Director, Senior Leader – Consumer Credit Risk & Testing Strategy (Hybrid)

The Senior Leader - Consumer Credit Risk & Testing Strategy manages multiple teams through other managers.

The Senior Leader – Consumer Credit Risk & Testing Strategy is responsible for defining and executing a comprehensive testing and validation framework that supports the strategic integration of credit risk models, business rules, and decisioning platforms within consumer lending portfolios. This role operates at the intersection of risk management, technology, and strategy, driving the alignment of test frameworks with the organization's overarching credit risk management goals. The leader will lead large-scale initiatives and manage a multi-disciplinary team, influencing the strategic direction of the credit risk function across the organization.

The role reports directly to the Managing Director of Risk Strategy Execution or equivalent senior leadership, ensuring that all testing activities align with the company’s risk appetite, regulatory requirements, and business growth objectives. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience in leading high-impact teams, setting strategic priorities, and ensuring credit risk strategies are resilient, scalable, and compliant in a dynamic regulatory landscape.

Requires thorough understanding of strategic direction of the function within the relevant part of the business, combined with a solid conceptual/practical grounding in both the function and/or area of expertise and related subject areas. Excellent communication skills required in order to negotiate internally, often at a senior level. Some external communication/negotiation may be necessary. Responsible for executing functional strategy in area managed. Determines approach to implementing functional strategy. Accountable for end results, budgeting, planning, policy formulation and contribution to future strategy of the area(s). Impact reflects size of team managed, strategic influence on the business and interaction with other functions or businesses. Full management responsibility for multiple teams, including management of people, budget and planning, to include duties such as performance evaluation, compensation, hiring, disciplinary actions and terminations and budget approval. May be doing involved or responsible for diverse (cross-discipline) activities. Typically, a direct report to a Managing Director role and function as an integral member of the functional leadership team within a country/site location, job family, or line of business.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership in Credit Risk Testing:

  • Define and lead the implementation of a multi-year strategic vision for credit risk testing frameworks, ensuring alignment with the organization's broader business and risk management goals.

  • Oversee the integration and validation of advanced credit risk models, decisioning engines, and rules-based systems, ensuring these align with evolving business strategies and regulatory mandates.

  • Collaborate with C-suite executives and senior stakeholders to align testing and risk strategies with corporate objectives, maximizing profitability while minimizing risk exposure.

• Enterprise-Level Test Strategy Development:

  • Architect and implement scalable, enterprise-wide testing strategies for consumer credit risk, incorporating both manual and automated testing solutions to ensure efficiency and accuracy in validating credit decisions.

  • Lead initiatives that enhance the automation of testing processes, driving operational excellence and reducing time-to-market for credit risk models and systems.

• Governance and Risk Control Framework:

  • Establish a robust governance structure for testing and validation processes, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards (e.g., OCC, CFPB, Fed) and internal risk management policies.

  • Implement rigorous risk control measures within testing procedures to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks associated with model or rule deployment.

  • Drive continuous monitoring and validation efforts to ensure the integrity of credit risk strategies over time, aligning with the organization’s evolving risk appetite and external market conditions.

• Innovation and Transformation Leadership:  

  • Spearhead transformational initiatives that incorporate emerging technologies (e.g., AI/ML) into the credit risk testing environment, enhancing predictive accuracy, efficiency, and decision quality.

  • Foster a culture of innovation within the risk and testing teams by implementing cutting-edge tools and methodologies to stay ahead of regulatory and industry shifts.

  • Engage with external partners, regulators, and industry groups to influe