Strategic Program Director

At Early Warning, we’ve powered and protected the U.S. financial system for over thirty years with cutting‑edge solutions such as Zelle®, Paze℠, and more.

Positions located in Scottsdale, San Francisco, Chicago, or New York follow a hybrid work model that allows for a collaborative environment. Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States on the date of hire and the position does not sponsor employment visas.

Overall Purpose

The Strategic Program Director – Paze will identify, prioritize, and manage the execution of strategic initiatives for Paze, ensuring projects remain on time, under budget, and within scope in line with business priorities. The role coordinates with many internal and external stakeholders to interpret complex information and drive decision‑making for Paze.

Essential Functions

• Market & Industry Subject Matter Expertise: Analyzes competitive trends and market dynamics, providing clear findings and frameworks that facilitate decision‑making with stakeholders.
• Business Improvement Initiatives: Develops compelling recommendations and robust business cases for strategic initiatives that enhance competitive advantage and improve business performance.
• Executive Collaboration: Partners with executive leadership and external governance forums to communicate plans and ensure alignment.
• Initiative Planning: Creates end‑to‑end project plans, managing scope, success criteria, deliverables, critical milestones, resources, finance, and quality.
• Program Management: Monitors initiatives on an ongoing basis, evaluates progress, mitigates risk, and resolves issues with project teams.
• Best Practice Definition: Establishes templates, processes, and tools to mature and improve team effectiveness.
• Risk Management: Supports the company’s commitment to risk management and protects systems and data integrity.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education and/or experience typically obtained through completion of a bachelor’s degree in business, Program Management, Computer Science, or related field.
• Experience in financial services, banking, payments or similarly regulated industries.
• Minimum of 15 or more years of program management, corporate strategy, business transformation or management consulting experience and proven people‑leadership experience in matrixed environments.
• Prior experience related to product launch or large‑scale technical product coordination.
• Skilled in framing complex and ambiguous problems and leveraging analytical methods to craft effective solutions.
• Effective relationship building and team‑collaboration skills leading diverse cross‑functional teams.
• Strong communication, presentation, and persuasion abilities, adept at fostering collaboration and building relationships across all levels.
• Highly engaged self‑starter capable of balancing results achievement with collaboration.
• Proactive in identifying and driving process improvements to increase organizational efficiency.
• Strong team player with ability to coach or mentor without direct authority over resources.
• Background and drug screen.

Physical Requirements

Work is primarily sedentary, requiring extensive use of a computer and sitting for approximately four hours. Occasional standing, walking, kneeling, and reaching may be required. Ability to lift 10 pounds occasionally and/or negligible force frequently is necessary. Requires visual acuity and dexterity to view, prepare, and manipulate documents and office equipment. Must be able to communicate with internal and/or external customers.

Compensation

Base pay ranges are: $172,000‑$215,000 for Phoenix, AZ; Chicago, IL; Washington, DC; and $206,000‑$258,000 for New York, NY; San Francisco, CA. Candidates are eligible for a discretionary incentive plan and benefits.

Benefits

• Healthcare Coverage – Competitive medical (PPO/HDHP), dental, and vision plans with HSA or FSA contributions.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – 100% Company Safe Harbor Match on the first 6% deferral.
• Paid Time Off – Flexible time off for exempt employees, generous PTO for non‑exempt employees, 11 paid holidays, and a paid volunteer day.
• 12weeks of Paid Parental Leave and family‑planning support, including egg freezing, fertility, adoption, surrogacy, pregnancy, postpartum, early pediatrics, and return‑to‑work assistance.
• Other benefits and programs are available; please review the Benefits page.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Early Warning Services, LLC (“Early Warning”) considers for employment, hires, retains, and promotes qualified candidates on the basis of ability, potential, and valid qualifications without regard to race, religious creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, protected veteran or disability status, marital status, medical condition, or any other factor prohibited by law. Early Warning Services LLC is a proud participant in E‑Verify and electronically verifies employment eligibility of all new hires through E‑Verify.