Program Manager I

Job description

Description

At Citizens, core banking modernization is not just a technology upgrade - it’s a strategic and cultural commitment to transforming how we serve our customers and empower our colleagues.

By reimagining our core systems, we are creating seamless, intuitive, and personalized experiences that give customers greater control, transparency, and confidence in managing their finances.

For our colleagues, modern core platforms mean simplified workflows, integrated tools, and real-time data access enabling them to focus more on building relationships and delivering exceptional service.

This transformation is foundational to our ability to innovate, adapt, and lead in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

As a Program Manager within this pivotal transformation, you will be entrusted to lead critical components of the initiative, guiding cross-functional teams through the complexity of modernizing legacy systems.

Your leadership will be instrumental in translating strategic vision into actionable plans, ensuring that each phase of the modernization journey is delivered with precision and aligned to our overarching goals.

Primary Responsibilities:
+ Drive the discovery phase and contribute to the creation of a detailed, cross-functional, multi-workstream roadmap for your designated areas within the program.

+ Lead the implementation of critical components the core banking technology eco-system, including successful integration of the platform with other banking systems.

+ Facilitate solutions across the organization; working with legal, risk, operations, UX, and technology teams to prioritize and deliver solutions that align with the roadmap.



+ Define and execute a program roadmap while continuously monitoring and tracking success against OKRs and pivot as needed based on business strategy and progress against roadmap.

+ Prioritize functionality and integrations based on business value.

+ Leverage domain and technical expertise to set direction and drive project execution.

Foresee and proactively address risks, issues, and dependencies.

+ Work with business, operations, internal technology teams, and with vendor partners to ensure successful project delivery.

+ Act as the primary liaison between the vendor (that owns the Core platform today) and internal technology teams.

+ Define and activate program governance, communication plan, and operating model.

+ Manage stakeholder expectations with respect to scope, deliverables, and timelines, budgets.

+ Communicate overall program status and health to executive stakeholders.

+ Program management support for cross functional development and product teams includes managing project budgets/costs, release plans, cross functional dependencies, performance management, status updates, and risks.

+ Access systems to analyze and deliver weekly and monthly metrics.

Manage reporting cadences and identify program risks.

+ Provide support to senior leaders across several connected programs.

+ Learn and understand Command and team organizational relationships to effectively communicate information appropriately and effectively.

+ Evaluate current processes and procedures and initiate process improvement actions to improve team performance.

+ Assist with technical and business analyses and reporting for assigned projects.

+ Coordinate and schedule meetings.

Capture meeting minutes; assign and tracking action items; and coordinate and facilitate leads and working groups to meet program objectives.

+ Proven time management and organizational skills.

Qualifications

+ Experienced and dynamic leader with minimum 15 years of experience.

+ Implementation and integration experience in a consumer bank is preferred - ideally with core banking/FIS.

+ Proven ability to lead teams and manage delivery of complex, integration projects in a matrix organization.

+ Strong technology delivery capability and leadership from strategy alignment, solution design, E2E program/project delivery to problem solving.

+ Able to travel periodically for on-location meetings and work sessions.

Education, Certifications and/or Other Professional Credentials

+ Bachelor’s degree required

+ Masters preferred

Hours & Work Schedule

+ Location: Short Hills, NJ, Johnston, RI, or Westwood, MA

+ Hours per Week: 40

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If you apply and qualify for this role, a recruiter will discuss accurate pay guidance.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, victim of domestic violence, family status/parenthood, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws.

At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism.

Employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, performance and capability.

Why Work for Us
At Citizens, you'll find a customer-centric culture built around helping our customers and giving back to our local communities.

When you join our team, you are part of a supportive and collaborative workforce, with access to training and tools to accelerate your potential and maximize your career growth



Background Check

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the candidate successfully passing a background check, which may include initial credit, motor vehicle record, public record, prior employment verification, and criminal background checks.

Results of the background check are individually reviewed based upon legal requirements imposed by our regulators and with consideration of the nature and gravity of the background history and the job offered.

Any offer of employment will include further information.

Required Skill Profession

Other General