Risk Intelligence Program Manager

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, operating with velocity to help our clients keep pace with the rapid momentum of change and fuel growth in the new era of financial services. Our purpose: We accelerate partners’ success through innovative financial technology solutions and inspired service.

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 will work 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.

• 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 for Risk Services.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 to identify opportunities for enhancing Risk Services capabilities, operational efficiency, and fraud prevention outcomes.

• 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.

• Perform other duties as assigned

• 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, including responsibility for stakeholder coordination, requirements development, prioritization, and solution delivery.

• 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.

At Velera, inclusion isn’t an initiative – it’s how we work. Guided by a people‑helping‑people philosophy, we cultivate a culture where every employee feels valued, respected and empowered to do their best work. We’re committed to building a diverse workforce and fostering meaningful connection across our teams. Through a remote‑first, flexible environment, we prioritize psychological safety, wellbeing and belonging so individuals and teams can collaborate to thrive. Together, we’re shaping a new era of secure, innovative solutions for the clients and communities we serve. Learn more about what it’s like to work at Velera.

The anticipated hiring range for this position is typically between the minimum and midpoint of the posted salary range; however, actual compensation may vary based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, skills and qualifications, education, internal equity, and overall business and budget considerations. Velera is committed to providing competitive compensation that reflects both individual role and responsibilities, individual performance, and market.