IT Director

Commerce Bank•Kansas City, MO

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The main purpose of this job is to provide strategic and operational leadership for the Core Banking Services technology portfolio, ensuring stability, modernization, and alignment with business objectives. Oversee critical banking platforms-including customer, deposit, lending, and payment systems-and partner with business leaders and vendor teams to deliver secure, scalable, and innovative solutions. Drive software development strategies and fosters a high-performing, adaptable team culture.

Requirements

Strong knowledge of core banking platforms, payment systems, lending systems, software development best practices, and regulatory compliance
Ability to create and lead high-performing teams, drive strategic initiatives, and manage large-scale programs/projects
Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work across the organization and interact/influence/negotiate effectively at all levels of management and peers
Ability to think critically, solve problems, make decisions and build trust across the company and effectively envision, develop, and implement new strategies to address competitive complex business issues
Expert general management knowledge and skills, such as departmental goal setting and planning, budgeting and personnel administration
Ability to remain adaptable and resilient to all situations with an optimistic outlook and cast a positive shadow that is aligned with our culture and Core Values
Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook
Master’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
10+ years experience managing IT organizations or functions that develop and support critical software or organizations experience required
7+ years leadership/supervisory experience required
Demonstrated experience in strategic development/planning and execution of large programs/projects required, preferably in banking or financial services technology
Must be eligible to work in the US without sponsorship now or in the future

Responsibilities

Define and execute technology strategies for core banking systems, ensuring alignment with enterprise goals and regulatory requirements
Maintain ongoing collaboration with the IT Senior Leadership Team to foster strong partnerships, promote open communication, and ensure strategic alignment across all IT initiatives. This includes actively participating in leadership meetings, providing input on key decisions, facilitating cross-functional coordination, and monitoring progress to confirm that teamwork and shared objectives are consistently achieved throughout the IT organization.
Lead, mentor, and motivate teams responsible for planning, designing, developing, testing, and deploying core banking applications and integrations
Establish functional requirements, quality, and performance standards; ensure compliance with PCI, security, and regulatory standards
Develop short and long-term initiatives that align with the company strategy and provide guidance, coaching and development opportunities appropriate to each direct report's individual needs
Lead, mentor and motivate team members to implement the department strategy and be responsible for upholding the company culture and driving it within the organization
Communicate decisions, priorities and relevant information to appropriate levels of staff effectively
Oversee budget management, planning and expenditure
Serve as escalation point for project issues and risks; monitor health of production systems and drive risk mitigation plans
Build and manage strategic vendor and co-sourcing partnerships; establish governance and performance standards
Participate in steering committees and product owner councils to prioritize backlogs and manage roadmaps
Develop and implement departmental policies, practices, and procedures that support organizational strategy
Perform other duties as assigned