AVP, Core & Applications

Job Description

Job Description

PRIMARY PURPOSE

Our culture is not just a poster in the hallway; it is a guiding principle we live by each and every day, one we carry forward even as our work changes around us. Non-stop change is part of our path, and we meet it by simplifying, not just doing more.

That means this role is expected to accept and adopt High Tech, High Touch practices using artificial intelligence and other digital tools to simplify outdated, low-value work so technology handles the routine, freeing us to stay present for what only a person can do: building relationships, solving complex problems, and responding with genuine care. Digital tools don’t replace those relationships; they remove the barriers that get in their way.

Central to this commitment is our cross-functional employee team, known as our "Culture Crew," dedicated to fostering community through engaging activities, reinforcing our cultural values, and ensuring their continuous integration into our daily operations. We define our culture according to our cultural pillars of:

• Membership Centric
• People Focused
• One Team
• Personal Achievement
• Innovation

JOB SUMMARY

The AVP, Core & Applications assists the VP, Core & Applications in providing strategic direction, operational leadership, and disciplined execution across the core banking platform, enterprise applications, automation, workflow, contact center, omnichannel communication, and approved artificial intelligence technologies. This position leads the Applications staff and oversees daily operations, projects, vendors, governance, security, system reliability, and continuous improvement to ensure technology services remain stable, accessible, secure, and aligned with organizational objectives. Working collaboratively across the Credit Union, the AVP translates business needs into practical technology solutions, improves operational processes and member and employee experiences, and advances the responsible integration of AI-enabled capabilities within established security, risk, compliance, and human-oversight requirements.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assist the VP, Core & Applications in establishing strategic direction and provide operational leadership and disciplined execution across the core banking platform, enterprise applications, automation, workflow, contact center, omnichannel communication, and approved artificial intelligence technologies.

• Provide leadership and operational oversight for the reliability, stability, security, performance, accessibility, and continued advancement of the core banking platform and assigned business technologies.
• Lead, supervise, coach, and develop assigned Applications staff, establishing clear expectations, accountability, professional development plans, and succession readiness.
• Translate organizational strategy and business objectives into actionable technology roadmaps, priorities, resource plans, and measurable work programs spanning applications, integrations, automation, artificial intelligence, workflows, and communication technologies.
• Partner with business units to understand operational needs, gather and validate requirements, evaluate potential solutions, and coordinate solution architecture and design activities.
• Analyze business processes, data flows, and operating practices to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce manual effort, control costs, strengthen internal controls, and enhance member and employee experiences.
• Identify responsible and practical opportunities to incorporate artificial intelligence, machine learning, intelligent automation, and natural-language technologies into business processes, applications, and organizational workflows.
• Oversee the evaluation, testing, implementation, integration, governance, monitoring, and ongoing support of approved AI-enabled solutions in coordination with Information Security, Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance, Legal, and other applicable stakeholders.
• Ensure AI-enabled solutions operate within established requirements for data protection, accuracy, transparency, human oversight, access control, regulatory compliance, performance monitoring, and acceptable organizational risk.
• Promote the responsible use of approved AI capabilities to strengthen application development, testing, documentation, incident analysis, knowledge management, workflow optimization, and operational decision support.
• Coordinate and oversee core banking releases, application upgrades, system integrations, new programs, infrastructure dependencies, and technology enhancements while minimizing operational disruption and organizational risk.
• Establish and oversee requirements, technical specifications, testing standards, acceptance criteria, and implementation plans for development efforts, interfaces, products, services, and process improvements.
• Provide leadership for application architecture, system integration, data exchange, API management, application lifecycle management, and technical standardization across assigned platforms.
• Evaluate platform and application capabilities and limitations; research requested modifications; and develop recommendations, proposals, cost estimates, implementation approaches, and business cases for executive consideration.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives and project teams in support of Credit Union objectives, ensuring defined ownership, effective communication, timely decision-making, risk management, and successful delivery.
• Prioritize and manage projects, enhancement requests, technical debt, support responsibilities, and application initiatives in partnership with business leaders and within established organizational capacity.
• Establish performance measures and reporting practices for application reliability, accessibility, incident resolution, project delivery, vendor performance, process improvement, AI-enabled outcomes, and member and employee impact.
• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, licensing, support performance, service-level expectations, technology roadmaps, and escalations for assigned platforms and services.
• Evaluate vendor-provided AI capabilities, data-use practices, model dependencies, contractual protections, security controls, regulatory considerations, and long-term organizational risks before implementation or expanded use.
• Establish and maintain appropriate application security, identity and access controls, segregation of duties, change controls, development standards, data governance, and technology governance practices.
• Ensure assigned platforms and processes comply with applicable Credit Union policies, regulatory expectations, audit requirements, information security standards, and risk-management practices.
• Ensure policies, procedures, system documentation, architectural diagrams, process maps, operational runbooks, recovery documentation, and end-user support materials remain accurate, current, accessible, and consistently maintained.
• Oversee the timely investigation and resolution of incidents, recurring problems, and end-user issues involving the core banking platform, enterprise applications, integrations, automation, workflows, AI-enabled solutions, and communication technologies.
• Coordinate disaster recovery testing, application recovery validation, system resilience planning, and business continuity activities for assigned platforms and services.
• Establish service expectations and operating practices that promote quality, accountability, innovation, disciplined execution, and continuous improvement.
• Build organizational understanding of application capabilities, automation, and responsible AI through communication, education, documentation, and partnership with business and technology stakeholders.
• Conduct regular meetings with direct reports, support employee development, provide timely performance feedback, and prepare annual performance appraisals for assigned staff.
• Serve as a trusted leadership resource and delegated backup for the VP, Core & Applications, as assigned.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Knowledge of:

• Core banking platforms, business applications, integrations, and financial institution operations
• Enterprise automation, workflow design, process improvement, and operational efficiency
• Contact center and omnichannel communication technologies
• AI-enabled workflow technologies, responsible AI practices, and appropriate business use
• Application security, privacy, access controls, risk management, and technology governance
• Project, portfolio, change, and vendor management principles
• Technology procurement, contract negotiation, and third-party service management
• Disaster recovery, business continuity, incident management, and service delivery practices

Ability to:

• Lead, motivate, coach, develop, and evaluate employees
• Set priorities and translate organizational objectives into practical plans and deliverables
• Analyze business processes, technical issues, risks, and operational efficiencies
• Evaluate technology solutions and make sound, timely recommendations and decisions
• Lead cross-functional initiatives and facilitate productive project and stakeholder discussions
• Prioritize competing projects, requests, incidents, and operational responsibilities
• Read, interpret, and apply complex business and technical information
• Develop and present proposals, business cases, reports, and executive-level communications
• Build effective relationships with employees, vendors, leadership, and other stakeholders

Skill in:

• People leadership, coaching, performance management, and team development
• Strategic planning, portfolio prioritization, and project leadership
• Workflow design, process mapping, automation, and continuous improvement
• Technical troubleshooting, incident escalation, and problem resolution
• Requirements development, documentation, facilitation, and presentation
• Vendor relationship management, contract negotiation, and service oversight
• Clear communication, collaboration, and effective decision-making

QUALIFICATIONS

Critical Development Experiences:

Pursue opportunities for professional growth and development through training, education, and self-study.

Successfully complete all applicable compliance training and testing.

Education and experience equivalent to:

Seven to ten years of similar or related experience, including at least three years of leadership, supervisory, or significant lead experience.

A four-year college degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, certifications, and relevant work experience.

Experience with core banking platforms, business applications, automation, workflow, contact center, omnichannel communications, or process improvement in a financial institution preferred.

Experience managing employees, vendors, cross-functional projects, and enterprise technology initiatives preferred.

Familiarity with AI-enabled workflow software or experience evaluating and implementing emerging technologies preferred.

ITIL and PMP certifications preferred.

REQUIREMENTS

Regular attendance and timeliness are essential functions of this position. While performing this job, the employee is regularly required to sit or stand for a significant period of time and perform functions that require manual dexterity. The employee must occasionally reach above or below normal body position, stoop or bend, and carry, lift or move objects weighing up to 25 pounds. A normal range of hearing, vision, and speech are required to effectively work with co-employees and members.

REGULATORY COMPLIANCE & CONFIDENTIALITY

Follows regulatory and policy compliance requirements, which include those efforts in compliance with Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Regulations, Identity Theft Red Flags and other compliance related Policies. This position also requires maintaining confidentiality with regard to non-public information about our members and the Credit Union.

This job description should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the duties, responsibilities and requirements of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this description. Any physical demand of essential function or requirement of this position will be evaluated as necessary should an incumbent/applicant be unable to perform the function or requirement due to a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation for the specific disability will be made for the incumbent/applicant when possible.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact View phone number on ziprecruiter.com or View email address on ziprecruiter.com for assistance. You may also contact us at that same number and email, if you would like to see a copy of our Affirmative Action Plan.