Senior Vice President, Business Optimization

FCS Financial • Jefferson City, MO

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

FCS Financial is seeking a Senior Vice President, Business Optimization to connect organizational strategy, people, priorities, and execution. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, this leader oversees project management, continuous improvement, operational readiness and training, and change management. The role works with executive and senior leaders to coordinate plans, establish accountability, prioritize resources, and deliver measurable results while helping employees navigate organizational change and improving how work gets done.

The position directs the Association’s project management strategy and portfolio, establishes process governance and continuous improvement practices, and oversees operational training and readiness. It leads and develops teams responsible for project management, process improvement, and operational training, and coordinates change management across functions. The role ensures initiatives account for employee and customer needs, balance efficiency with service quality, and are sustained after implementation.

The position is classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act, is in the Finance Department, and reports to the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. It supervises Project Managers, Business Process Strategists, and operational training functions. Preferred offices are Jefferson City and Columbia, Missouri; other FCS Financial branch locations in Missouri will be considered. A hybrid work environment and flexible work schedule may be considered based on the candidate’s qualifications and needs. The position is open until filled.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, operations management, finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential functions.
• At least five years of progressive operations experience involving project management, process improvement or process engineering, operational training, or similar functions at a senior level.
• At least three years of supervisory experience.
• Advanced knowledge and capabilities in change management and organizational scaling.
• Exceptional cross-functional leadership and executive communication skills.
• Knowledge of project portfolio management and governance.
• Knowledge of process improvement methodologies and process governance.
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple priorities with a high level of accountability.
• Ability to work with limited supervision, independently or as part of a team.
• Skill in facilitating cross-functional decisions involving competing priorities.
• Strong critical thinking, initiative, attention to detail, and accuracy.
• Skill in managing, coaching, motivating, and developing teams; communicating objectives; and delegating tasks effectively.
• Verbal and written communication skills sufficient to exchange information and influence decisions and actions of subordinates, peers, supervisors, and customers.
• Strong customer service skills, including the ability to explain complicated information clearly, deliver bad news effectively, and exceed customer expectations.
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues at all levels of the Association.

Nice To Haves

• Hybrid work and a flexible work schedule may be considered based on the candidate’s qualifications and needs.

Responsibilities

• Partner with executive and senior leaders to translate organizational priorities into coordinated plans, clear accountability, and measurable results.
• Direct the Association’s project management strategy and plan, including oversight of strategic, cross-functional projects and initiatives.
• Work with the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Leadership Team to prioritize strategic projects and the portfolio based on strategy, goals, return on investment, and operational capacity.
• Establish strategic governance frameworks, standards, and tools for resource allocation, risk mitigation, and milestone tracking.
• Establish process governance with clear business ownership, accountability, documentation, measurement, and ongoing review of critical operational processes.
• Promote a process and continuous improvement culture to evaluate, design, and streamline operational workflows; eliminate waste; optimize cycle times; and scale standard operating procedures.
• Use key performance indicators to monitor process health and productivity gains, and ensure improvements are transitioned to business owners and sustained.
• Oversee operational readiness and the design, development, and delivery of role- and function-specific employee training.
• Coordinate with Information Services, project managers, and process improvement resources to prepare employees for new technologies, processes, procedures, and operational changes.
• Ensure employees receive timely and relevant operational information, training, tools, and resources as processes, systems, procedures, and job requirements change.
• Establish measures to evaluate training effectiveness, knowledge transfer, employee readiness, and application of learning on the job.
• Select, develop, motivate, and empower project management, process improvement, and operational training teams; assess talent and determine team structure and responsibilities.
• Set performance standards, communicate expectations and goals, and hold teams accountable for results.
• Ensure structured and consistent change management across project management, business and continuous improvement, and operational training functions and initiatives.
• Ensure improvement efforts consider internal and external customer needs and balance efficiency with service quality and business effectiveness.
• Partner with Information Services and business leaders to ensure technology investments and system changes support operational needs, efficient processes, and effective adoption.
• Coordinate business processes, training, readiness, and change activities with significant technology implementations.
• Work with internal communications resources on communication plans for major cross-functional or Association-wide initiatives when necessary.
• Keep executive leadership informed about significant strategic projects, including milestone and activity progress.
• Perform other duties as assigned to meet organizational needs.

Benefits

• Professional development and leadership growth opportunities.
• Comprehensive benefits package designed to support overall well-being.
• Competitive salary and incentive opportunities.
• Purpose-driven work supporting Missouri agriculture and rural communities.
• Opportunity to influence the future of the organization and work with professionals serving member owners.

What This Job Offers

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