About Our Opportunity

Partners with the first line of defense to proactively identify, assess and measure current and emerging operational risks across the Association, and assists in the development of key performance, risk, and control indicators. Investigates root causes of operational risks and provides support to mitigate risk with cross-functional teams. Recommends and implements risk mitigation strategies and practices. Serves as a consultative resource to the organization on operational risk-related issues.

Responsible for the oversight of the Association’s model governance process. Coordinates with model owners to implement and review the adequacy of documentation and validations of the Association’s critical models. Provides feedback and coaching to model owners on areas of improvement. Continues to develop and improve the overall validation process.

How You Will Spend Your Time

• Identify and assess areas of unmanaged or inadequately managed operational risk and work with the first line of defense to implement appropriate controls to mitigate risk exposure.
• Build strong interpersonal relationships to inform, guide and motivate the first line of defense to address risks with attention to detail and to identify and implement the most effective solutions.
• Assist with implementation when appropriate and follow up and monitor implemented solutions.
• Multi-task to keep several projects on track simultaneously and facilitate consensus among cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Effectively describe and explain operational risks that are complex and obscure.
• Communicate operational related policies and standards and how they should be applied within the business units to appropriately manage risk at an acceptable level.
• Facilitate and mature the 3 Lines of Defense program, collaborating with all 3 lines to create consistency across the Association and develop coordinated control testing.
• Develop risk education for all levels of the Association, including the Leadership Team and the Board of Directors, to create a more risk aware culture in collaboration with the Enterprise Risk Manager.
• Communicate effectively to both technical and non-technical individuals and groups, including the Leadership Team, Operational Risk Committee, and Board of Directors.
• Assist with implementation of the Governance Risk and Compliance tool (GRC) and manage workflows associated with an operational risk inventory.
• Oversee and continue to advance the model risk management program, including potential implementation of the program workflow in the GRC tool.
• Develop and update applicable risk-related internal controls including board policy and Association procedures.
• Continually build expertise in agricultural and consumer lending, credit, finance and technology to support being an active partner and risk management resource for other departments across the Association.
• Represent the Risk Management and Analytics department on applicable Association and Farm Credit System (FCS) committees, workgroups, or project teams.
• Interact and collaborate with risk management professionals and leaders from other entities, including other FCS institutions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, Economics, Finance, Mathematics, Statistics, Information Technology, or related fields. Three years of progressively-responsible experience in operational risk or relevant audit/examination work. At least one year of experience with operational risk or relevant audit/examination work at a financial institution is preferred. Familiarity with financial predictive modeling disciplines.

Mental & Physical Requirements

This job requires the incumbent to have the ability to

• Engage in telephone, web-based, and face-to-face conversation to serve customers and give and receive information from customers, staff, vendors, outside consultants and the public.
• Use a computer and similar office technology and tools. This involves reading the screen and keying/typing information.
• Speak and make presentations to individuals or groups on technical subjects related to job.
• Travel via auto or commercial transportation to carry out essential responsibilities of the job.
• Successfully interact with and represent the organization to customers, staff, officers, board members, vendors, and/or the public at all levels.
• Provide sound technical advice to customers and other staff in the subject field(s) related to this position.
• Understand and explain various subject matter and consulting concepts, programs, terminology, and methods.
• Reason, judge, compare, calculate, evaluate, decide, and critique such information as written material, numerical data, responses to customer needs, and/or other related work activities.

Requirements of the job include the ability to do the work, with or without reasonable accommodations. It is the Association's policy to make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Leadership retains the right to add, subtract or change duties of the position at any time.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V.