Head of Operational Risk Management

Why should you join our team?

American AgCredit offers a unique opportunity to be a part of a national financial system supporting those who feed, clothe and fuel the world. We are a growing organization embracing collaboration and innovation while delivering transformative solutions. American AgCredit provides a cultivating environment where you truly make a difference for our customers and teams.

Benefits offered by American AgCredit:

• Commitment to agriculture and the communities we serve
• Family friendly work environment
• Investment in employee development
• Medical, Dental and Vision coverage
• Outstanding 401k – automatic 3% employer contribution, plus match up to 6%
• Generous Paid Time Off (Vacation accrued at 26 days annually, Sick Days accrued at 15 days annually, 12 paid holidays, plus 16 hours of volunteer time)
• Competitive Incentive Compensation Plan
• Disability & Life Insurance
• Employee mental, physical, and financial wellness programs
• The position is bonus eligible based on association and personal performance

Position will be posted until filled.

Basic Function:

The Head of Operational Risk Management (ORM) is a leadership role responsible for building critical ORM programs in collaboration with first, other second line and third line partners and building foundational operational risk management processes, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy. This role will ensure ORM processes are executed consistently, and foundational components (e.g., taxonomies) are incorporated into new and existing ORM processes. The Head of ORM will have several programs in their portfolio, including but not limited to, Business Resiliency, Disaster Recovery, Crisis Management, and Insurance. This position will work closely with the Association’s senior leaders to ensure ORM programs and processes identify, assess, respond to, measure, monitor and communicate operational risks and opportunities in accordance with industry standards and best practices. The Head of ORM will report into the Executive Head of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM).

Key Responsibilities:

ORM Program Management and Risk Leadership:

• Develop the ORM framework and revise, enhance, and execute consistently the operational risk management policy, methodology and related policies, procedures, work instructions, and frameworks; fill critical program gaps within ORM and where applicable, develop and mature existing operational risk management capabilities and activities.

• Design ORM programs and processes that, where applicable, provide support to all business functions as they pertain to their specific operational risk management efforts, including third party risk and other operational risk initiatives that make up the broader ORM portfolio.

• Lead operational risk reviews and/or risk assessments of new products and services in line with AAC strategy

• Design the operational risk assessment approach for change initiatives (including M&A activities, technology changes or conversions, automation, etc.)

• Monitor project risk, where applicable, across major strategic initiatives and projects to ensure second line effective challenge occurs as projects are executed.

• Champion a strong risk culture across the organization, embedding risk awareness into decision-making and performance management in line with the Enterprise Risk Framework and Risk Appetite and produce or create training materials for ORM programs tailored to applicable audiences involved in execution of the program across AAC.

• Communicate with Senior Leaders, the Executive Team and Board of Directors.

• Serve as an integral member of the Executive Leadership Group (ELG).

• Serve as a member of the Operational Risk Committee (ORC).

• Build organizational capacity and future leaders to enable success; works under general direction of Executive Head of ERM.

ORM Risk Assessments, Monitoring & Reporting:

• Execute the ORM risk reporting strategy and approach as designed by the Director of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), in concert with the Integrated Risk Reporting Team, for management, Executive Team, risk subcommittees, Governance and Risk Committee (GNR) ensuring appropriate connectivity between ORM programs and said reporting and enabling the Association’s ability to understand its operational risk posture.

• Revise, mature and consistently execute the Association’s risk and control self-assessment (RCSA) program via a risk-based approach, to ensure consistent identification, evaluation, prioritization, management, monitoring and reporting of operational risks.

• Ensure timely escalation of significant incidents and events to senior management and the Board and performing tend analysis to identify systemic control gaps leading to incidents and driving remediation.

• In collaboration with the Director of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), under the Key Risk Indicator (KRI) methodology and related processes, establish operational key risk indicators in accordance with industry standards and best practices.

• In collaboration with the Director of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), revise and refine the operational risk taxonomy within the enterprise risk management taxonomy in accordance with industry standards and best practices.

• Revise, mature and consistently execute the Association’s Operational Risk Incidents (ORI) program, ensuring timely capture, thorough and efficient root cause analysis identifying corrective and preventative actions, and remediation and monitoring of incidents via the Association’s issues management program.

• Create, formalize and execute scenario analysis programs to assess potential operational risk exposures under stress conditions and emerging risks.

• Lead the identification, development, and implementation of potential GRC tools to support automation, reporting, and monitoring of operational risk activities across all three lines of responsibility.

• Apply Second Line of Responsibility expertise to independently monitor, test, challenge, and report on operational risk-taking activities, ensuring an aligned and coordinated adherence to the Association’s risk appetite and regulatory standards.

• Support the Association’s Risk Sub-Committees as needed.

• Partner with business units to embed operational risk awareness into decision-making processes.

• Position the ORM function for long-term success, with the potential to lead teams as the function grows and matures.

Levels of Supervision Exercised and Received:

Reports to the Executive Head of Enterprise Risk Management and responsible for leading a team of enterprise risk professionals.

Typical Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in operational risk management or related fields is essential.  

• Advanced degree or professional certifications (FRM, CFA, CPA, CIA) relevant to the risk management profession are a plus.

• Expert knowledge and thorough understanding of designing, building and executing Operational Risk Management frameworks (e.g., COSO), programs, operational risk management processes, operational key risk measures/indicators (leading vs. lagging), operational risk assessment, and review.

• Strong business acumen with very high attention to detail and level of accuracy.

• Prior experience designing and executing operational risk assessments (e.g., RCSAs) and GRC tools.

• Passion for and proven ability to design, build and execute programs and processes across ORM and the Association, ensuring individuals are appropriately integrated and leveraging existing capabilities.

• Clear thinker with the ability to break down and present complex issues in a simple and concise manner

• Highly flexible, self-starter who works well in a rapidly changing, fast-paced, and high visibility environment

• Exceptional written and oral communication and facilitation skills, professional presence, positive demeanor, and ability to interact effectively with and report to all levels of employees, management, external auditors, and regulatory agencies.

• Ability to solve problems and execute work quickly, accurately, and thoughtfully.

• Possess a forward-thinking, enterprise mindset to stay ahead of potential, emerging risks.

• High integrity and discretion, sound judgment, and strong work ethic.

• Ability to travel domestically up to 10% annually.

Essential Requirements:

Must have the ability to perform basic office tasks and work in a typical office setting. Employee will be sitting for extended periods of time and accomplishing work at a desk and work at a computer for an extended period. Must have strong written and verbal communication skills to adequately convey ideas and work well with a team. Some lifting and moving of items up to 25 pounds required.  Work during established business hours and may require occasional weekend and/or evening work. Position requires the ability to travel.

PAY RANGE:

This range is reflective of the national salary average for this position and will be adjusted using geographic variance for physical location of the hired candidate. American AgCredit may compensate outside of the salary range for bona fide reasons not related to membership in a protected class.

• Reflected is the national base pay range and title offered for this job at the current level.

• Compensation, title, and job level may be adjusted based on candidate qualifications including but not limited to achievements, skills, experience, or work location.

• Salary offered, within the applicable range, is one component of the total rewards package offered to candidates.

All hiring is contingent on eligibility to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or transfer visas for applicants.

American AgCredit provides equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, alienage or citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, genetic information, medical condition, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, military service or veteran status, victims of domestic violence, or any other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. American AgCredit prohibits harassment of any individuals on any of the bases listed above.
If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [email protected].