Director of Operations, Planning & Analysis (OPA)

MidFirst Bank is seeking an experienced and dynamic Director of Operations, Planning & Analysis (OPA) to lead one of the Bank's vital, strategic positions. This is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the OPA department, which includes multiple managers and a team of more than a dozen business analysts and project professionals. The Director will take responsibility for and oversee project and portfolio management, including the processes, governance, and technology platforms that power it as well as oversight of the business analyst function.

This position reports to the SVP, Director of Digital Advancement and serves as a key strategic partner to senior leaders across the bank, ensuring that the company's technology and strategic project portfolio is well-governed, transparently managed, and consistently delivered.

What You'll Do

Lead and Develop a High-Performing Team

• Provide leadership for the OPA department, overseeing project allocation, project performance, and acting as a mentor for managers and analysts
• Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Coach, develop, and mentor team members, and own all aspects of performance management, career development, and department staffing

Own Project & Portfolio Management

• Serve as the bank's primary authority for project and portfolio management practices, standards, and governance
• Oversee the Project & Work Management System and ensure the tools effectively support planning, tracking, and reporting across the enterprise
• Maintain visibility into the full portfolio of technology and strategic initiatives, ensuring projects are appropriately prioritized, resourced, and progressing toward delivery

Partner with Senior Leadership

• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders across the Bank to align the project portfolio with the company's strategic priorities
• Facilitate executive-level conversations on project status, prioritization, resource trade-offs, and risk
• Deliver clear, data-driven reporting and briefings that enable informed decision-making at the highest levels of the organization

Oversee the Business Analyst Function

• Lead and provide direction for the business analyst team, setting standards for how requirements are gathered, documented, and delivered
• Ensure the BA function serves as a strong bridge between business stakeholders and technology, driving solutions that meet business needs efficiently and effectively

Drive Strategic Planning & Operational Excellence

• Lead OPA's contribution to annual and quarterly planning processes, including budgeting, resource planning and reporting
• Continuously evaluate and improve departmental processes, methodologies, and tools to maximize quality and efficiency
• Stay current on industry best practices and bring forward innovative approaches to portfolio governance and project delivery

What We're Looking For

Experience & Education

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred
• 8+ years of progressive experience in project management, portfolio management, business analysis, or operations planning
• 4+ years in a leadership role managing multi-level teams (managers and individual contributors)
• Experience in banking or financial services strongly preferred

Skills & Capabilities

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage and influence senior and executive audiences
• Strong writing skills, with the ability to provide written updates and oversee written communication for quarterly and annual reports
• Proven track record of successfully governing enterprise-level project and technology portfolios
• Demonstrated experience owning and administering Project & Work Management tools and platforms
• Deep knowledge of project management methodologies, including Waterfall, Agile, and hybrid approaches
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills; able to synthesize complex portfolio data into clear, actionable insights
• Collaborative leadership style with a strong service orientation and the ability to build trust across the organization

8 - 10 years: *8+ years of progressive experience in project management, portfolio management, business analysis, or operations planning
*4+ years in a leadership role managing multi-level teams (managers and individual contributors)
(required)