Since 1927, the Mariner Finance family of companies has provided customers with creative, flexible, and convenient lending options. Headquartered in Baltimore, Mariner Finance operates coast-to-coast with physical locations in over half the states. With a growing number of employees, superior customer service remains the cornerstone of our business, and we pride ourselves in delivering a variety of loans with an enhanced focus on exceptional service. We work with customers to find options that are beneficial to their specific needs, which is why we are recognized by our customers as one of the community’s consumer finance companies of choice.

In this role, you will...

Lead multiple strategic transformation initiatives and projects within Central Operations, acting as a trusted advisor to senior leadership. Align cross-functional teams, drive high-impact projects, and ensure the successful implementation of new processes, standards, and solutions. As a key liaison between business leaders, IT, and external partners, you will leverage data and insights to optimize operations and enhance efficiency. Beyond project execution, you will shape and refine a best-in-class project delivery environment, continuously improving how the Central Operations gathers requirements, manages projects, and documents key processes.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Lead multiple projects, ensuring quality of results, timely delivery, scope management, and budget adherence, owning and driving the full project life-cycle.
• Gather, analyze, and document business requirements from stakeholders, ensuring alignment with company goals.
• Develop and maintain strategic project plans, including schedules, milestones, and deliverables.
• Conduct project status meetings and provide updates to key stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Proactively identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and escalate issues as needed.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Central Operations and key internal/external partners, including IT teams, vendors, and subject matter experts in various departments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather and translate business needs into actionable solutions.
• Lead User Acceptance Testing (UAT) efforts to ensure system and process changes meet business needs before implementation.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with business partners, vendors, and development teams to facilitate smooth project execution.
• Communicate project goals, requirements, and status updates effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Provide insights and recommendations to senior leadership based on data analysis, industry trends, and project outcomes.
• Partner with management to develop, implement, and optimize processes that enhance efficiency and support business goals.
• Monitor and report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), using data analytics to measure the impact of projects.
• Drive continuous improvement by analyzing project outcomes, gathering feedback, and making data-driven recommendations.
• Stay up to date on industry standards, best practices, and regulatory changes impacting Central Operations.
• Serve as the point person and subject matter expert for the company’s Central Operations transformation initiatives.
• Act as a consultant to senior leadership on transformation-related matters, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy.
• Support knowledge sharing and mentoring efforts, contributing to the professional development of colleagues.
• May perform additional functions depending on market demand and staffing in order to provide consistent quality customer service.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline; additional, applicable years of experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of seven (7) years’ experience leading projects, with at least three (3) years of cross functional project management experience (full project life-cycles).
• Proven track record of leading large-scale transformation initiatives in a corporate environment.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) with ability to become proficient in financial services programs, including the company’s operating systems for loan origination, customer relationship management, payment processing system, etc.
• Desire and ability to learn emerging technologies and methodologies.
• Ability to develop strong relationships, influence, coach, and partner with all levels across the organization.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and project administration skills with the ability to think strategically and make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills necessary to communicate effectively and collaborate with vendors, service dealers, customers, and all levels of company staff.
• Ability to articulate complex information in understandable terms to various audiences. Comfortable presenting data to all levels of leadership and across business functions.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment; ability to multi-task, change direction, effectively prioritize, and meet deadlines with both local and remote staff.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Project Manager Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience managing technical/systems-based projects.
• Experience in consumer lending/financial services.

Hours of Work:

Work hours will depend on the business hours of the time zone serviced. To the extent permitted by law, the Company may, in its sole discretion, change the work schedule to address business needs.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to move about. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty (20) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

EEO:

Mariner Finance is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, familial or caregiver status, citizenship status, status as a victim of domestic violence, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, or status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran. Employee must be able to perform the essential duties/functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential duties/functions of their job, absent undue hardship. Drug/Alcohol/Smoke-free workplace. 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time or without notice.

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