Chief Risk Officer

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Full-time Regular Management Emerald, Albuquerque, NM, US

Department: Senior Management

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Grade: 15

Summary

The Chief Risk Officer plans and directs the development, implementation, and oversight of enterprise risk management and loss prevention programs that provide maximum protection of the Credit Union’s assets, operations, members, employees, and reputation. Provides executive leadership in identifying, assessing, monitoring, and mitigating risks across the organization while ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and regulatory expectations. The CRO is responsible for coordinating the Credit Union’s overall risk management framework, including regulatory compliance, fraud risk management, legal risk, operational risk, vendor risk management, security risk management, internal controls, audit remediation, and regulatory examination preparedness.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads the Credit Union’s enterprise risk management programs, including the development of risk assessments, policies, procedures, controls, and reporting mechanisms designed to identify and mitigate operational, financial, regulatory, and reputational risks.
• Provides oversight of the Credit Union’s compliance and regulatory programs, ensuring adherence with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and regulatory guidance. Partners with department leaders to evaluate regulatory impacts, strengthen processes, and ensure compliance requirements are incorporated into daily operations.
• Leads and oversees the Credit Union’s BSA/AML/OFAC compliance programs, including development of risk assessments, policies, procedures, monitoring processes, and reporting requirements. Ensures programs remain effective and aligned with regulatory expectations.
• Provides executive oversight of fraud prevention, detection, investigation, and mitigation strategies. Oversees fraud risk management activities including, but not limited to, debit card fraud, ACH fraud, wire fraud, check fraud, account takeover, transaction monitoring, and emerging fraud trends.
• Provides oversight and coordination related to legal matters, claims, lawsuits, and outside legal counsel relationships. Ensures legal risks are appropriately identified, communicated, and managed in partnership with executive leadership and applicable departments.
• Directs risk management procedures and standards; develops risk analysis reports; establishes monitoring practices; and ensures management processes are in place to identify, assess, and mitigate risks across the Credit Union.
• Provides oversight of lending and account opening quality control reviews to ensure compliance with policies, procedures, applicable regulations, and organizational standards. Reviews processes, identifies control weaknesses, and recommends improvements.
• Provides oversight for loan documentation and new account documentation requirements, including regulatory forms, disclosures, and forms maintained within LoanLiner and related systems to ensure accuracy, compliance, and appropriate risk controls.
• Coordinates responses and corrective action plans related to internal audit findings, external audit findings, NCUA examinations, Financial Institutions Division (FID) reviews, and other regulatory assessments. Ensures findings are appropriately assigned, tracked, and remediated timely.
• Partners with Executive Leadership to ensure appropriate security controls, risk assessments, incident response processes, and regulatory expectations are addressed.
• Provides oversight of the Credit Union’s security risk management practices, including physical security controls, security policies and procedures, incident management, and risk mitigation strategies. Partners with applicable departments to identify security vulnerabilities, evaluate risk exposure, and implement appropriate controls to protect members, employees, and Credit Union assets.
• Develops, recommends, and maintains risk management-related vendor relationships that provide services and solutions supporting the Credit Union’s risk management objectives.
• Provides oversight of the Credit Union’s vendor risk management program, including vendor due diligence, risk assessments, ongoing monitoring, contract requirements, and regulatory compliance expectations. Ensures appropriate controls are established to identify and mitigate risks associated with third-party relationships.
• Designs, develops, and implements use of statistical data, reporting, and analytics to monitor risk trends, performance, control effectiveness, and emerging risks. Provides meaningful reporting and recommendations to executive leadership and the Board of Directors as requested.
• Prepares accurate and timely risk management reports and presentations for the President/CEO, executive leadership, committees, and Board of Directors.
• Provides ongoing training and communication related to risk management, compliance, fraud prevention, and regulatory expectations to ensure employees understand their responsibilities.
• Responds to internal and external audit exceptions with appropriate action plans to correct deficiencies in policies, procedures, controls, and processes.
• Evaluates new products, services, processes, and strategic initiatives for potential risk impacts and provides recommendations to ensure appropriate controls are established prior to implementation.
• Leads and develops the Risk Management department, including oversight of Risk Management and Compliance personnel. Provides direction, coaching, and support to ensure effective execution of risk management, compliance, and regulatory responsibilities.
• Must comply with all Credit Union policies and procedures and applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Bank Secrecy Act, USA PATRIOT Act, Office of Foreign Assets Control requirements, consumer protection regulations, lending regulations, and applicable state and federal regulatory requirements.
• Provides executive oversight of the Collections function to ensure collection activities are administered effectively, consistently, and in accordance with Credit Union policies, procedures, regulatory requirements, and risk management standards.
• Ensures appropriate controls exist within delinquency management, collections practices, charge-offs, and other collection activities to identify and mitigate credit and operational risk.
• Partners with Lending leadership to monitor loan portfolio performance, delinquency trends, charge-offs, and emerging credit risks, and develops strategies to mitigate risk while supporting organizational objectives.
• Oversees collection strategies and practices to ensure compliance with applicable regulations, fair lending principles, member treatment expectations, and Credit Union policies.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Experience- At least 10 years related experience.

Physical, Mental and Working Requirements

This position requires the ability to perform primarily sedentary office work, operate standard office equipment, and use a computer for extended periods. Must be able to communicate effectively, follow instructions, manage multiple priorities, and maintain professionalism under deadlines. Work is performed indoors in a climate-controlled environment. Occasional extended hours or off-site travel may be required. Regular attendance and the ability to handle confidential information are essential.

Rio Grande Credit Union is an Affluent Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.