Position Summary and Role Impact:
Merrick Bank works with strategic partners in order to offer nationwide lending programs (the “Program”). These partners administers the Program on behalf of the bank, which is responsible for ongoing oversight.
The Director Bank Partnerships is a key member of Merrick Bank’s Bank Origination team, serving as the primary steward of relationships with new and existing fintech partners. This role blends strategic vision with hands-on execution, ensuring that Programs are safe, sound, compliant and positioned for sustainable growth. As the Program relationship owner the individual will oversee Program due diligence, performance, adherence to contractual requirements, and coordinate ongoing oversight with internal risk managers. Success in this position requires an understanding of lending products and regulatory frameworks. The ideal candidate thrives at the intersection of finance, risk and relationship management—driving innovation while safeguarding the bank’s reputation and regulatory standing.
The Director Bank Partnerships plays a critical role in coordinating the day‑to‑day oversight of Programs by tracking ongoing reporting requirements, assessing data, identifying trends or issues, scheduling periodic meetings with the Partner and summarizing insights for consumption by internal resources. The position reports to the VP, Bank Origination.
Essential Functions:
Partnership Development & Management
- Assists with due diligence and onboarding of new partners as needed.
- Serves as the primary relationship owner for assigned Programs.
- Fosters long-term, mutually beneficial collaborations.
Program Oversight & Optimization
- Primary point of contact for origination partners.
- Oversees day-to-day operations.
- Monitors partner performance against contractual requirements and financial KPIs.
- Recommends program enhancements.
- Ensures operational efficiency, service excellence, and compliance across multiple Programs.
- Tracks origination volumes and pricing to inform Program performance and process improvements.
Regulatory & Risk Alignment
- Collaborate with internal risk and operational teams on bank’s ongoing oversight.
- Work with legal and compliance to address audit findings and issue remediation.
- Ensures audit readiness and leads Program management implementation aligned with regulatory and internal risk frameworks.
- For each Program, confirms business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities and bank contingency plan
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field.
- Coursework or certification in fintech, banking compliance, third-party management or project management is a plus.
- 5+ years in banking, fintech, or financial services, with at least 3 years in third-party management or operations management.
- Experience in sponsored lending and lending products.
- Proven track record working cross-functionally with internal and external stakeholders.
Knowledge, Skills and Qualifications:
- Understanding of lending products and loan lifecycle.
- Strong negotiation, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
- Comfortable managing multiple high-value relationships in a fast-paced, regulated environment.
- Familiarity with banking regulations third-party risk management guidelines.
- Demonstrated expertise in enterprise risk management framework, including development of executive‑level materials such as dashboards, PowerPoint presentations, and written summaries.
- Proven track record working cross-functionally with internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to aggregate and synthesize complex information into clear and concise insights.
Compliance with Laws & Regulations:
- Responsible for complying with all the Bank’s internal control policies and procedures.
- Responsible for understanding and complying with applicable laws and banking regulations.
- Responsible for communicating problems in operations, noncompliance with the code of conduct, noncompliance with laws and regulations, policy violations, or illegal acts.
Work Environment/Physical Demands:
- This is largely a sedentary role.
- On-site meetings and occasional travel is required.
Security Responsibilities:
This classification requires heightened security awareness to safeguard the Bank's data, including customer non-public personal information. This position has access to sensitive loan documentation and customer data and must ensure all information is handled with strict confidentiality and in compliance with all regulatory guidelines.
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