IT Business Operations Program Manager

We are seeking an exceptional, high-impact leader to serve as the IT Business Operations Program Manager within the Office of the CIO. This role operates as the principal orchestrator of enterprise IT management, enabling the CIO to scale leadership capacity, focus on long-range strategy, and drive execution through a disciplined operating model. You will serve as the connective tissue between strategic intent and operational execution-aligning people, processes, and priorities across the enterprise IT portfolio.

This is a command-center position that combines leadership, governance, communications, and transformation oversight. You will directly oversee the cadence, rhythm, and maturity of how IT operates, communicates, and delivers value, functioning with the CIO's full confidence and delegated authority where appropriate.

Along with the key functions listed below, each position will be expected to uphold the value that Washington Federal places on simply being nice when servicing our co-workers and WAFD customers, and living our Corporate Values of Integrity, Ownership, Simplicity, Teamwork, Service Culture, and Discipline.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Governance & Operating Rhythm Stewardship
* Architect and lead the implementation of a disciplined operating model for the Office of the CIO, encompassing:

o Weekly execution rhythms (e.g., standups, issue triage)

o Monthly governance cadences (e.g., portfolio reviews, budget alignment, risk posture reviews)

o Quarterly strategy reviews (e.g., enterprise goals, tech strategy, innovation alignment)

o Cross-functional reporting rhythms with distributed technology teams.

* Serve as the custodian of CIO-level accountability structures, ensuring enterprise-wide alignment on deliverables, deadlines, ownership, and outcomes.
* Institutionalize transparency and operational excellence through reusable frameworks, dashboards, and communications standards that guide decision-making at the CIO and leadership levels.

2. Enterprise Program & Portfolio Oversight
* Lead strategic oversight of the IT portfolio, including:

o Initiative health monitoring

o Program interdependency tracking

o Budget/resource alignment

o Identification and mitigation of delivery risks

* Partner with senior IT leaders on the design and implementation of executive reporting frameworks, including:

o Technology financials
o Enterprise resource capacity
o Strategic initiative KPIs
o Audit, risk, and compliance dashboards

* Translate portfolio data and complex delivery interdependencies into clear, succinct executive narratives, decision decks, and advisory briefs for the CIO and senior leadership.

3. CIO Empowerment & Priority Management
* Act as the primary execution arm of the CIO, managing workflows, surfacing insights, and clearing obstacles so the CIO can remain focused on strategic imperatives.
* Assist with triage of incoming requests, determining what requires direct CIO intervention versus what can be delegated, deferred, or resolved through established escalation channels.
* Proactively identify opportunities to help increase the CIO's strategic impact through operational offloading or streamlining delivery.

4. Executive Collaboration & Cross-Functional Integration
* Serve as a trusted partner and integrator across business and IT leadership, connecting strategy to action and facilitating unified execution across domains.

o Establish tight alignment with enterprise PMO, Finance, Information Security, Enterprise Data, Infrastructure, and Risk teams to ensure coordinated delivery of high-priority programs and OKRs.

* Support technology leadership in driving strategic communications, board and executive-facing briefings, and stakeholder engagement materials.

5. Cultural Leadership & Organizational Navigation
* Assist with building a culture of clarity, ownership, and trust within and beyond the IT leadership team.
* Act as a neutral facilitator in times of competing priorities, helping senior leaders find alignment without sacrificing urgency or quality.
* Lead by influence, diplomacy, and accountability, reinforcing the values of purpose, transparency, and results-orientation across all IT domains.

6. Compliance

* Adhere to bank policies and procedures designed to comply with Federal regulations, including but not limited to the Bank Secrecy Act, USA Patriot Act, and OFAC regulations.

*Avoid all real or perceived conflicts of interest and always maintain client privacy and confidentiality.

7. Perform other job duties as assigned.

7+ years of experience in senior technology leadership, enterprise portfolio governance, or strategic operations within large-scale, matrixed environments.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with a CIO or executive technology leadership team, acting as a trusted advisor and force multiplier.
• Expertise in structuring and running executive-level operating rhythms, with a strong grasp of modern program management, financial reporting, resourcing, and risk frameworks.
• Proven success in designing and leading large-scale transformation efforts involving technology, people, and process.
• Strong command of business and IT vernacular-able to translate between domains and craft concise, actionable narratives from complexity.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to influence without authority, manage ambiguity, and build credibility at all levels of an organization.
• Deep understanding of the role of technology within enterprise value chains, coupled with a practical, execution-oriented mindset.
• Experience in regulated industries such as banking, healthcare, or government contracting.
• Familiarity with relevant regulatory standards and compliance requirements in the banking industry, including FFIEC guidelines, SOX, NIST Standards.

At WaFd Bank you get all of these great benefits!

• Paid time off for vacation, sick days and holidays
• Health insurance
• Stock options
• Bonus programs
• Generous 7% 401(k) employer matching*
• Paid Parental Leave
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Long-term disability
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee assistance programs
• Pre-tax health and dependent-care spending plans

WaFd Bank Benefits Summary - Click here for more information

We are committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action. We recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles and ensure that all other personnel actions are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, military and/or veteran status, or disability in accordance with Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, which require affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity in all aspects of employment. WaFd Bank does not discriminate on the basis of national origin or citizenship status as provided under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, or any other Federal or State legally-protected classes. WaFd Bank is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants with disabilities to the full extent required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you feel you need a reasonable accommodation pursuant to the ADA, you are encouraged to contact us at 800.324.9375

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