan rate discounts on some products (vehicle, mortgage and HELOC loans)
• Waived fees and deposit bonuses on Stanford FCU accounts
• Flex health/transit plan availability
• Employee Assistance Program with free benefits like counseling, help finding legal assistance and day care resources

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Master's degree