Sr Manager Operational Risk & Controls

BECU•St. David's, WA

About The Position

As the Senior Manager, Operational Risk & Controls, you will shape and lead a true first-line risk management function within MDX (Member & Digital Experience), transforming how risk, controls, and compliance are designed, owned, and executed. You will professionalize and centralize operational risk practices, moving them from fragmented and informal to scalable, enterprise-grade programs that support growth and an upcoming merger. Your work will directly strengthen regulatory readiness, operational resilience, and confidence in business decision-making. By partnering closely with business leaders, Technology, and Enterprise Risk, you will enable innovation while protecting members and the organization. This is a builder role where your expertise sets the foundation for long-term success.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, risk management, operations, or equivalent work experience
5-7 years of experience in operational risk management, internal controls, First Line of Defense oversight, or audit roles.
3 years of people leader experience
Previous experience working in financial services or credit unions

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree, MBA, or relevant professional certification such as CRISC, CRCM, CISA, PMP, or Six Sigma
Demonstrated experience designing, executing, and/or automating operational controls
Advanced understanding of risk frameworks, including RCSA, incident management, issue management, and controls testing
Familiarity with PRCI frameworks and enterprise control management systems
Experience partnering with technology teams to design and implement control automation solutions
Previous experience identifying complex processes, identifying risks, and delivering clear, actionable recommendations
Excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to engage and challenge stakeholders at all levels
Demonstrated people leadership capabilities, including team management and cross-functional leadership
Strategic thinking, sound judgment, and a risk mindset that balances innovation with effective risk mitigation
Willingness to travel occasionally as required and ability to comply with organizational risk management, information security, and confidentiality policies

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary First Line of Defense Operational Risk leader for MDX, providing clear governance, oversight, monitoring, and reporting across all business activities.
Establish and lead the Operational Risk & Controls function, designing frameworks, standards, and practices that align with enterprise risk programs and support future scale.
Lead, coach, and develop a team of risk and control professionals through clear objectives, ongoing feedback, and meaningful growth opportunities, while conducting timely performance evaluations.
Drive consistent execution of risk assessments, including RCSAs, incident management, issue management, and process-level risk oversight.
Oversee control writing, control design, and maintenance of the Process Risk & Control Inventory (PRCI), ensuring accuracy, completeness, and alignment to enterprise standards.
Ensure business-owned PRCIs are effectively designed, mapped to risks and processes, and tested in accordance with enterprise and regulatory expectations.
Partner with Technology and Enterprise Risk to design, implement, and mature manual, semi-automated, and fully automated controls that improve efficiency, accuracy, and sustainability.
Lead control health evaluations, performance monitoring, rationalization efforts, and ongoing improvement of control effectiveness.
Oversee issue identification, remediation planning, and execution for control gaps, audit findings, and regulatory issues.
Own audit and exam preparedness, support regulatory interactions, and manage findings through resolution.
Assist in the development and delivery of dashboards, metrics, and reporting that provide senior leadership with transparent insights into emerging risks, control health, and operational performance.
Integrate risk considerations into strategic planning, change management, and new product or process initiatives in collaboration with senior leaders.
Partner with Operations, Marketing, Digital, Data, Product, Technology, and Enterprise Risk to embed risk awareness and enable operational excellence.
Act as both a builder and teacher by upskilling the organization, fostering accountability, transparency, and a strong risk-aware culture.
Identify systemic and emerging risks, ensuring timely escalation and visibility aligned with organizational risk appetite.