Director Operations - Banking

Western Alliance Bank • Phoenix, AZ

1d • Onsite

About The Position

As a Director Sponsor Finance, you'll play a critical role in building, stabilizing, and scaling a national sponsor finance business line. You will partner closely with executive management, sponsor vertical leadership, and franchise management to help develop the Multi-Unit Business Plan, establish Credit Manual and standards, and actively manage and remediate complex sponsor relationships. This role combines strategic planning, problem-loan leadership, underwriting, portfolio management, and relationship management. CC will also serve as a key liaison between the Sponsor Finance group and the Arizona executive management team, ensuring alignment, transparency, and disciplined execution. You'll also manage non-client facing teams overseeing day-to-day processes which include but are not limited to the following BES operations: customer service, payments, product management, tax, escheatment, invoicing, analytics, compliance, technology and claims.

Requirements

• 10+ years of related experience or similar field.
• Bachelor's degree in related field required
• Previous leadership experience required.
• Advanced to expert knowledge of general banking operations, including deposit operations, loan administration, treasury management and/or other commercial banking products and services.
• Advanced to expert knowledge of applicable regulatory and legal compliance obligations, rules and regulations, industry standards and practices.
• Advanced to expert experience in sponsor finance, leveraged lending, or middle-market credit.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex or stressed sponsor relationships and problem loans.
• Strong underwriting, credit judgment, and portfolio management skills.
• Advanced to expert Experience working across multiple stakeholders, including senior executives, credit, and relationship teams.
• Proven ability to operate in both strategic and hands-on execution roles.
• Ability to balance growth, risk management, and relationship stewardship.
• Strong judgment in stabilizing or exiting challenged credits.
• Trusted partner to executive management and sponsor leadership.
• Disciplined, pragmatic approach to building a scalable national platform.
• Expert speaking and writing communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Masters or MBA in related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of the national, multi-unit sponsor finance business plan.
• Assist in the creation, refinement, and ongoing maintenance of the sponsor finance credit manual, policies, and underwriting standards.
• Partner with sponsor vertical heads to identify and develop new market and growth opportunities.
• Work with Credit on problem loan management.
• Collaborate with franchise management and sponsor coverage teams to stabilize, restructure, or exit challenged relationships as appropriate.
• Ensure disciplined remediation strategies that protect capital, preserve relationships where possible, and align with enterprise risk objectives.
• Serve as a key liaison between the Sponsor Finance group and the Arizona executive management team.
• Build strong working relationships with sponsor vertical leaders across the organization to drive coordination, consistency, and best practices.
• Provide clear communication on portfolio performance, emerging risks, and strategic initiatives.
• Perform and oversee basic underwriting, transaction structuring, and credit approval support.
• Actively manage the sponsor finance portfolio, monitoring credit quality, covenant performance, and overall health of the book.
• Partner with coverage officers on select sales and marketing efforts to support responsible growth and deepen sponsor relationships.
• Contribute to people development through mentorship, coaching, and knowledge sharing within the sponsor finance team.
• Identify opportunities to improve margin, pricing discipline, operating efficiency, and capital utilization across the portfolio.
• Support continuous improvement in processes, reporting, and execution standards.
• Lead and develop a team; responsible for hiring, coaching, performance management, training and development.

Benefits

• competitive salaries
• an ownership stake in the company
• medical and dental insurance
• time off
• a great 401k matching program
• tuition assistance program
• an employee volunteer program
• a wellness program
• opportunity to bolster business knowledge, learning the ins and outs of how successful companies operate and manage their finances, giving you invaluable hands-on experience to help grow your career!

What This Job Offers

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