Area Operations Manager - Southwest, CA (Foothills)

Mechanics Bank; Baldwin Park (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Mechanics Bank is seeking an Area Operations Manager to lead branch operations across Pasadena, Los Angeles, Baldwin Park, Glendora, and Fontana locations. The role focuses on risk management, staff development, and superior customer service within Retail Banking.

The candidate will oversee FTE budgeting, compliance, inspections, and policy reviews while driving operational excellence and ethical sales referrals across the defined area.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of banking experience with emphasis in operations.
• Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience.
• Approximately 10–20% travel.
• Knowledge of state and federal banking regulations relevant to retail operations.
• Ability to supervise and coach subordinate staff and develop talent.
• Strong communication with customers and management at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Manage a Retail Branch office and defined operations area to achieve service and performance goals.
• Lead branch supervisors and staff, conduct meetings, coach and develop employees.
• Perform on-site and remote inspections of branch operations and certifications.
• Foster a customer-centric culture and resolve inquiries promptly.
• Manage FTE resources and redeploy staff for efficiency and experience.
• Support Retail operations policy reviews and adherence to ProcedureTech.
• Ensure ethical sales referrals and support production campaigns.
• Lead community reinvestment efforts and CRA activities within the area.

Skills

Leadership

Banking operations

Customer service

Risk management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent

High School Diploma or GED required

Notary license preferred

Tools

PolicyTech

Job description

Mechanics Bank is currently searching for an Area Operations Manager to join our team at our Pasadena, Los Angeles, Baldwin Park, Glendora, or Fontana Branch.

The Area Operations Manager is responsible for the Retail Branches within a defined area. Provides supervision to the operations staff within the branch and assigned area. Oversees all aspects of FTE budget, risk, operations and compliance, ensuring performance aligns with Bank's goals and standards, while ethically supporting the financial needs of our customers. Fosters a high performance culture. Creates a strategic plan for the operations staff designed to mitigate risk, and meet goals and objectives. Closely tracks and manages operational performance for all areas and branches within the territory. Accountable for all human resource related tasks within their operations organization. Identifies, develops and promotes top performers. Ensures each team member's development and quality of work is a top priority in the branches. Creates inspection processes in branches to observe performance and provide coaching. Collaborates with Retail Production Managers to ethically support the financial needs of our customers and meet bank objectives. Provides collaborative support to the production staff within the Region. Provides approvals and exceptions within stated authority for complex and potential high-risk transactions. Leads and supports key initiatives, projects and operational tasks within Retail Banking.

What you will do:

• Manages a Retail Branch office and defined operations area. Responsible for the overall performance of operational and service goals. Implements strategies to manage risk, develops employees and provides exemplary customer service. Drives team performance through huddles, meetings, coaching, direction and leading by example. Personally performs operational tasks according to policies and procedures. Provides approvals for high-risk transactions and for operational exceptions with the area.

• Manages and provides leadership to branch supervisors and employees, and branch management within the operations area. Leads daily huddles and regular branch and area meetings. Performs human resource management tasks including; hiring, performance appraisals, promotions, salary increases, coaching, training, development, and disciplinary actions. Ensures members of branch management achieve superior results in human resource management, including hiring and performance management results within the area. Leads members of branch management to coach and develop the employees in their area.

• Performs on site and remote periodic inspection of branch operational tasks. Provides review and approval of periodic branch certifications, reports and other operational tasks. Ongoing monitoring of Retail Operations reporting for all branches within the area. Regularly visits the branches to observe branch performance, complete operational task review and coach the operations staff.

• Fosters a customer-centric culture within the branch. Addresses customer inquiries, concerns, and escalations promptly. Implements strategies to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.

• Manages FTE for defined area. Works with local management to redeploy staffing resources for maximum FTE efficiency and positive customer experience. May manage and directly schedule the Universal Utility Banker.

• Supports Operations Managers in the execution of Retail's operational soundness strategy. Serves as a subject matter expert in the review of Retail policies and procedures in PolicyTech.

• Ensures operations staff supports production targets through ethical sales referrals. Is an advocate for the entire business and supports internal production campaigns.

• Executes on Retail community reinvestment strategy. Ensures active community participation and leadership, including CRA activities in communities served by the area.

Who you are:

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience, High School Diploma or GED required.

• Notary license preferred.

• Minimum of 7 years of banking experience with an emphasis in operations required.

• Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience required.

• Approximately 10 - 20% travel is required.

• Knowledge of State and Federal banking regulations pertinent to Retail operations.

• Leadership ability to supervise and direct subordinate employees, and to provide coaching and development.

• Skilled in dealing with customer issues in challenging situations.

• Attention to detail and accuracy to mitigate risk.

• Excellent organizational skills to direct workflow, balance assignments, and provide consistent scheduling to ensure complete office coverage.

• Thorough knowledge of Retail office operations, including complex transactions, Bank policy and procedures, and Risk Management policies.

• Ability to assess Retail branches within the area for actions to increase production, improve efficiency, reduce risk and to improve operating quality.

• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, team members and all levels of management.

• Ability to motivate employees to provide excellent customer service, demonstrate initiative, and maintain operational soundness.

ADA Requirements:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Pay Range: $85,000 - $130,000
Eligible for Retail Incentive Plan
AIP/Bonus up to 15%

Our comprehensive employee benefits program is designed for you to live your best life at work, home, and everywhere in between. Employees working 25 hours or more per week are eligible for health benefits effective the first day of the month following or coinciding with their date of hire.
Benefits package includes[1]:

• Medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their eligible family members

• Employer paid Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, AD&D, and Disability benefits

• Health Savings Account with employer contribution

• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts and Commuter/Parking Benefit

• 401(k) and Roth 401(k) with company contribution

• 529 Education Savings plan, Tuition Reimbursement Program and Student Loan Assistance Program

• Supplemental Health plans, Voluntary Legal and Identity Theft Services

• 11 paid holidays, paid Sick days (accrual of one hour for every 30 hours worked), up to 25 paid vacation days, and 16 hours of paid volunteer time throughout the calendar year

• Free personal checking and savings account; Discounted rates on primary residence loan with $0 origination fees (restrictions apply)

Final compensation package will be determined by the work experience, education, and/or skill level of the applicant along with internal equity and alignment with geographic market data.

• Mechanics Bank is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, or on the basis of disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or other bases prohibited by applicable law.

• Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.

• To learn more about Mechanics Bank's California privacy and security policies, including your right to a Notice At Collection as a California Resident, please visit

  California Privacy Policy for Prospective Employees | Mechanics Bank

[1] The benefits listed in this job posting reflect the Bank's most reasonable and genuinely expected benefits offered for this position.