Director, FinTech Innovation Programs, Filene (WI, TX, or CO)

Filene Research Institute; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Filene Research Institute seeks a Director of FinTech Innovation Programs to lead FiLab’s fintech testing portfolio, guiding field tests across up to 30 credit unions nationwide. The role directs test leads, coordinates with research and partners, and ensures consistent testing standards and insights for the credit union industry.

The Director will manage the annual FiLab application cycle, shape scouting priorities, and drive collaboration with fintech partners through due diligence,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, technology, innovation, or related field.
• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in program leadership, innovation, partnerships, product implementation, or related discipline.
• Experience in financial services, fintech, or credit union industry preferred.
• Leadership, portfolio management, and stakeholder alignment experience.
• Strong communication skills and ability to facilitate groups.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Filene's fintech testing portfolio and ensure execution of every test.
• Direct test delivery from cohort launch to final reporting with analysis support.
• Onboard credit unions into tests and align them with tests.
• Build relationships with credit unions and partners through testing cycles.
• Iterate testing methodology and maintain quality across tests.
• Allocate resources and manage test plans with contracted support as portfolio grows.

Skills

Leadership

Portfolio management

Program evaluation

Relationship management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, technology, innovation, or related field

Advanced degree welcomed (MBA, PhD, MS)

Job description

Director, FinTech Innovation Programs, Filene (WI, TX, or CO)

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

• 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 grows.

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.

The Filene Research Institute (Filene) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Filene complies with applicable state and local laws governing non‑discrimination in employment.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Filene expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

Improper interference with the ability of Filene employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.

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