Director, Credit Policy & Governance

bmo; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

BMO in Chicago is seeking a policy-focused professional to lead credit policy design, development, and governance across Retail and Wholesale Credit teams. The role emphasizes enterprise-wide policy alignment and strategic impact.

The successful candidate will oversee policy implementation, support governance processes, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders to advance BMO's credit objectives while upholding our values.

Responsibilities

• Provides subject matter expertise in the design, development, management, and implementation of assigned projects from business case development through execution.
• Primarily involved with credit policy development including drafting, reviewing, and finalizing policies with Retail Credit and Wholesale Credit teams.
• Provides inputs in creating target operating model credit policies across the Bank at enterprise level.
• Oversees implementation of credit and other relevant policies for Business Banking up to $1MM TCR and Up Market Strategy for TCR > $1MM.
• Ensures governance tasks are completed as they relate to implemented policies.
• Fosters a culture aligned to BMO values and behaviours, ensuring alignment between values and behaviour and diversity and inclusion.

Job description

Application Deadline:

10/04/2026

Address:

320 S Canal Street

Job Family Group:

Customer Solutions

• Provides subject matter expertise in the design, development, management, and implementation of assigned projects from business case development through execution. Works across BMO to deliver specific project/program business results in alignment with overall group goals.
• Primarily involved with credit policy development including drafting, reviewing, and finalizing policies in conjunction with Retail Credit and Wholesale Credit teams
• Provides inputs in the creation of target operating model credit policies that is being created across the Bank at the enterprise level
• Oversees implementation of credit and other relevant policies that apply to Business Banking (up to $1MM Total Committed Relationship or TCR) as well as Up Market Strategy for TCR > $1MM
• Ensures Governance related tasks are completed as it relates to implemented policies
• Fosters a culture aligned to BMO purpose, values and strategy and role models BMO values and behaviours in all that they do.
• Ensures alignment between values and behaviour that fosters diversity and inclusion.
• Regularly connects work to BMO's purpose, sets inspirational goals, defines clear expected outcomes, and ensures clear accountability for follow through.
• Builds interdependent teams that collaborate across functional and operating groups to create the highest value for all stakeholders.
• Attracts, retains, and enables the career development of top talent.
• Improves team performance, recognizes and rewards performance, coaches employees, supports their development, and manages poor performance.
• Positions BMO as a leader within the target market (including internal and external product offerings).
• Develops strategies that allow the market segment to achieve the status of highly credible and trusted strategic partners, and build expertise for BMO to be viewed as a valuable source of information, advice, and guidance (internally and externally).
• Continuously monitors program performance and external environment for effectiveness and ensures programs are updated to reflect current requirements.
• Develops and manages relationships with divisional and market contacts and networks, and leverages internal and external data to identify, analyze, and size opportunities, and monitor competitive activities.
• Acts as a trusted advisor to senior leaders for making business decisions and implementing strategic initiatives.
• Develops an expert understanding of business/group challenges.
• Networks with industry contacts to gather competitive insights and best practices.
• Influences and negotiates to achieve business objectives.
• Acts as a subject matter expert on relevant regulations and policies.
• Recommends measures to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Manages multiple programs / projects simultaneously and resolves conflicting priorities.
• Helps determine business priorities and best sequence for execution of business / group strategy.
• Conducts independent analysis and assessment to resolve strategic issues.
• Keeps stakeholders informed of messages, recommendations, decisions, process, and progress.
• Monitors and facilitates adherence to strategic and enterprise governance requirements.
• Provides coaching on complex strategic and business issues and facilitates processes to reach effective resolution.
• Breaks down strategic problems, and analyses data and information to provide insights and recommendations.
• Monitors and tracks performance, and addresses any issues.
• Designs and produces regular and ad-hoc reports, and dashboards.
• Identifies emerging issues and trends to inform decision‑making.
• Leads change management programs of varying scope and type, including readiness assessments, planning, stakeholder management, execution, evaluation and sustainment of initiatives.
• Leads or participates in defining the communication plan designed to positively influence or change behaviour; develops tailored messaging; and identifies appropriate distribution channels.
• May consult to or serve on various committees and task forces.
• Collaborates across BMO to develop communications strategies and ensure consistency of messaging, in order to positively influence or change behaviour.
• Interacts with various BMO groups to ensure strategy and initiatives meet enterprise governance requirements.
• Assess and adapts existing operational programs; develops new capabilities to ensure ongoing success.
• Executes routine tasks (e.g. service requests, transactions, queries, etc.) in accordance with applicable service level agreements.
• Manages multiple programs / projects simultaneously and resolves conflicting priorities.
• Acts as a relationship manager on assigned projects / programs to ensure alignment with overall enterprise and group goals.
• Develops solutions and makes recommendations based on an understanding of the business strategy and stakeholder needs.
• Participates in project / program design to provides advice and