About this opportunity
First United Bank lists this Director of Payments Strategy and Operations opportunity in plano, Texas. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Payments Strategy and Operations Manager
At First United Bank, our purpose is to inspire and empower others to Spend Life Wisely . The Payments Strategy & Operations Manager ensures the bank’s payment capabilities are thoughtfully designed, well governed, and consistently executed to support customers’ financial well‑being, trust, and confidence in how they move money.
This role is responsible for the strategy, delivery, and ongoing operational alignment of the bank’s payments ecosystem—including ACH, wires, debit card, ATM services, faster payments, and emerging payment capabilities. It drives rapid response to evolving payment landscapes and competitive shifts, ensuring payments function reliably, securely, and reflect First United’s commitment to financial strength, clarity, simplicity, and customer experience.
Major Duties and Responsibilities (essential functions)
Payments Strategy & Future Capabilities
Own and advance the bank’s payments strategy, with emphasis on: Faster payments (e.g., FedNow, RTP)
Emerging payment models and industry trends
Competitive threats and displacement risks
Translate enterprise and Treasury Management strategy into a sequenced payments roadmap, aligned to customer needs, operational capacity, and technology readiness
Evaluate new payment capabilities and partners, leading due diligence and supporting vetting processes in collaboration with Technology, Product, Finance, and Risk
Payments Revenue Stewardship
Partner with Finance and Treasury Management to improve visibility into payments financial performance, including interchange, fees, costs, and revenue leakage
Support initiatives to protect and grow payments‑related revenue, informed by data and customer behavior insights
Provide strategic input into pricing, limits, and product decisions related to payment services
Operational Leadership & Oversight
Provide leadership and direction to: ACH & Wires team
Debit Card & ATM Services team
Ensure consistent operating standards, controls, and service levels across payment functions
Drive operational readiness for new payment capabilities, including staffing, procedures, training, and change management
Platform, Vendor & Cross‑Functional Partnership
Serve as the business owner for payment platforms and vendor relationships related to payments
Collaborate closely with vendors, Treasury Management, Technology and Banking Systems to ensure payment solutions are resilient, scalable, and aligned with enterprise architecture
Partner with Risk, Compliance, Fraud, and Legal teams to ensure payment operations meet regulatory and policy expectations
Governance, Risk & Continuous Improvement
Establish and maintain clear governance and ownership for payment initiatives and decisions
Identify and manage operational, fraud, and reputational risks within the payments ecosystem
Lead continuous improvement efforts to enhance customer experience, reduce friction, and improve operational efficiency
Collect and interpret feedback from internal partners, frontline teams, and customers related to payment experiences and capabilities
Help the organization learn from payment performance, incidents, and adoption patterns to continuously refine strategy and execution
Measures of Success
Delivery of the payments roadmap and operational performance improvements
Establishment of clear visibility into payments revenue, customer behavior, and displacement trends by end of year one
Demonstrated progress toward improving payments revenue trajectory and reducing customer displacement to non‑bank alternatives
Improved time‑to‑market for new or enhanced payment capabilities
Ability to influence enterprise decisions through data‑driven insights and cross‑functional leadership
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Operations, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
7+ years of experience in banking, payments, treasury management, or financial operations
Demonstrated experience leading teams and managers in complex operational environments
Strong working knowledge of payment rails, including ACH, wires, debit cards, and ATM networks
Experience partnering cross‑functionally with Treasury Management, Technology, Finance, Risk, and Product teams
Experience in payment strategy, revenue analysis, and pricing initiatives
Strong analytical capability, including the ability to synthesize data into insights and recommendations for senior leadership
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with faster payments platforms (FedNow, RTP) or emerging payment technologies
Background in vendor management and large‑scale platform implementations
Core Capabilities & Competencies
Strategic thinking with strong execution discipline
Ability to operate effectively in ambiguity and evolving environments
Strong leadership presence and influence across functions
Data‑driven decision making and financial acumen
Commitment to developing people and building subject matter expertise, aligned with the Deposit & TM Ops 2030 vision
Additional Duties and Responsibilities
Perform duties as requested by the manager
Complete all required compliance exams on a yearly basis
Adhere to all First United policies and procedures
Dress professionally
Weekly or bi‑weekly travel between Plano and Durant headquarters will be required
Employee Specifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all‑inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as assigned by supervisor to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.
All Locations
Plano – Parkwood
If any applicant is unable to complete an application or respond to a job opening because of a disability, please email us at for assistance.
First United is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To the extent required by Federal or State law, First United does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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Worksite address
plano, TX, 75086, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.