Director, Project Management Office

Merrick Bank; Iowa (LA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Medical benefits

401k match

Paid time off

Job summary

CardWorks Financial Group is seeking a Director, Project Manager to coordinate technology and business initiatives across stakeholders and delivery teams. You will lead planning, risk management, and governance processes to ensure on‑time, on‑scope project outcomes.

The role emphasizes cross‑functional collaboration, stakeholder communications, and structured project execution in a regulated financial services environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, Finance, or related field.
• 7–8+ years of project management experience coordinating technology and business initiatives.
• Experience coordinating cross‑functional projects with multiple stakeholders and delivery teams.
• Experience supporting client‑facing implementations, onboarding initiatives, operational projects, or technology delivery efforts.
• Experience using Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, or MS Project.

Responsibilities

• Manage technology and business projects from initiation to implementation.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, RAID logs, and documentation.
• Coordinate activities across business, technology, operations, vendors, and clients.
• Facilitate meetings, status reviews, planning sessions, and stakeholder communications.
• Monitor progress, risks, issues, and dependencies; escalate when needed.
• Support testing, release readiness, and post‑deployment activities.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Agile/Waterfall

Cross-functional coordination

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in IT/CS/BA/Finance

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Smartsheet

Microsoft Project

Job description

Become an everyday champion — and build a career where your impact fuels financial progress.

What We Do

CardWorks Financial Group is a diversified financial services platform building ethical solutions across credit, lending, and the full customer lifecycle. Through our family of companies, CardWorks Financial Group tackles the complex challenges that larger financial institutions leave behind. We’re embedded throughout the credit card ecosystem as a lender, servicer, and merchant acquirer.

Who We Are

• Merrick Bank: The bank that builds
• CardWorks Servicing: One partner, total performance
• Carson Smithfield: Resolution with respect

With nearly 40 years of operating history, our track record is solid: disciplined in downturns and built to accelerate in recovery. The CardWorks Financial Group companies take precise approach in complex markets, as a top three non-prime focused general purpose card issuer and a top fifteen U.S. merchant acquirer.

Our team tackles the industry’s most complex credit and payment challenges. And we believe that excellent work starts with a team that feels supported, respected, and empowered to grow.

CardWorks Servicing, LLC provides end‑to‑end operational servicing functions for credit cards, secured cards, and installment loans. We service consumer and small business loans across the credit spectrum and offers backup servicing and due diligence services to capital providers and trustees.

Founded in 1997, Merrick Bank is an FDIC®‑insured financial institution headquartered in South Jordan, Utah, with over $10 billion in assets. A wholly owned subsidiary of CardWorks Financial Group, Merrick Bank serves roughly five million cardmembers and more than 100,000 merchant customers, offering credit cards, recreational loans, deposit accounts, merchant services and bank sponsorships to consumers and businesses.

Carson Smithfield, LLC provides a variety of post‑charge‑off debt recovery services, including digital self‑service, IVR, live agent, and external agency management.

Position Summary and Role Impact:

Director, Project Manager plays a key role in supporting the successful delivery of technology and business initiatives within financial services environments. This position is responsible for coordinating project activities across business, technology, operations, vendors, and external partners to ensure initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with organizational objectives. Director, Project Manager independently leads medium‑complexity initiatives and serves as the primary owner responsible for project planning, execution, stakeholder management, risk management, and delivery outcomes.

The role contributes to organizational success by driving execution, improving cross‑functional collaboration, supporting client and operational initiatives, and helping teams effectively manage project risks, dependencies, and delivery commitments. The Director, Project Manager, partners closely with project sponsors, stakeholders, and delivery teams to maintain visibility into project progress and facilitate informed decision‑making throughout the project lifecycle.

Essential Functions:

• Manage and coordinate technology and business projects from initiation through implementation, ensuring alignment with project objectives, timelines, and delivery expectations.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, RAID logs, and project documentation to support effective project execution.
• Coordinate activities across business, technology, operations, vendors, implementation partners, and client stakeholders to support successful delivery outcomes.
• Facilitate project meetings, status reviews, planning sessions, and stakeholder communications to ensure alignment and timely resolution of issues.
• Monitor project progress, dependencies, risks, and issues, escalating concerns appropriately to support informed decision‑making and delivery success.
• Support implementation, testing, release readiness, and post‑deployment activities as required by project scope.
• Prepare and communicate project status updates, delivery metrics, and key project information to stakeholders and project sponsors.
• Ensure project activities are executed in accordance with established governance processes, organizational standards, security requirements, and applicable regulatory expectations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements for Success:

Education & Experience:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7-8 years of project management experience coordinating technology and business initiatives.
• Experience supporting cross‑functional projects involving multiple stakeholders, business units, and delivery teams.
• Experience supporting client‑facing implementations, onboarding initiatives, operational projects, or technology delivery efforts.
• Experience utilizing project management tools such as Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, or similar platforms.

Preferred

• PMP certification or willingness to obtain within 12-24 months.
• Experience within financial services, payments, lending, credit card, or other regulated environments.
• Experience supporting system integrations, technology implementations, or enterprise application projects.
• Scrum Master certification or Agile‑related certifications (SAFe, PMI‑ACP, or equivalent).
• Experience coordinating with external clients, vendors, implementation partners, or third‑party service providers.

Knowledge, Skills and Capabilities:

• Strong understanding of project management methodologies, including Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid delivery approaches.
• Ability to manage multiple projects or workstreams simultaneously while balancing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong organizational skills with experience tracking project schedules, milestones, risks, issues, dependencies, and action items.
• Ability to communicate project information clearly and effectively to stakeholders at varying levels of the organization.
• Working knowledge of software development lifecycles, technology delivery processes, system integrations, and enterprise technology environments.
• Ability to identify project risks and issues, facilitate resolution discussions, and escalations appropriately.
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills with the ability to build effective working relationships across cross‑functional teams.
• Ability to analyse project information and provide meaningful updates that support project visibility and decision‑making.
• Proficiency with project management, collaboration, and reporting tools including Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, or similar platforms.
• Knowledge of financial services regulatory, security, and compliance considerations preferred.

The salary range for this position, if located in NY Metro/NY State is $135,000 to $150,000. However, please note that the salary range will vary for other geographic areas.

#INDHP

Our Employee Value Proposition

• Competitive Pay, including a Bonus Target or Variable Pay Incentive Program
• Benefits Package –Medical, Dental, and Vision (plus much more)
• 401(k) Plan with Company Match
• Short-  Long‑Term Disability
• Wellness Programs
• Group Life and AD&D Insurance
• Paid Vacation, Sick Days and bank Holidays
• Employee Engagement Activities including Employee Appreciation Day, DEI Employee Resource Groups, Corporate Social Responsibility, Service Recognition

We offer a total rewards package comprised of a competitive base rate of pay, variable pay incentive programs based on the role, and a comprehensive benefit suite. Offered rates of pay are determined based on job‑related knowledge, relevant experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, sex, or gender identity/expression (including pregnancy, childbirth, transgender status, or sexual orientation), religion or creed, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, disability, military or veteran status, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Employment decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs. Everyone is welcome here, and we hire based on your ability to do the job, not any protected characteristics.

If you need help or reasonable accommodation during the application or hiring process, please let your TA Partner know.