Overview
Velera is the nation's premier payments credit union service organization (CUSO) and an integrated fintech solutions provider. The company serves more than 4,000 financial institutions throughout North America. Our purpose: We accelerate partners' success through innovative financial technology solutions and inspired service.
The Opportunity
The Risk Intelligence Program Manager is responsible for identifying, prioritizing, coordinating, and advancing analysis initiatives across the Risk organization. This role serves as the primary liaison between business stakeholders within Risk Services, internal Data Science and Technology teams, and external AI vendor partners to ensure AI solutions deliver measurable business value while aligning with organizational goals, governance standards, and risk requirements.
The position works closely with Risk, Product, Operations, Technology, and Data Science resources to develop and maintain an AI opportunity roadmap spanning both Machine Learning and Generative AI capabilities. The role is focused on business outcomes, use-case management, and solution delivery rather than hands-on model development.
Day in the Life
AI Strategy and Roadmap Management
- •Develop and maintain an opportunity backlog and roadmap for Risk Services through the lens of AI
- •Partner with business leaders within and outside of Risk to identify opportunities where AI can improve operational efficiency, reduce risk, enhance decision-making, or generate new business value
- •Evaluate and prioritize AI initiatives based on business impact, feasibility, data availability, regulatory considerations, resource capacity, and probability of approval
- •Establish success metrics and performance indicators for AI initiatives
Vendor and Partner Coordination
- •Coordinate delivery activities, requirements, testing, implementation planning, and ongoing performance reviews
- •Monitor vendor commitments, deliverables, project timelines, and expected business outcomes
- •Facilitate communication between external partners and internal stakeholders
Internal Data Science Partnership
- •Act as the primary business interface to internal Data Science and AI development teams
- •Translate business objectives into clear requirements, user stories, and use cases in cooperation with Data Science
- •Coordinate prioritization and scheduling of AI development efforts within Risk Services
- •Assist in validating that delivered solutions meet documented business requirements
AI Governance and Risk Coordination
- •Ensure AI initiatives follow established governance, compliance, risk management, and security requirements as prescribed by the Velera AI Council
- •Participate in AI intake, review, and approval processes
- •Collaborate with Risk, Legal, Compliance, and Information Security teams as required
- •Support documentation gathering related to AI models, decisioning logic, and business processes to support Audit and explainability to clients
- •Research, evaluate, and pilot innovative AI, machine learning, and risk management technologies
Business Enablement and Adoption
- •Promote awareness and adoption of AI capabilities across Risk Services
- •Assist teams with identifying opportunities to improve existing AI solutions
- •Develop business cases, presentations, executive updates, and performance reporting
- •Monitor benefits realization and recommend enhancements to existing models and AI workflows
Qualifications
- •Bachelor's degree in business administration, Information Systems, Computer Science, Data Analytics, Finance, Risk Management, Engineering, or a related field
- •Professional certifications in project management, business analysis, data analytics, AI governance, or related disciplines are preferred (e.g., PMP, CBAP, Agile, AI governance-related certifications)
- •6+ years of experience leading or supporting analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, or related business transformation initiatives
- •5+ years of experience working with AI governance, model risk management, responsible AI principles, AI regulatory considerations, explainability, auditability, or technology governance frameworks within a regulated industry or financial services environment
- •Knowledge of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Generative AI, and emerging AI technologies including their business applications, capabilities, limitations, and risks
- •Understanding of fraud prevention, risk management, payments, lending, or related operational environments
- •Ability to identify, evaluate, prioritize, and manage a portfolio of AI opportunities based on business value, risk, feasibility, and organizational readiness
- •Ability to translate business objectives into clear requirements, use cases, user stories, success metrics, and implementation plans for Data Science and Technology Delivery teams
- •Strong program and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives, competing priorities, and complex stakeholder relationships
- •Ability to communicate effectively with business stakeholders, technical teams, and third-party vendors
- •Ability to develop business cases, roadmap updates, status reporting, and performance metrics
- •Knowledge of data governance concepts including data quality, lineage, privacy, security, and lifecycle management
- •Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
- •Proficiency with standard business productivity, reporting, visualization, and collaboration tools
Compensation
Pay range: $84,900 - $108,200. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law.
Benefits
- •Competitive wages
- •Medical with telemedicine, Dental and Vision
- •Basic and Optional Life Insurance
- •Paid Time Off, Maternity, Parental, and Family Care leave
- •Community Volunteer Time Off
- •12 Paid Holidays
- •Company Paid Disability Insurance
- •401k with employer match
- •Health Savings Accounts (HSA) with company provided contributions
- •Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- •Supplemental Insurance
- •Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- •Tuition Reimbursement
- •Wellness program