Program Manager

Description Program Manager/ Sr.Project Manager, Cross-Border Payments (Contract-to-Hire) Location- Remote (U.S.) with travel to Pasadena, CA headquarters as needed Top 3 Must-Haves 1. Payments Industry Experience Chase was very clear that the candidate must have direct payments experience. Banking, payment operations, payments products, or payment transformation initiatives are strongly preferred. 2. Mandarin/Chinese Language Capability This was repeatedly emphasized as highly important due to ongoing collaboration with stakeholders in China. Candidates who can speak Mandarin will have a significant advantage. 3. Enterprise Project/Program Leadership Strong business-focused project management experience leading large, cross-functional initiatives. The role is not deeply technical but requires someone who can drive delivery, governance, stakeholder alignment, and reporting within a major strategic program. Position Summary East West Bank is seeking an experienced Sr. Project Manager to support a newly established strategic Cross-Border Payments Program. This individual will work closely with the Program Manager, technology leadership, and business stakeholders to drive delivery of key payment initiatives, operational enhancements, and new capabilities across the organization. The ideal candidate brings deep payments industry experience, strong project delivery expertise, and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments. This role will focus on coordinating large-scale payments initiatives while partnering with teams across the U.S. and China to ensure successful execution and program alignment. This position is expected to begin as a contract engagement with strong potential for conversion to a full-time employee. Key Responsibilities Lead and deliver 2-3 concurrent strategic payments projects within a larger enterprise program. Partner closely with the Program Manager to support overall program governance, reporting, planning, and execution. Drive project schedules, milestones, dependencies, risks, and issue resolution. Coordinate cross-functional teams across business, operations, technology, and executive stakeholders. Support implementation of new cross-border payment capabilities and operational improvements. Manage strategic initiatives including real-time payments, foreign exchange (FX) expansion, and international payment enhancements. Facilitate communication between U.S.-based teams and stakeholders located in China and Hong Kong. Prepare status updates, executive communications, project documentation, and governance materials. Identify process improvement opportunities and help mature project and program delivery practices. Build strong working relationships with stakeholders to establish credibility, trust, and alignment across the organization. Required Qualifications 7+ years of Project Management or Program Management experience. Proven experience delivering payment-related initiatives within banking, financial services, fintech, or payments organizations. Strong understanding of payment systems, payment operations, and payments product delivery. Experience managing large, cross-functional projects involving multiple business units. Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication skills. Experience coordinating initiatives with global teams across multiple time zones. Ability to independently drive project execution in a highly visible environment. Willingness to travel to Pasadena, CA periodically, especially during onboarding and relationship-building phases. Preferred Qualifications Experience with cross-border payments. Mandarin Chinese language proficiency (conversational or business level preferred). Knowledge of China-based payment ecosystems and international banking operations. Experience supporting real-time payments initiatives. Experience with FX (Foreign Exchange) programs or international treasury/payment services. Banking industry experience strongly preferred. PMP, PgMP, Agile, or similar project management certifications. Skills Program management, Project management, Payments, Banking Top Skills Details Program management, Project management, Payments, Banking Additional Skills & Qualifications Great comms Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Pasadena, CA. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $80.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your jobclassification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may besubject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefitsavailable for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully remote position. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Sep 23, 2026. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools. #J-18808-Ljbffr