IT Director - Payments Delivery

Western Alliance Bank • Phoenix, AZ

3d

About The Position

We’re seeking a proven technology leader to drive the next phase of our Payments Platform modernization journey - scaling our payment systems while ensuring they remain safe, secure, compliant, and reliable. As an IT Director you'll lead the delivery of technology solutions leveraging partnerships with other technology teams (e.g. Architecture, Infrastructure, Engineering, and Support), business teams and leaders, strategic partners, and third-party technology providers. Additionally, you'll collaborate with internal business partners to proactively address ongoing customer needs and ensure rapid resolution to open issues. In this role you'll foster a collaborative environment with focus on continuous improvement and delivery of working software. As an IT Director I you'll drive the strategic planning for the delivery of products and services as well as evaluate Technology and set standards. Working in this role, you'll be accountable to recommend improvements to established business processes as well as to continue to deliver high value in execution. You’ll also be accountable for creating comprehensive project plans as well as to remove any impediments and track overall project performance, specifically to analyze the successful completion of business short-term and long-term goals. Manage large matrixed teams across multiple domains working on complex problems and solutions. Develop user manuals, as well as policies, procedures, and safety protocols for presentation to larger IT and the enterprise. Participate in building the IT organization's strategy for employee development, retention, resource allocation, talent management, performance management, and achieve a diverse and engaged workforce as well as recruit, train, and evaluate staff member’s work. Participate in the annual budget planning and management process as well as business cases reviews, execution plans, and operating plans for their teams. Ensure adequate risk management and cyber security processes and controls are established and maintained in alignment with the risk appetite for the Bank as well as any applicable regulatory and enterprise risk management expectations. Lead cross-functional Agile teams to deliver high-performance payment capabilities across multiple payment rails, including Wires, ACH, RTP, Zelle, PayPal, IBT, and SWIFT. Own and execute the Payments Platform roadmap, delivering scalable and compliant solutions across online, file-based, and API payment channels. Champion SDLC and Agile excellence, continuously improving engineering discipline, documentation, and control frameworks to meet enterprise and regulatory standards. Represent Payments Technology area in architecture, audit and risk reviews, ensuring alignment with IT governance, compliance, and enterprise architecture standards. Develop and scale top engineering talent, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and delivery excellence. Partner with Product, Operations, and Sales leadership to define strategic objectives, prioritize initiatives across business lines, and ensure technology execution supports enterprise goals. Influence senior stakeholders to translate business strategy into executable technology roadmaps with measurable outcomes. Accelerate engineering productivity and automate operations through modern tools and Generative AI adoption across development, testing, and documentation. Collaborate with Enterprise Architecture, Infrastructure, and Cybersecurity to ensure platforms meet standards for security, scalability, and observability.

Requirements

• 10+ years of related experience or similar field.
• Bachelor's degree in related field required.
• Previous leadership experience required.
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of general Financial Services or Banking is preferred.
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of applicable regulatory and legal compliance obligations, rules and regulations, industry standards and practices.
• Advanced to expert experience in managing multiple technology teams (Application Engineering Support and Delivery, Infrastructure Engineering Support and Delivery, Architecture, or Project Management) including additional responsibility for the execution of KPIs and timelines.
• Advanced to expert ability to analyze a variety of data and summarize findings in applicable reports or other communication mediums. Utilize data to identify areas of improvement and opportunities for growth by collaborating with business and tech leads.
• Deep experience in API-driven architecture, microservices, and event-based integrations (MuleSoft or equivalent).
• Proven ability to scale Agile and DevOps practices, driving measurable improvements in velocity, quality, and predictability.
• Strong background in Azure, CI/CD, and SDLC.
• Demonstrated success in audit readiness, risk management, and SDLC process governance.
• Track record of building high-performing, inclusive teams and developing future technology leaders.
• Strong executive communication and influencing skills, with experience collaborating across Product, Operations, Sales, and Enterprise functions.
• Familiarity with Generative AI applications for improving engineering productivity and automating business operations.
• May require up to 25% travel

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of technology solutions leveraging partnerships with other technology teams (e.g. Architecture, Infrastructure, Engineering, and Support), business teams and leaders, strategic partners, and third-party technology providers.
• Collaborate with internal business partners to proactively address ongoing customer needs and ensure rapid resolution to open issues.
• Foster a collaborative environment with focus on continuous improvement and delivery of working software.
• Drive the strategic planning for the delivery of products and services as well as evaluate Technology and set standards.
• Recommend improvements to established business processes as well as to continue to deliver high value in execution.
• Create comprehensive project plans as well as to remove any impediments and track overall project performance, specifically to analyze the successful completion of business short-term and long-term goals.
• Manage large matrixed teams across multiple domains working on complex problems and solutions.
• Develop user manuals, as well as policies, procedures, and safety protocols for presentation to larger IT and the enterprise.
• Participate in building the IT organization's strategy for employee development, retention, resource allocation, talent management, performance management, and achieve a diverse and engaged workforce as well as recruit, train, and evaluate staff member’s work.
• Participate in the annual budget planning and management process as well as business cases reviews, execution plans, and operating plans for their teams.
• Ensure adequate risk management and cyber security processes and controls are established and maintained in alignment with the risk appetite for the Bank as well as any applicable regulatory and enterprise risk management expectations.
• Lead cross-functional Agile teams to deliver high-performance payment capabilities across multiple payment rails, including Wires, ACH, RTP, Zelle, PayPal, IBT, and SWIFT.
• Own and execute the Payments Platform roadmap, delivering scalable and compliant solutions across online, file-based, and API payment channels.
• Champion SDLC and Agile excellence, continuously improving engineering discipline, documentation, and control frameworks to meet enterprise and regulatory standards.
• Represent Payments Technology area in architecture, audit and risk reviews, ensuring alignment with IT governance, compliance, and enterprise architecture standards.
• Develop and scale top engineering talent, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and delivery excellence.
• Partner with Product, Operations, and Sales leadership to define strategic objectives, prioritize initiatives across business lines, and ensure technology execution supports enterprise goals.
• Influence senior stakeholders to translate business strategy into executable technology roadmaps with measurable outcomes.
• Accelerate engineering productivity and automate operations through modern tools and Generative AI adoption across development, testing, and documentation.
• Collaborate with Enterprise Architecture, Infrastructure, and Cybersecurity to ensure platforms meet standards for security, scalability, and observability.

Benefits

• We offer all the important things you'd want — like 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, and a wellness program.

What This Job Offers

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