Senior Director, Core Systems and Applications

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America•Chicago, IL

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position leads the strategy, delivery, and day-to-day leadership of the core banking platforms and business applications that run the Mission Investment Fund (MIF) and the ELCA Federal Credit Union. The role is responsible for technology decisions and roadmaps to ensure systems are stable, integrated, secure, and appropriately scaled. The emphasis is on disciplined execution, fit-for-purpose solutions, simplifying technology, partnering with operations, lending, and compliance, and coordinating with ELCA IT on shared infrastructure. This role leads a small application support team, manages vendor relationships, and manages the relationship with ELCA IT. This is a full-time, regular, exempt (salaried), Chicago-based hybrid position requiring weekly office presence (2-3 days most weeks, potentially more during meetings/events). Candidates must reside within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States.

Requirements

Minimum Technical Competency: Computer knowledge that enables you to operate a Windows Computer and follow basic troubleshooting instructions. Software skills to efficiently use computer programs and applications. Ability to leverage computer knowledge and software skills to understand new software, follow process, and identify opportunities for improvement. Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.) preferred.
Minimum of 8 to 10 years in technology leadership roles, including vendor and staff management, in banking, credit union, or financial services.
Track record of stabilizing, integrating, and right-sizing systems in a smaller or mid-sized organization, matching technology investment and complexity to the actual size and needs of the business. Experience defining and running a lean, fit-for-purpose technology operating model, including roles, governance, and sourcing decisions sized to the organization.
Working knowledge of system integration and data movement, including sound controls and auditability for money-movement processes.
Experience establishing data security, identity and access management, and appropriate security and access controls in a regulated financial environment, protecting sensitive financial and member information.
Experience leading a team of IT professionals.
Effective vendor, contract, and technology budget management, including holding partners accountable to service levels and deliverables.
Strong cross-functional partnership with operations, lending, and compliance, and effective coordination with ELCA churchwide IT.
Sound judgment and problem-solving, with a bias toward simplification and dependable execution over added scope.
Willingness to be available for occasional after-hours support of critical systems, as needed.
Appreciation for the mission, vision, and values of the ELCA and Mission Investment Fund.
Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism.
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Lead and Deliver Core Systems and Applications: Leads the operation, support, and roadmap for the core banking platforms and business applications that run MIF and the ELCA Federal Credit Union, including Fiserv DNA, CUAnswers/CUBASE, Salesforce, and supporting applications. Keeps systems stable, well-supported, and integrated, and delivers dependable results prioritized to the organization’s actual needs.
Manage and Implement Platform and Architecture Decisions: Resolves and carries out the core platform, account-structure, and integration decisions needed to move the technology environment forward. Maintains a clear, right-sized technology roadmap, and brings open decisions to resolution with operations and leadership rather than letting them stall.
Integration, Data, Security, and Controls: Oversees system integrations and money-movement processes with sound controls and auditability, and reduces manual or unsupported workarounds. Responsible for data security and access controls across systems, including identity and access management and role-based access controls, to protect sensitive financial and member information. Ensures technology operations are well-controlled and meet both ELCA's IT and security standards and the standards expected by the organization's regulators and auditors.
Vendor Management, Budget, and a Right-Sized Operating Model: Manages core and application vendor relationships, contracts, and service levels for value and continuity, and manages the technology operating and capital budget, including technology purchases and cost, value, and risk tradeoffs. Aligns the team, tools, and sourcing to the size of the organization, and simplifies or consolidates where systems or processes have grown beyond what the organization needs.
Lead the Team and Partner with ELCA IT: Leads, develops, and sets priorities for the applications team, keeping it focused and right sized for the work. Serves as the primary liaison with the ELCA churchwide organization’s IT leadership and team, monitoring the services covered by the shared services agreement and ensuring effective coordination of MIF and FCU technology activities.
Other duties as assigned