Commercial Strategy & Workflow Analyst

At OceanFirst Bank, each one of our employees plays an important role in delivering value to our customers and executing daily tasks in accordance with our core values. We recognize that our employees are essential to our success, making OceanFirst a great place to work and do business. Great benefits include: employee perks & discount programs tuition assistance incentive compensation program professional development opportunities more! About Your Role This position coordinates strategic initiatives, maintaining project governance, and overseeing commercial lending workflow activities. This position helps ensure projects align with the Bank's strategic priorities while promoting operational efficiency, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance. Responsibilities include tracking project progress, preparing reports and dashboards, documenting risks, coordinating meetings, and supporting change management efforts. The position also manages projects related to mergers and acquisitions to support the seamless integration and transition of loan operations throughout the process. What You Will Do 1. Analyze commercial lending workflows and operational processes to identify opportunities for standardization, automation, efficiency, risk mitigation, and improved customer or employee experience. 2. Document current-state and future-state workflows, procedures, business requirements, and implementation plan to support process improvement and change management initiatives. 3. Lead medium to large cross-functional project activities with Commercial Credit, Operations, Information Technology, Accounting, Compliance, Strategic Integration, and other business partners. 4. Manage and coordinate commercial lending projects from initiation through completion, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities, timelines, and expected outcomes. 5. Develop and maintain project plans, action logs, meeting materials, status updates, and reporting tools to support effective project governance and communication. 6. Track project milestones, dependencies, risks, issues, and decisions; elevate barriers and recommend resolution strategies to support timely execution. 7. Prepare dashboards, monthly reports, and management updates summarizing project progress, completed activities, upcoming initiatives, risks, and key deliverables. 8. Measure project and process improvement outcomes, report findings, and recommend additional enhancements to support continuous improvement and operational effectiveness. 9. Support risk and governance activities by documenting controls, identifying process gaps, monitoring compliance considerations, and maintaining clear project records. 10. Support mergers, acquisitions, and integration-related projects by coordinating planning activities, tracking transition tasks, documenting risks, and supporting the integration of loan operations processes. 11. Assist with testing, implementation, training, and communication activities related to new systems, workflow changes, automation tools, or process enhancements. What We Expect Of You Strong project management skills, including the ability to organize work, manage timelines, track deliverables, and drive initiatives from planning through completion. Ability to support project governance through clear documentation, accurate status reporting, meeting coordination, issue tracking, and follow-up on action items. Solid understanding of commercial lending operations, loan servicing workflows, and the importance of regulatory compliance, controls, and risk management. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate workflows, identify process gaps, recommend improvements, and support implementation of practical solutions. High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, accountability, confidentiality, and well-organized project records. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports, dashboards, meeting materials, procedure documentation, and management updates. Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional partners, including Commercial Credit, Operations, Information Technology, Accounting, Compliance, Strategic Integration, and other business areas. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn and use project management, workflow, reporting, and loan management tools. Adaptability, sound judgment, and a continuous improvement in mindset in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. Requirements Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, or a related field (or equivalent experience). Three or more years of experience in commercial loan operations, project management, or a similar role within the banking or financial services industry. Proven project management skills and/or Project Management certification (such as PMP or Lean Six Sigma) are required. Experience managing projects related to mergers and acquisitions within financial services is highly desirable.[ Experience with lending platforms and technologies. Experience with nCino, LaserPro, and Fiserv Premier preferred. Familiarity with C&I, CRE, construction, participation, and syndicated lending. Familiarity with AI and automation enabled tools and their application in banking operations. Frequent internal contact with Operations, Information Technology, Vendor Management and Accounting teams. Periodic contact and coordination with other departments and divisions as required. External contact with service providers and with entities we provide services. Working Conditions / Physical Requirements Office environment. Ability to operate a computer. Ability to communicate in order to exchange simple to complex information with individuals and groups. Ability to travel throughout Bank footprint. Equal opportunity employer, protected veterans/disabled. EEO is the Law #J-18808-Ljbffr OceanFirst Bank