Director Operational Risk Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

About Origence

With 30 years at the forefront of fintech innovation, we specialize in SaaS lending solutions that lead the industry. Our core mission is customer-centric, focusing on empowering Credit Unions across the United States with the tools to offer accessible, competitive lending services. We're deeply committed to enhancing the financial ecosystem for a broad network of credit unions, members and auto dealers. We invest in our greatest assets, our employees, and foster a culture of innovation and ownership through freedom and responsibility. We celebrate fiscal accountability, operational rigor and efficiency to create a sustainably healthy and robust business for the long term.

The Director, Enterprise Risk Management is responsible for supporting the development, implementation, and oversight of the company’s enterprise risk management (ERM) framework. This role identifies, evaluates, mitigates, and monitors operational, strategic, compliance, and emerging risks. The Director partners with business leaders to embed risk-aware decision-making, strengthen internal controls, and support regulatory and audit readiness.

What You’ll Be Doing:

Risk Management

• Manage and maintain enterprise risk management tools, practices, policies, documentation, and reporting to identify and assess key risks across the organization.
• Conduct risk assessments and scenario analyses; prepare root-cause investigations and lessons learned when incidents occur.
• Support analysis, documentation, and tracking of risk associated with new products, services, technologies, and business initiatives; recommend risk mitigation strategies.
• Provide risk consultation to business units across functions (e.g., operations, engineering, IT) and contribute to control design and evaluation.
• Prepare risk reporting for senior leadership and stakeholders; contribute key risk indicator metrics and insights to the risk dashboard.

Policy & Compliance

• Assist with the ongoing development, review, and implementation of risk policies, procedures, and control standards to align with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
• Collaborate with Compliance to ensure ERM strategy aligns with applicable regulations, industry standards, and internal policies.
• Support regulatory readiness, audits, and examinations; respond to inquiries from regulators (e.g., CFPB, NCUA) as needed.

Business Continuity & Resilience

• Support maintenance and testing of business continuity and disaster recovery plans, including facilitating workshops and exercises.
• Identify resilience gaps and recommend continuity enhancements.

Insurance & Third-Party Risk

• Assist in reviewing and managing insurance programs related to enterprise risk exposures.
• Partner with internal teams and brokers to manage claims and risk transfer strategies.
• Participate in third-party risk assessments and vendor oversight activities.

Culture & Values

• Promote a risk-aware culture by being a champion collaborator throughout the organization and fostering strong relationships, supporting training initiatives, and influencing ethical behavior.
• Model organizational values of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

The Ideal Candidate:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, risk management, or related field (or commensurate experience in risk, compliance, or audit).

Experience:

• 8–12 years of progressive risk management, compliance, audit or related experience (preferably in financial services, banking, or credit unions).
• Experience with enterprise risk frameworks, internal controls, and regulatory environments.
• Familiarity with FFIEC guidance, federal/state financial institution laws, privacy, data governance, and audit principles strongly preferred.
• Experience with PCI, SOC 2 or similar third-party risk standards is a plus.
• Professional certifications (desired): CRISC, CISSP, CISM, CRM, CIA, or equivalent risk/compliance credentials.

Specialized Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with the ability to present to varied stakeholders.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and build trusted relationships.
• Excellent ability to conduct risk assessments, internal audits, and control testing with the ability to translate the outcome and mitigation strategy throughout the organization.
• Sound understanding of internal control frameworks and risk appetite concepts.
• Track record for building and fostering productive accountable direct reports.
• Proficiency with MS Office and risk reporting tools.

Why you should apply:

• Flexible Working Environment
• Paid Time Off
• 401k (8% match)
• College Tuition Benefits/ Tuition Reimbursement
• Good Benefits options
• Company Culture! Cultural and Holiday celebrations, Theme days like Star Wars Day & Bring your Kids to Work Day, Monthly Townhalls and Quarterly Company Meetings that ensure awareness, inclusion, and transparency.

The starting salary range for this full-time position in Irvine, CA is $170100 - $212600 per year. This base pay will take into consideration internal equity, candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge and experience among other factors. Origence maintains a highly competitive compensation program. Under company guidelines, this position is eligible for an annual bonus to provide an incentive to achieve targeted goals. Bonuses are awarded at company’s discretion on an individual basis.

Origence is an equal opportunity employer. All recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, benefits, discipline, and other terms and conditions of employment will be based upon an individuals’ qualifications regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, military service, marital status, pregnancy, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, disability or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.