Partnership Operations Lead

POSITION DESCRIPTION

About Us

TBO Bank serves its customers from our hometown location in Orrick, Missouri as well as our newest location in Prairie Village, Kansas. We’ve taken pride in building banking relationships that have spanned decades. Now we’re bringing “the feel” of hometown banking to a broader landscape. Our mission: to connect and empower in a way that is human, relatable and real. As we expand the reach of our relationships, you can feel secure working for a bank that just gets it.

Position Summary/Objective

The Partnership Operations Lead is responsible for coordinating the successful onboarding, implementation, operational management, and ongoing administration of strategic bank partnership programs. This role serves as the primary operational liaison across internal business units, external partners, vendors, and service providers to ensure partnership initiatives are implemented and managed in accordance with Bank objectives, governance standards, and operational performance standards. This position plays a critical role in scaling the Bank's partnership strategy by establishing repeatable processes, driving execution, maintaining operational documentation, and supporting the lifecycle management of partnership programs.

Success in this role is demonstrated through the effective onboarding and implementation of partnership programs, strong coordination of cross-functional stakeholders, timely resolution of operational issues, maintenance of examination-ready documentation and governance records, and the development of scalable operational processes that support the long-term growth and sustainability of the Bank Partnerships vertical. As the business grows, success will also be measured by the ability to build and mature the function, including establishing repeatable operating models, expanding team capacity, and effectively leading and developing additional team members.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Essential Functions

Partnership Onboarding & Implementation

• Lead onboarding and implementation activities for new partnership programs with the collaboration and support of various subject matter experts.
• Coordinate due diligence, approvals, testing, and launch readiness activities.
• Manage implementation timelines and stakeholder accountability.
• Facilitate internal and external working groups.

• Coordinate day-to-day operational activities supporting partnership programs.
• Monitor service levels, operational performance, and issue resolution.
• Support change management activities related to products, servicing, technology, and operational processes.
• Oversee onboarding and monitoring workflows within governance systems.

Documentation & Governance Administration

• Maintain centralized partnership records, approvals, implementation documentation, and governance materials.
• Track action items, decisions, approvals, and remediation efforts with the collaboration and support of various subject matter experts.
• Develop and maintain operational procedures, implementation playbooks, and workflow documentation.
• Support examination readiness through organized record retention and documentation practices.

Vendor & Partner Coordination

• Coordinate activities among approved service providers, vendors, and distribution partners with the collaboration and support of various subject matter experts.
• Monitor contractual obligations, service standards, and operational performance.
• Track remediation efforts and escalation items.
• Support ongoing partner and vendor oversight activities.

Audit & Examination Support

• Coordinate operational documentation requests associated with audits and examinations.
• Support issue management, remediation tracking, and corrective action efforts.
• Maintain documentation supporting onboarding, monitoring, governance, and operational oversight activities.

Experience and Qualifications

• 5–10 years of banking, fintech, payments, lending, operations, implementation, or partnership management experience.
• Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong project execution, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with third-party vendors and partnership programs.
• Experience supporting audits, examinations, or governance processes.
• Familiarity with consumer lending operations preferred.

Physical Requirements**

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while working at a desk or computer.
• Must be able to use a computer and other office equipment (e.g., phone, printer).
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, via phone, and through written correspondence.
• Ability to concentrate and focus on tasks for extended periods in a fast-paced environment.

*TBO Bank is proud to have an inclusive culture committed to ensuring equal employment opportunity in all employment decisions regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other legally protected status.

** The physical demands listed are a requirement to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.