Director, FinTech Innovation Programs, Filene

TruStage; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 104,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

TruStage seeks a Director of Fintech Innovation Programs to lead FiLab testing with credit unions nationwide. You will drive end-to-end delivery, shape testing standards, and coordinate test leads and contractors across a multi-month cycle.

This role emphasizes innovative leadership in financial services and collaborative problem-solving to benefit members. Ideal candidates bring 7+ years in program leadership, FinTech experience, and a passion for credit unions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, technology, innovation, or a related field.
• 7+ years of program leadership, innovation, partnerships or product implementation.
• Experience in financial services, FinTech, or credit unions preferred.
• Leadership: set direction and drive accountability across teams.
• Portfolio management: manage multiple active programs and priorities.
• Program evaluation: design tests and assess results with researchers.
• Relationship management: engage fintech partners and leaders.
• Communication: clear, effective, and facilitative.
• Curiosity about credit unions and a collaborative culture.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Filene's fintech testing portfolio and ensure execution of each test.
• Manage tests from cohort launch through field execution to final reporting.
• Match credit unions to tests that fit their priorities.
• Build and maintain relationships with participating credit unions throughout the test cycle.
• Iterate on methodology and standards to ensure quality across tests.
• Review test plans and secure required resources and contracted support.

Skills

Program leadership

Innovation

FinTech

Credit unions

Portfolio management

Relationship management

Communication

Travel

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

At TruStage, we’re on a mission to make a brighter financial future accessible to everyone. We put people first, and work hand in hand with employees and customers to create a diverse and inclusive environment. Passionate about building insurance and financial services solutions, we push the boundaries of what’s possible. We need you to help us shape what’s next. You’ll be encouraged to share your experiences, ideas and skills to help others take control of their financial future.

Join a team that has received numerous awards for being a top place to work: TruStage awards and recognition

Role Overview

The Director, Fintech Innovation Programs leads the delivery of Filene's fintech testing work, working with credit unions to put promising solutions to a real-world trial and find out what works for their members.

Now in its fifth year, FiLab (Filene’s fintech testing program) reviews hundreds of fintech solutions and selects 6-8 each year for testing with more than 30 credit unions across the country. The Director leads the end-to-end delivery of these field tests over a 3-to-6-month period, working closely with participating credit unions, establishing consistent testing standards and protocols, and directing the test leads and contracted resources responsible for execution.

The Director also manages FiLab’s annual application and selection cycle, helps shape the scouting priorities that guide the pipeline, and serves as a key point of coordination with fintech partners throughout due diligence, contracting, testing, and completion. Through this work, the Director ensures FiLab tests are well-designed, consistently executed, and positioned to generate meaningful insights for participating credit unions and the broader industry.

The Director role is a strong fit for someone who has deep experience leading innovation, fintech or partnership programs in financial services and is excited about testing what comes next for credit unions.

Role Responsibilities

Testing Portfolio

• Oversee Filene's fintech testing portfolio and hold accountability for the execution of every test.
• Manage a set of tests directly, from cohort launch through field execution to final reporting, partnering with Filene's research lead on analysis and reporting.
• Bring credit unions into each test cycle, matching them to the tests that fit their priorities.
• Build and maintain relationships with participating credit unions, from onboarding through the test and into the results.
• Iterate and improve the methodology and process standards every test follows, and ensure quality across all tests.
• Review test plans and secure the resources each one needs, directing test leads and sourcing contracted support as the portfolio gro

FinTech Pipeline & Selection

• Run the annual fintech application and selection cycle, leading outreach to source applicants and facilitating a committee of credit union executives through the discussions that narrow the field to the finalists who pitch at Filene's annual Symposium.
• Help shape the fintech scouting priorities that guide selection and identify solutions that meet them.
• Manage fintech partners from diligence and contracting through the test itself, and through the reporting that follows.
• Build relationships with solution providers, investors and industry contacts through events, outreach and referrals to stay current on emerging solutions.

General & Administrative

• Lead, manage and develop Incubation team members, as assigned.
• Model Filene Credo and play a key role in maintaining the culture of the organization through personal and cross-functional accountabilities.
• Actively support the achievement of Filene's strategic objectives, plan, budget, and metrics in a manner consistent with Filene’s mission, values, and brand.
• Provide extraordinary service to Filene’s staff, members, and stakeholders.
• Understand and engage in Filene’s complete body of work including research and advisory programs to connect member needs with Filene solutions that can best meet those needs.
• Prioritize and manage workload across several projects simultaneously, demonstrating the ability to shift gears when necessary to meet key deadlines.

The statements above are not intended to be all-inclusive and other duties will be assigned as needed.

Role Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, technology, innovation, or a related field required. Advanced degree (i.e., MBA, PhD, MS, etc.) welcome, but not required.
• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in program leadership, innovation, partnerships, product implementation, or related discipline required.
• Experience in financial services, innovation, FinTech, or the credit union industry preferred, with a deep understanding of challenges and opportunities within the sector. For those without direct credit union or CUSO experience, interest and excitement to learn a unique and growing industry is a must.
• Leadership: Experience setting direction for work performed by others and maintaining accountability for outcomes, including when leading without formal authority. Ability to navigate competing priorities, make clear decisions, and align internal and external contributors around shared expectations, timelines, and results.
• Portfolio Management: Proven ability to manage a portfolio of active programs, establish priorities and sequencing, allocate resources, set consistent standards for execution, and build the systems and processes needed to keep the work coordinated as it grows.
• Program Evaluation: Experience evaluating pilot or program performance and partnering with researchers to design tests, assess results, and generate clear, actionable insights.
• Relationship Management: Experience building and managing relationships across multiple stakeholders simultaneously, including fintech partners, contracted resources, and senior leaders inside and outside the organization at the director and executive levels.
• Communication and Facilitation: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly to varied audiences and effectively facilitate groups in both in-person and virtual settings.
• Intellectually curious about credit unions and their members. Enjoy working in a “think tank” environment where ideation, continually embracing change, being restless with the status quo and seeking reinvention is part of the culture. A passion for purpose and precision – including the details.
• Travel expected up to 25% to fulfill the requirements of the role, including (but not limited to) two annual in-person events and periodic industry conferences and client visits.

Organization Description

Filene Research Institute strengthens organizations through innovative research and incubation to improve consumer financial well-being. As an independent cooperative finance think tank, Filene’s membership network connects a community of leaders and bright minds to change lives through innovation, truth, and cooperation. In addition to delivering cutting-edge, actionable academic research, Filene also provides incubators to test and scale solutions, events to spark organizations into action and advisory services to help accelerate and implement innovation. For more information, visit filene.org and @fileneresearch.

We live by the famous words of our namesake, credit union and retail pioneer Edward A. Filene: "Progress is the constant replacing of the best there is with something still better." Together, Filene and our thousands of supporters seek progress for credit unions by turning questions into research, research into ideas, and ideas into action. Filene is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

Base Salary Range

$104,200.00 - $156,300.00

At TruStage, we believe a sound, inclusive benefits program is of vital importance, along with a flexible workplace that allows for work-life balance, career growth and retirement assistance. In addition to your base pay, your position may be eligible for an annual incentive (bonus) plan. Additional benefits available to eligible employees include medical, dental, vision, employee assistance program, life insurance, disability plans, parental leave, paid time off, 401k, and tuition reimbursement, just to name a few. Beyond pay and benefits, we also recognize that flexibility, including working in a place you prefer, is essential to caring for our employees. We will continue to strive to offer flexibility and invest in technology and other tools that will make hybrid working normal rather than an exception, so that when “life happens,” you can focus on what’s most important.

Accommodation request

TruStage is a place where everyone can bring their best self and thrive. If you need application or interview process accommodations, please contact the accessibility department.