Chief Operating Officer

Join Us! We are seeking a Chief Operating Officer to join our Operations Department team.

What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• 401K Plan with Matching
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Supplemental Benefits
• Engagement Area
• Wellness Studio & Gym
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Health Savings Account with Company Contributions

Role Overview: The Chief Operating Officer (COO) plays a pivotal role in leading and optimizing the credit union's day-to-day operations. This is a key position that ensures our operations are aligned with our strategic business goals and mission. Reporting directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the COO will lead across multiple functional areas, including branch operations, operations support, and small business banking solutions teams. The COO will have in-depth industry knowledge, a proven track record of operational excellence, strong leadership skills, and be a strategic leader. The credit union is a dynamic, fast-paced environment that fosters a collaborative and member-driven culture.

Key Responsibilities:

Make an impact:

• Partner with the President/CEO to design and execute the credit union's operations strategic direction.
• Develop, implement and maintain operational strategies, policies, and procedures that align with BrightStar's mission and long-term objectives.
• Streamline operational processes to maximize efficiency, scalability, and profitability while maintaining a member-centric approach.
• Oversight of front and back-end operations that include branch, operations support and small business activities within established policies and guidelines, while adhering to all regulatory agency standards. Ensure the credit union follows all federal and state laws.
• Keep President/CEO well informed about the credit union’s conditions and operations and all-important factors influencing them. This responsibility underscores the role in maintaining transparency and accountability within the organization.
• Involvement with credit union regulatory advocacy and within community to enhance brand awareness by participating in outside advisory groups.

Innovate and Lead:

• Lead initiatives that strengthen and scale our offerings to meet the branches and digital evolving member and market needs, operations support, and small business banking solutions.
• Partner with the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and other teams to implement and enhance technologies that support a seamless employee and member experience.
• Champion process automation and digital transformation to enhance the member experience, reduce inefficient processes, and improve member acquisition and retention in branch and digital channels.
• Collaborate with Lending, Marketing, Finance, and other executive stakeholders to align operational priorities with overall business objectives.

Financial Stewardship:

• Develop and oversee operations budgeting, forecasting, and financial management to support sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and expense mitigation.

Leadership Development:

• Build and lead a high-performance team, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence through department managers, to ensure organizational goals and objectives are met and exceeded.
• Implement a sales and service culture throughout the credit union to promote membership growth, product and service penetration and member delight.
• Ensure compensation and incentive structures align with business objectives and employee motivation.
• Attend and participate in Board meetings and internal committee meetings.

Culture:

• Ensure a collaborative and inclusive workplace where staff is heard and valued. Commitment to creating a positive work environment is crucial to upholding our culture.

Minimum Expectations of Knowledge and Skills:

• 10+ years of professional experience in operations, with 8+ years in a senior operations role.
• Experience in bank operations, lending, or financial services.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire and lead teams, emphasizing transparency and accountability.
• Proven track record of driving operational excellence, scaling teams, and implementing strategic initiatives in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment.
• Demonstrated success in managing cross-functional teams and delivering on ambitious performance targets.
• Strong analytical mindset with a data-driven approach to critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and execute multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of engaging effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• High emotional intelligence and commitment to ethical practices.
• Entrepreneurial spirit with a proactive approach to business challenges.
• Experience with merger processes (preferred).

Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Operations Management, or a related field (MBA or advanced degree preferred).

• Technology Skills: Experience with Meridian Link, Q2, and Symitar by Jack Henry's core banking platform is preferred. The candidate must also be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel (advanced skills).

Compliance

Employees must uphold the credit union's compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering policies and procedures. Specific functions with B.S.C.U. will consider the awareness of unusual or suspicious activity relevant to the department.

• In addition to any other assigned training courses, online B.S.A. and O.F.A.C. courses must be completed at least annually, as made available by the Training and Compliance Department.
• Maintains comprehensive knowledge of the Bank Secrecy Act, Customer Identification Program, U.S.A. Patriot Act, O.F.A.C., Fair Lending, and Credit Card Act.

Physical Requirements

• The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodation may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally stand, stoop, kneel, crouch. The employee may, at times, lift and move up to ten pounds. Specific vision abilities this job requires include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

• The work environment characteristics described here represent those employee encounters while performing this job's essential functions. Reasonable accommodation may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

BrightStar Credit Union is an Equal Opportunity Employer. BrightStar Credit Union is a Drug-Free Workplace.