Fintech Partnerships Lead

UFCU Main•Austin, TX

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Fintech Partnerships Lead supports UFCU’s fintech and innovation agenda by managing key partnerships, pilots, and fintech ecosystem engagements. Reporting to the Director, Fintech Strategy & Partnerships, this role focuses on execution, coordination, and relationship management across the fintech portfolio. This role works closely with Product Owners, Researchers, and cross-functional partners to ensure fintech collaborations are well-integrated, efficiently delivered, and generate measurable value for members. This role bridges external innovation with internal experimentation by coordinating fintech engagements, aligning pilot planning with member research, and tracking results to support decision-making. The Fintech Partnerships Lead also engages within the broader fintech ecosystem, including accelerators, investment networks, and peer credit unions, to identify emerging opportunities that align with UFCU’s strategic goals. About UFCU Our Credit Union was founded in 1936 and has grown to serve members throughout Texas and beyond. At UFCU, we are more than just a financial institution, and our people are more than just employees. We are dedicated to our purpose of empowering our Members to achieve financial success and build brighter futures . In pursuit of our aspiration that UFCU is loved by millions of Members and built to thrive for generations , we are guided by our values: Purposefully Member-Obsessed We are driven by a profound sense of empathy to deeply understand our Members’ needs and preferences, what brighter futures means to them, and the obstacles in their way. We act in our Members’ best interests, forever seeking to empower their financial success. Possibilities Reimagined We are inspired to courageously experiment, learn, and iterate in pursuit of positive impact for our Members, UFCU, and coworkers. We challenge assumptions, embrace diverse perspectives, and make use of data and insights. Performance Excellence Rooted in Unwavering Integrity We do the right thing, always. We champion teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement, and celebrate successful outcomes of others, fostering an inclusive environment of excellence and collaboration.

Requirements

Advanced understanding of credit union, banking, or fintech environments, with the ability to navigate partner, compliance, and technology considerations.
Strong knowledge of digital banking ecosystems, including platforms such as Backbase, Q2, Lumin, or Alkami, and middleware solutions such as Mulesoft or PortX.
Familiarity with fintech investment networks, accelerators, and collaborative partnership models, including CUSOs.
Solid understanding of user research principles and how research informs product validation, pilot design, and member experience outcomes.
Awareness of how fintech strategy integrates across business units such as Product, Technology, Operations, and Member Experience.
Advanced relationship management and stakeholder communication skills to effectively coordinate with partners, Product Owners, and cross-functional teams.
Skilled in project planning, coordination, and reporting to support pilot execution, readiness, and performance visibility.
Ability to analyze pilot data, synthesize findings, and deliver actionable insights that inform strategic decisions.
Proficiency with collaboration and productivity tools such as Microsoft 365, project tracking software, and vendor management systems.
Strong organizational and documentation skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and meet timelines.
Ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority while maintaining alignment and accountability.
Capability to bridge external innovation with internal operational goals and translate fintech capabilities into measurable member value.
Strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities with attention to both strategic context and operational detail.
High degree of adaptability and curiosity, with the ability to learn quickly and adjust in a fast-evolving fintech landscape.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Technology, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Five to seven years of work experience directly related to fintech partnerships, vendor management, or digital product delivery.
Demonstrated experience coordinating cross-functional initiatives within financial services, fintech, or credit union environments.
Proven ability to manage multiple partnerships, pilots, or vendor relationships from initiation through delivery.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate performance metrics and translate insights into recommendations.
Effective communication and relationship management skills for interacting with partners, internal teams, and leadership audiences.
Proficiency with collaboration tools such as Microsoft 365 and project or vendor management systems.
Must be bondable.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a credit union, banking, or fintech environment.
Familiarity with digital banking platforms such as Backbase, Q2, Lumin, or Alkami, and middleware solutions such as Mulesoft or PortX.
Exposure to fintech investment networks, accelerators, and collaborative partnership models, including CUSOs.
Understanding of user research and its application in pilot design and product validation.
Professional certifications in project management, product management, or business analysis (e.g., PMP, CSPO, CBAP) are beneficial.
Additional language proficiency is a plus, particularly in Spanish.

Responsibilities

Fintech Relationship and Portfolio Management Manage day-to-day relationships with fintech partners, ensuring alignment with UFCU objectives and member experience priorities.
Coordinate onboarding, integration, and partnership activities in collaboration with Product Owners, Technology, Compliance, and Operations teams.
Maintain a comprehensive fintech portfolio tracker that captures partner status, performance metrics, and outcomes.
Support vendor assessments, due diligence, and risk reviews for new and existing partnerships.
Serve as the central point of contact between fintech partners and internal stakeholders to ensure coordination and transparency.
Pilot Coordination and Delivery Plan and coordinate pilot projects from initiation through completion, ensuring objectives, scope, and milestones are achieved.
Facilitate internal readiness across business and technology teams for successful pilot launches.
Partner with the Director, Fintech Strategy & Partnerships to evaluate pilot results and develop recommendations for scaling or next steps.
Document learnings and process improvements to enhance UFCU’s pilot management framework.
Collaboration with UFCU’s Insights Studio (Research Lab) Partner with UFCU’s research team to integrate research, testing, and member feedback into fintech pilots and proofs of concept.
Work with the Senior Researcher to align pilot timelines with research cycles, usability testing, and validation activities.
Ensure findings from moderated and unmoderated research are incorporated into pilot planning and partner discussions.
Coordinate with researchers to translate member insights into actionable design and experience improvements.
Communicate research-informed insights and pilot outcomes to internal stakeholders and partners.
Ecosystem Engagement and Opportunity Scouting Monitor fintech trends and emerging technologies across key domains such as payments, lending, data enrichment, and member personalization.
Build and maintain relationships with fintech accelerators, venture partners, and peer credit unions to identify future opportunities.
Represent UFCU at industry events such as Finovate, VentureTech, Fintech Meetup, and other related conferences.
Provide regular updates and insights to the Director, Fintech Strategy & Partnerships and other internal teams.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Collaborate with Product Owners and Project Managers to translate fintech capabilities into member-facing solutions.
Partner with Marketing and Communications to support launch announcements, member awareness, and engagement campaigns.
Contribute to internal reporting, including updates to various committees and senior leadership.
Other Adheres to all company policies, procedures, and business ethics codes.
Completes required regulatory training as assigned.
Maintains strict adherence to and compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, and internal controls specific to the role, including but not limited to Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering, USA Patriot Act, OFAC and Fair Lending regulations.