Risk Governance Program Manager

First Interstate BancSystem • Billings, MT

3d • Remote

About The Position

The Risk Governance Program Manager oversees assigned enterprise risk governance programs and related strategic initiatives. This position coordinates cross-functional stakeholders, manages governance processes and reporting, supports executive and Board risk oversight, and serves as the business owner for designated risk systems and programs. The role promotes consistent, sustainable, and well-documented risk governance practices across the Bank.

Requirements

• Demonstrates knowledge of enterprise risk management, the Three Lines Model, policy governance, issues management, risk taxonomy, committee governance, and executive and Board reporting.
• Reads, analyzes, and interprets complex regulatory, governance, technical, and business documents.
• Interprets regulatory expectations and coordinates their implementation through policies, procedures, governance processes, reporting, and controls.
• Translates complex regulatory, technical, governance, and process requirements into clear, actionable business requirements.
• Applies quantitative and qualitative analysis to interpret risk data, evaluate trends, assess program performance, and support informed decision-making.
• Interprets metrics, percentages, ratios, thresholds, and trend data used in risk and governance reporting.
• Defines problems, collects and analyzes data, establishes facts, evaluates alternatives, and draws well-supported conclusions.
• Demonstrates sound judgment and strong executive communication, technical writing, facilitation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Presents complex risk and governance matters clearly and effectively to senior management, governance committees, and regulators.
• Responds to sensitive inquiries or complaints with professionalism, discretion, and appropriate escalation.
• Demonstrates the ability to prioritize competing demands, manage multiple complex initiatives, and remain adaptable under pressure; travel may be required.
• Demonstrates proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, collaboration tools, data visualization tools, workflow solutions, and GRC platforms.
• High School or General Education Degree (GED) required
• 7-9 years of relevant experience in financial services, enterprise risk management, compliance, audit, governance, program management, or a related field required
• Experience managing or supporting risk governance programs, including policy governance, issues management, risk taxonomy, committee governance, and the preparation of executive- and Board-level reporting required
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives involving governance, process design, technology implementation, change management, or regulatory requirements required
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and influencing stakeholders without direct authority preferred

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's Degree in Risk Management, Business, Finance, Accounting, Compliance, or a related field preferred
• Experience administering, implementing, or serving as the business owner for a Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) platform to include Archer preferred
• Professional certification such as CERP, CRISC, CRCM, PMP, or a comparable risk, compliance, audit, or project management credential preferred

Responsibilities

• Supports strategic planning and leads the implementation of initiatives affecting assigned risk governance programs.
• Provides governance, program management, and decision-support expertise to the Risk Leadership Team.
• Coordinates the maintenance of the enterprise risk governance framework, including committee structures, charters, decision authorities, escalation pathways, and reporting standards.
• Builds effective partnerships with Executive Management, Legal, Compliance, Internal Audit, Finance, Privacy, Technology, and business-line stakeholders to align governance responsibilities and resolve cross-functional issues.
• Coordinates governance calendars, agendas, meeting materials, decisions, minutes, action items, and follow-up activities for risk committees.
• Coordinates timely and accurate reporting on strategic initiatives, audit and regulatory matters, issues, risk trends, and other matters requiring executive or Board oversight.
• Develops and conducts quality reviews of executive- and Board-level risk materials to ensure accuracy, consistency, completeness, and alignment with governance standards.
• Coordinates the preparation, validation, approval, and submission of assigned regulatory risk reports in partnership with Legal, Compliance, Finance, and applicable business owners.
• Administers the risk policy governance process, including standards, review cycles, approvals, exceptions, change management, and the escalation of overdue items.
• Maintains complete and examination-ready records of policy decisions, approvals, exceptions, and supporting documentation.
• Leads the Bank’s Issues Management Program, including governance standards, lifecycle requirements, reporting, escalation, system administration, and program effectiveness monitoring.
• Identifies and escalates overdue, disputed, or potentially material issues and governance matters to the appropriate risk leader or governance committee.
• Serves as the business owner for the Bank’s GRC platform, establishing business requirements, governance standards, priorities, access expectations, data quality requirements, and change management processes.
• Partners with Technology, vendors, and stakeholders to oversee system enhancements, testing, implementation, support, data integrity, and alignment with risk governance requirements.
• Leads assigned risk initiatives by establishing scope, governance, milestones, dependencies, resource requirements, risks, decision points, and implementation plans.
• Develops and delivers training, communications, and change management support for assigned risk governance programs, processes, systems, roles, and responsibilities.
• Develops and monitors meaningful metrics to evaluate program performance, identify trends, support decision-making, and drive corrective action.
• Reviews governance submissions for completeness, accuracy, consistency, and adherence to standards, and challenges gaps before escalation.
• Periodically evaluates assigned governance programs against requirements, performance metrics, stakeholder feedback, regulatory expectations, and industry practices, and recommends improvements.
• Participates in the selection, placement, evaluation, development, promotion, and termination of employees as needed.
• Coaches employees to develop and enhance the skills required for success in their roles.

Benefits

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) in addition to paid federal holidays.
• Student debt employer repayment program.
• 401(k) retirement plan with a 6% match.
• medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability benefits and life insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, employee assistance program, 401(k), Paid Time Off (new hires accrue at .069 per hours worked which equates to approximately 18 days per year inclusive of paid sick time) and up to 11 paid Federal holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED