SR Operational Risk Program Manager

About Patelco Credit Union

Patelco Credit Union is a not-for-profit credit union with a purpose to build financial health and wellbeing for our members. Since 1936, Patelco has grown from $500 in assets to over $9 billion in assets and is the 7th largest credit union in California with branches throughout Northern California.

We are here for our members throughout all their stages of life. Meeting them with the products and services to help them plan purposefully for their futures and to secure our life‑long partnership as their trusted financial advocate. As one team, we are all committed to delivering service, empowering financial literacy, creating products, and providing new technology for our members.

We believe that work should be rewarding, challenging, and enjoyable. We’re dedicated to creating a positive and supportive culture where our team members can thrive. If you’re looking to use your skills and knowledge to make a difference in our members’ lives, Patelco could be the perfect fit for you.

The Senior Operational Risk Program Manager is responsible for leading the design, implementation, and ongoing enhancement of the Credit Union’s operational risk management framework. This role ensures that operational risk is effectively identified, assessed, monitored, and mitigated across all business lines and support functions in alignment with regulatory expectations, strategic objectives, and the Credit Union’s risk appetite.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader who can translate complex risk concepts into practical tools and programs that support sound decision‑making and a strong risk culture.

• Lead the development, execution, and continuous improvement of the Operational Risk Management (ORM) Program in alignment with NCUA, FFIEC, and state regulatory requirements.
• Partner with the CRO and senior leadership to strengthen the Credit Union’s risk governance framework and ensure integration with strategic planning, compliance, and audit processes.
• Maintain and enhance policies, standards, and procedures related to operational risk management.
• Support the Board Risk Committee and Executive Risk Committee with program updates, risk reports, and metrics.
• Oversee enterprise‑wide risk and control self‑assessments (RCSAs), ensuring consistent methodologies and documentation standards.
• Facilitate scenario analysis, loss event tracking, and root cause analyses to identify emerging risks and control weaknesses.
• Collaborate with business units to embed proactive risk identification and mitigation practices in day‑to‑day operations.
• Develop and maintain key risk indicators (KRIs), dashboards, and reporting to monitor trends and inform management decisions.
• Analyze operational loss data and incidents to identify systemic issues and drive control enhancements.
• Produce and present high‑quality risk reports for senior management, committees, and regulators.
• Partner with Information Security, Business Continuity, Vendor Management, Compliance, and Internal Audit to ensure risk coverage across operational domains.
• Provide risk oversight for significant change initiatives, system implementations, and process redesigns.
• Promote a culture of risk awareness and accountability through education, training, and communication.
• Operational Risk Framework Expertise. Demonstrates deep knowledge of ORM principles, regulatory expectations (NCUA, FFIEC, DFPI), and industry best practices to design, implement, and enhance enterprise‑wide risk programs.
• Risk Assessment & Control Evaluation. Proficient in leading RCSAs, scenario analysis, loss event reviews, and root cause analysis to identify control gaps, emerging risks, and systemic issues.
• Regulatory Governance & Compliance Alignment. Ensures risk management activities, policies, and reporting align with regulatory standards and integrate effectively with governance, audit, and compliance functions.
• Data‑Driven Risk Reporting & Analytics. Translates complex risk data into actionable insights through KRIs, dashboards, and executive‑level reporting using advanced analytics and visualization tools.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Influence. Partners…