Strategic Lending Operations Analyst

OceanFirst Bank; Red Bank (NJ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

employee perks & discount programs

tuition assistance

incentive compensation program

professional development opportunities

more!

Job summary

OceanFirst Bank in Red Bank, NJ, is seeking a seasoned Project Manager to oversee commercial lending initiatives and mergers-related integrations. You will coordinate governance, manage cross-functional teams, and ensure alignment with strategic priorities while driving operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.

The role requires strong project management skills, experience in banking operations, and familiarity with leading lending platforms.

Qualifications

• Three or more years of experience in commercial loan operations, project management, or a similar role within the banking or financial services industry.
• Proven project management skills and/or Project Management certification (such as PMP or Lean Six Sigma) are required.
• Experience managing projects related to mergers and acquisitions within financial services is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with AI and automation enabled tools and their application in banking operations.
• Frequent internal contact with Operations, Information Technology, Vendor Management and Accounting teams.
• External contact with service providers and with entities we provide services.

Responsibilities

• Analyze commercial lending workflows and operational processes to identify opportunities for standardization, automation, efficiency, risk mitigation, and improved customer or employee experience.
• Document current-state and future-state workflows, procedures, business requirements, and implementation plan to support process improvement and change management initiatives.
• Lead medium to large cross-functional project activities with Commercial Credit, Operations, Information Technology, Accounting, Compliance, Strategic Integration, and other business partners.
• Manage and coordinate commercial lending projects from initiation through completion, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities, timelines, and expected outcomes.
• Develop and maintain project plans, action logs, meeting materials, status updates, and reporting tools to support effective project governance and communication.
• Track project milestones, dependencies, risks, issues, and decisions; elevate barriers and recommend resolution strategies to support timely execution.
• Prepare dashboards, monthly reports, and management updates summarizing project progress, completed activities, upcoming initiatives, risks, and key deliverables.
• Measure project and process improvement outcomes, report findings, and recommend additional enhancements to support continuous improvement and operational effectiveness.
• Support risk and governance activities by documenting controls, identifying process gaps, monitoring compliance considerations, and maintaining clear project records.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, and integration-related projects by coordinating planning activities, tracking transition tasks, documenting risks, and supporting the integration of loan operations processes.
• Assist with testing, implementation, training, and communication activities related to new systems, workflow changes, automation tools, or process enhancements.

Skills

Project management

PMP/Lean Six Sigma

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory compliance awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, or related field

Tools

nCino

LaserPro

Fiserv Premier

Job description

OceanFirst Bank in Red Bank, NJ, is seeking a seasoned Project Manager to oversee commercial lending initiatives and mergers-related integrations. You will coordinate governance, manage cross-functional teams, and ensure alignment with strategic priorities while driving operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.

The role requires strong project management skills, experience in banking operations, and familiarity with leading lending platforms.