Model Risk Manager - Independent Validation Lead (Hybrid)

Sallie Mae; Newark (AR); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Bonus incentives

Generous PTO

401k with employer match

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision

Job summary

Sallie Mae in the United States seeks a Manager, Model Risk to lead independent model validations and provide challenge across the lifecycle. You will collaborate with risk, finance, technology, and business teams within a second-line function.

Responsibilities include planning validations, developing testing approaches, and presenting findings to senior management and regulators. Strong Python/R/SAS/SQL skills and 5+ years of validation experience are required. Hybrid work available.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mathematics, statistics, economics, finance, data science, engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of direct experience performing model validation, independent model review, or closely related model risk oversight within financial services.
• Proficiency in Python, R, SAS, SQL, or comparable analytical tools used to independently test and assess models.
• Strong knowledge of quantitative analysis, statistical techniques, model governance, and model risk management principles.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document defensible conclusions, communicate technical issues clearly, and influence stakeholders through effective challenge.

Responsibilities

• Independently plan and execute risk-based validations of new and existing models, including assessments of conceptual soundness, data quality, methodology, assumptions, implementation, performance, limitations, and documentation.
• Lead validation engagements from scoping through final reporting, including the development of testing approaches, documentation of findings, and communication of conclusions.
• Provide independent effective challenge to model developers, owners, and users and assess whether identified model risks are appropriately understood, documented, and mitigated.
• Evaluate model performance monitoring, change management, ongoing review, and governance practices for alignment with the Model Risk Management framework and applicable regulatory expectations.
• Perform quantitative analysis and testing using relevant statistical techniques and programming tools such as Python or R.
• Prepare clear, well-supported validation reports and present conclusions, limitations, and findings to business partners, senior management, governance committees, and regulators, as appropriate.
• Partner with model development, risk, finance, technology, and business teams while maintaining independent second-line oversight.
• Contribute to enhancements of model validation practices, procedures, templates, and risk assessment methodologies.

Skills

Python, R, SAS, SQL

Education

Bachelor's degree in quantitative field

Tools

SAS

SQL

Python

Job description

Sallie Mae in the United States seeks a Manager, Model Risk to lead independent model validations and provide challenge across the lifecycle. You will collaborate with risk, finance, technology, and business teams within a second-line function.

Responsibilities include planning validations, developing testing approaches, and presenting findings to senior management and regulators. Strong Python/R/SAS/SQL skills and 5+ years of validation experience are required. Hybrid work available.