Chief Risk Officer

Sandia Area Federal Credit Union; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandia Area Federal Credit Union (Sandia Area FCU) seeks a collaborative Chief Risk Officer to join its executive team. This role shapes the credit union’s enterprise risk approach, governance, and scalable risk practices to support strategic direction and long-term growth.

Reporting to the President-CEO, the CRO oversees enterprise risk management, compliance, BSA/AML, fraud, internal audit, information security oversight, vendor risk, and policy governance while building a practical risk

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, or related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive leadership experience in enterprise risk management, compliance, internal audit, fraud, information security risk, or regulatory oversight.
• Experience developing enterprise risk frameworks, governance practices, and scalable risk programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of enterprise risk management framework with governance, risk oversight, reporting, and accountability.
• Provide strategic leadership for enterprise risk, compliance, BSA/AML, fraud, internal audit, information security oversight, vendor risk, legal coordination, and policy governance.
• Partner with executive leadership to integrate risk management into strategic planning and growth.
• Develop risk reporting and governance practices for timely, actionable information to leadership and stakeholders.
• Guide evolution of internal audit, information security governance, and third-party risk management with stronger controls.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Enterprise risk management

Regulatory compliance

Internal audit

Information security risk

Vendor risk

Executive presence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Finance/ Risk Management

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Strengthening Risk. Enabling Growth. Supporting the Future.

Sandia Area Federal Credit Union (Sandia Area FCU) is seeking a collaborative and strategic Chief Risk Officer (CRO) to join its executive leadership team. This is an opportunity to shape and strengthen the credit union's enterprise risk approach by enhancing governance, developing scalable risk practices, and ensuring risk management supports the organization's strategic direction and long-term growth.

This role extends well beyond traditional compliance oversight. Reporting to the President-CEO, the CRO will provide executive leadership for enterprise risk management, compliance, BSA/AML, fraud, internal audit, information security oversight, vendor risk, legal coordination, and policy governance while helping the organization build a practical, scalable risk framework that supports growth and sound decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the continued development of the enterprise risk management framework, strengthening governance, risk oversight, reporting, and organizational accountability.
• Provide strategic leadership for enterprise risk, compliance, BSA/AML, fraud, internal audit, information security oversight, vendor management, legal coordination, policy governance, and related risk functions.
• Partner with the executive leadership team to integrate risk management into strategic planning, business initiatives, and organizational growth.
• Develop and enhance risk reporting and governance practices that provide clear, timely, and actionable information to executive leadership and key stakeholders while strengthening oversight, decision-making, regulatory readiness, and operational effectiveness.
• Guide the continued evolution of internal audit, information security governance, and third-party risk management while strengthening enterprise-wide controls.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate is a strategic, practical executive with experience building or strengthening enterprise risk management programs within a credit union, bank, or other highly regulated financial services environment. This leader understands how effective risk management supports organizational performance and brings judgment to balance regulatory expectations with business objectives.

What you will bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive leadership experience in enterprise risk management, compliance, internal audit, fraud, information security risk, legal or regulatory oversight, or related financial services disciplines, including executive-level leadership experience.
• Experience developing enterprise risk frameworks, governance practices, and scalable risk management programs.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance, BSA/AML, internal audit, fraud, vendor risk, information security governance, and operational risk.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance risk, operational priorities, and strategic objectives.
• Executive presence with the ability to influence, collaborate, and build trusted relationships across the organization.

The Culture

Sandia Area FCU values leaders who are practical, collaborative, and focused on execution. The organization has a hardworking culture where relationships matter, communication is direct, and leaders are expected to be engaged, accessible, and willing to roll up their sleeves.

This is a significant opportunity to help shape the future of enterprise risk management while serving as a key member of the executive leadership team and supporting the continued growth of a respected financial institution.

ABOUT DDJ MYERS, an ALM First Company

DDJ Myers is the executive search consultant for this organization. Our expertise is in supporting leadership teams in sustainable practices for high-performing organizations through succession planning, leadership development programs, executive coaching, board governance and renewal, and executive search. Please learn more at www.ddjmyers.com.