Program Manager / Program Director Banking & Digital Financial Services

Senior Program Manager / Program Director Banking & Digital Financial Services
Location: Columbus, OH

Experience

12 16 years of progressive experience in Banking Technology, Digital Financial Services, and Program Management

Role Summary

We are seeking a seasoned Senior Program Manager / Program Director with deep expertise in the banking domain and digital financial products to lead complex, multi-year implementation programs for global and regional banks.

The ideal candidate brings a strong blend of banking domain knowledge, product and consulting experience, and end-to-end program delivery leadership, with the ability to manage stakeholders across business, technology, and external partners while driving innovation and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Program & Delivery Leadership

• Own and lead large-scale banking implementation programs from initiation through go-live and post-production stabilization
• Define program scope, milestones, delivery roadmap, and success metrics
• Manage multi-workstream programs involving business, technology, vendors, and client teams
• Ensure adherence to schedule, budget, quality, and regulatory requirements

Banking Domain & Product Expertise

• Leverage strong domain knowledge across:
• Digital Banking Platforms
• Digital Payments & Wallets
• Core Banking Systems
• Cards (Debit, Credit, Prepaid)
• Translate banking business requirements into clear execution plans
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients on banking modernization and digital transformation initiatives

Stakeholder & Customer Management

• Serve as the primary client-facing program owner
• Build strong relationships with bank executives, product owners, and technology leaders
• Lead governance forums including steering committees, executive reviews, and risk councils
• Manage expectations, escalations, and executive communications effectively

Risk, Issue & Dependency Management

• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate program risks, issues, and dependencies
• Establish strong RAID (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies) management practices
• Drive timely resolution of blockers while maintaining delivery momentum

Planning, Tracking & Reporting

• Own program planning, backlog prioritization, and release scheduling
• Oversee go-live readiness, cutover planning, and production deployment
• Provide clear, data-driven status reporting to internal leadership and customers
• Track program KPIs including delivery progress, quality, financials, and resource utilization

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities for process optimization, automation, and efficiency improvements
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across delivery, governance, and execution models
• Contribute innovative ideas for banking product enhancements, platform evolution, and operational excellence

Required Qualifications

• 12 16 years of experience in banking technology and program management
• Strong experience working with:
• Banking product companies
• Consulting and system integration firms
• Proven track record of end-to-end program ownership with multiple banking clients
• Deep understanding of banking operations, digital financial products, and regulatory environments
• Hands-on experience managing large cross-functional teams and vendors
• Strong expertise in risk management, delivery governance, and client engagement
• Excellent communication, leadership, and executive presentation skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading multi-country or multi-bank implementation programs
• Exposure to agile, hybrid, and waterfall delivery models
• Experience with banking modernization, cloud migration, or platform transformation programs
• Ability to operate in high-pressure, fast-paced, client-facing environments

Core Competencies

• Program & Portfolio Management
• Banking & Digital Financial Services
• Client & Executive Stakeholder Management
• Risk & Issue Management
• Backlog & Release Planning
• Go-Live & Cutover Management
• Innovation & Process Optimization
• Strategic Thinking & Execution Excellence