Director, First Line Risk – Program Management

Citizens currently has an opening for the Director of First Line Risk – Program Management within Citizens Wealth Management. This key leadership role represents the First Line of Defense Risk Management function and is responsible for driving the development, execution, and ongoing oversight of risk‑based programs and initiatives that support the Wealth Management business.

This role partners closely with Wealth business leaders, Operations, Technology, Compliance, Legal, and Independent Risk Management to ensure risk programs are designed, executed, and sustained in alignment with enterprise risk management expectations and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the First Line Risk Program Management framework for Citizens Wealth Management, supporting enterprise and business‑specific risk initiatives.
• Drive execution of complex, cross‑functional risk programs and strategic initiatives, ensuring clear ownership, governance, and accountability.
• Maintain effective oversight and continuous improvement of program monitoring, risk dashboards, reporting, and issue tracking across Wealth Management.
• Partner with business leadership to translate risk strategy, regulatory expectations, and enterprise priorities into actionable programs and execution plans.
• Act as a cross‑functional risk subject matter expert, ensuring programs are implemented with strong risk management practices and sustainable controls.
• Collaborate with Technology, Data, Operations, and Analytics teams to ensure program execution is supported by robust risk intelligence, metrics, and tooling.
• Serve as liaison with Independent Risk, Compliance, Audit, and other control functions to ensure alignment, transparency, and consistency across program activities.
• Oversee issue management and remediation programs, including root cause analysis, action plan development, execution tracking, and closure.
• Promote a strong culture of risk and compliance awareness by supporting governance forums, program communications, training, and education.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and challenge to business and risk partners in the design, implementation, and governance of processes, controls, and policies.
• Support regulatory exams, internal audits, and ongoing compliance activities related to Wealth Management programs.
• Oversee or support key initiatives, pilot programs, products, and strategy changes impacting the Wealth Management risk profile.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Risk Management, Program Management, Wealth Management, Compliance, Audit, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading large‑scale, cross‑functional programs within a financial services or regulated environment.
• Strong understanding of risk management frameworks, First Line of Defense responsibilities, and enterprise risk governance.
• Experience partnering with business leaders to drive end‑to‑end risk program execution, including monitoring, issue remediation, and reporting.
• Proven ability to influence through data, structure, and logic, including constructive challenge of senior stakeholders.
• Strong working knowledge of regulatory and supervisory expectations applicable to Wealth Management.
• Extensive project and program management experience, including planning, execution, dependency management, and reporting.
• Proven relationship management skills with a track record of building trust and credibility across business and control functions.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced environment with competing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive‑level presentations.

 Education

• Bachelor’s Degree required OR Minimum of 8 years of work experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g., Master’s, MBA, JD) OR Minimum of 5 years of work experience with a PhD

Hours and Work Schedule: (4 days in office, 1 day remote)

Hours per Week: 40

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday

 Pay Transparency

The salary range for this position is $168,000-$208,000 per year, plus an opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the work location, and relevant skills and experience.

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more. Note, Citizens’ paid time off policy exceeds the mandatory, paid sick or paid time-away policy of every local and state jurisdiction in the United States. For an overview of our benefits, visit https://jobs.citizensbank.com/benefits.

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Equal Employment Opportunity

Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, victim of domestic violence, family status/parenthood, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws. At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, performance and capability.

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Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the candidate successfully passing a background check, which may include initial credit, motor vehicle record, public record, prior employment verification, and criminal background checks. Results of the background check are individually reviewed based upon legal requirements imposed by our regulators and with consideration of the nature and gravity of the background history and the job offered. Any offer of employment will include further information.