Director Operational Excellence Jobs in Virginia

INTRODUCTION

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.

We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.

Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.

We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.

This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.

Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.

We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.

Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director Operations & Controls will join the Capital Markets organization to strengthen execution discipline, audit readiness, and control oversight as Capital Markets activities scale in size and complexity.

Reporting to a senior leader within Capital Markets, this role will build and lead a robust Operations & Controls capability focused on managing end-to-end audit and due diligence processes, maintaining comprehensive control documentation, and ensuring consistent execution standards. The role will serve as a key point of coordination between Capital Markets and internal and external stakeholders including Internal Audit, Compliance, Risk Management, Legal, Treasury, Accounting, rating agencies, external auditors, and investors.

This position plays a critical role in enabling the Capital Markets team to operate efficiently, consistently, and with strong governance, while supporting the organization’s funding, securitization, and investor engagement activities.

Audit Management and Oversight:

• Coordinate and support internal audit reviews of Capital Markets processes
• Drive remediation efforts for audit findings
• Oversee external audit engagements related to Capital Markets activities
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors and examiners

Due Diligence and External Reviews:

• Lead ongoing due diligence processes with credit rating agencies and investors
• Manage due diligence information requests and facilitate reviews.

Trust Performance and Reporting:

• Own the preparation and delivery of periodic trust performance updates for securitization trusts and funding facilities
• Coordinate data gathering across internal teams, analyze key performance metrics, and prepare reporting materials for stakeholders and investors
• Ensure reporting is accurate, consistent, and aligned with investor and regulatory expectations

Controls, Documentation, and Standards:

• Develop, maintain, and continuously enhance Capital Markets process documentation, control inventories, and execution standards
• Ensure critical processes have up-to-date control documentation aligned with internal policy, regulatory, and audit requirements
• Support audit readiness through strong documentation discipline and standardized operating practices

Process Improvement and Execution Discipline:

• Identify and implement opportunities to streamline operational processes and enhance control effectiveness
• Establish best practices that increase consistency, improve efficiency, and reduce risk as business activity scales
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across Capital Markets operations

Cross Functional Partnership:

• Partner cross-functionally with Corporate Finance, Legal, Compliance, Audit, Accounting, Treasury, Capital Markets, Product, Operations, and Technology to ensure funding and partnership requirements are reflected in business design, operating processes, reporting capabilities, and control readiness.
• Facilitate effective two-way communication to address issues, inquiries, and control-related matters
• Foster a strong control culture in partnership with internal and external stakeholders

The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job; it is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees in this role.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business, or a related field
• 8+ years of relevant experience in financial services, preferably within banking, Capital Markets, internal audit, risk management, or related operations
• Strong knowledge of internal control frameworks, regulatory compliance requirements, and risk management practices in a Capital Markets or structured finance environment

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• MBA or other relevant advanced degree
• Professional certifications such as CPA, CFA, CIA, or similar
• Experience with structured finance or securitization structures, including ABS or trust administration
• Familiarity with rating agency requirements and investor due diligence processes
• Exposure to Capital Markets transactions, treasury, funding, or securitization execution
• Experience driving operational improvements or establishing control processes in a growing organization

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination by employers, in compensation and employment opportunities, against qualified individuals with disabilities who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the “essential functions” of a job. A function may be essential for any of several reasons, including: the job exists to perform that function, the employee holding the job was hired for his/her expertise in performing the function, or only a limited number of employees are available to perform that function.

FEELING YOUR BEST HELPS YOU DO YOUR BEST:

Our benefits take care of the whole you—so you can build your work around your life (not the other way around!).

• Competitive base salaries
• Bonus incentives
• Generous PTO, Floating Holidays and 12 Federal Holidays observed
• Support for financial-well-being and retirement 401k with employer match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance and more
• Employer paid short-term/long-term disability and basic life insurance
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements.
• Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs
• Free access to on-site staffed fitness centers (in Delaware) and gym subsidy (for locations outside Delaware)
• Confidential counseling support (EAP), Health Advocacy services and Wellness program with financial incentives
• Tuition Reimbursement and Family Scholarship Programs
• Career development and training opportunities

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