Director of Payments and Operational Strategy

First Interstate BancSystem • Denver, CO

6d

About The Position

The Director of Payments and Operational Strategy leads the Payments and Payment Fraud Risk Management functions and partners closely with the Chief Operations Officer (COO) to develop and advance the bank’s broader operations strategy. The role defines strategy, establishes priorities and governance, develops leaders, and drives execution across faster payments, debit cards, credit cards, ACH, wire transfers, ATM services, payment fraud risk management, innovation, and operational improvement. It collaborates across business, operations, technology, finance, risk, and external partners to deliver secure, scalable solutions, effective controls, exceptional client experiences, and measurable business results.

The Director oversees strategy execution, performance, staffing, budgets, risk, and material issues, while developing and mentoring leaders and team members. The position is based in Billings, Montana, or Denver, Colorado. Typical hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekend work may be required based on business needs, and travel is 30%.

Requirements

• Significant leadership experience in payments, payment fraud, banking, financial services, operations, product management, or a related field, including responsibility for multiple functions and experience leading leaders and senior-level teams.
• Demonstrated knowledge of faster payments, debit card, credit card, ACH, wire transfer, and ATM products, networks, economics, operations, and associated risks.
• Strong understanding of enterprise payment fraud risk management frameworks, regulatory requirements, analytics, key risk indicators, prevention systems, risk assessments, quality assurance practices, and internal controls.
• Proven success developing strategy and leading complex initiatives, project portfolios, process improvement efforts, innovation programs, and organizational change from concept through implementation and measurable results.
• Experience managing vendors, technology partners, budgets, service-level agreements, and critical operational dependencies.
• Ability to analyze financial and operational data, develop business cases, and communicate actionable recommendations to executive leadership and Board-level audiences.
• Strong judgment, executive presence, collaboration, influence, negotiation, and change leadership capabilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Operations, Technology, or a related field.
• 10 or more years of progressive leadership experience in banking or financial services, with significant exposure to several of the following areas: loan operations, deposit operations, treasury management operations, payments, and contact center operations.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.
• Graduate of a recognized banking school.
• Experience working in a bank with $15 billion or more in assets.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute enterprise strategies and multi-year roadmaps for Payments and Payment Fraud Risk Management, partnering with the COO on broader operations strategy.
• Lead the strategic direction, performance, and modernization of faster payments, debit cards, credit cards, ACH, wire transfers, and ATM capabilities.
• Establish governance, policies, standards, controls, metrics, and reporting for payment services and the enterprise payment fraud risk management program.
• Oversee payment fraud analytics, prevention systems, key risk indicators, loss and prevention metrics, emerging-threat response, quality assurance, and reporting to senior management and the Board Risk Committee.
• Partner with the COO on business-led projects, enterprise initiatives, process improvements, automation, and operating model changes.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, fintech partnerships, data capabilities, and industry practices through business cases, pilots, and implementation plans.
• Collaborate with business lines and control functions to address client and employee needs, manage regulatory and operational risk, strengthen organizational resilience, and develop practical solutions.
• Establish and monitor measures for adoption, transaction and ATM volume, revenue, expense, service quality, system availability, payment fraud exposure, operational risk, initiative delivery, and client experience.
• Oversee vendor, network, and technology partner relationships, including strategic alignment, service-level performance, issue resolution, and material dependencies.
• Provide decision-ready analysis, reporting, and recommendations to the COO, executive leadership, and the Board, as appropriate.
• Align stakeholders across business lines, operations, technology, finance, treasury management, enterprise risk, compliance, information security, internal audit, and external partners.
• Lead the Payments and Payment Fraud Risk Management functions, establishing accountability, coordinated priorities, and effective decision-making.
• Develop, coach, and mentor leaders and team members, providing resources, training, and support for business objectives and professional growth.
• Oversee strategy execution, performance, staffing, budgets, risk, and material issues, delegating day-to-day management responsibilities as appropriate.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture focused on client service, innovation, continuous improvement, disciplined execution, and sound risk management.
• Set expectations, performance standards, and accountability measures for individual, team, and organizational success.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including paid sick time.
• Paid federal holidays, up to 11 per year.
• Student debt employer repayment program.
• 401(k) retirement plan with a 6% match.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Short-term and long-term disability benefits.
• Life insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Health savings account.
• Employee assistance program.
• Annual discretionary cash and stock bonuses.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director