Director of Payments Risk & Security Technology

Reporting directly to the Chief Information Officer the Director leads the banks integrated strategy for enterprise defense emerging-threat readiness and advanced customer payments intelligence. Operating at the intersection of Information Security Infrastructure Payments Operational Risk and Customer and Employee Protection this role ensures controls analytics and modernization initiatives are aligned to real explainable risks rather than purely theoretical frameworks.

With a deep technology background strong architecture fluency and a comprehensive understanding of modern payments ecosystems including ACH wires faster payments card networks and digital and direct banking platforms the Director serves as the strategic and operational connective tissue between security and payments. The role focuses on reducing customer impact strengthening enterprise resilience and advancing scalable modern control capabilities across the bank.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Enterprise Defense Strategy

• Lead cross-functional threat and vulnerability analysis that spans InfoSec Infrastructure Payments and Operational Risk.
• Build and maintain the enterprise defense roadmap anchored to measurable risk reduction and customer protection.
• Identify controls that are outdated duplicative or overbuilt; redirect investment toward modern high-impact defenses.
• Evaluate emerging risks tied to social engineering identity compromise advanced payment manipulation and customer behavior patterns.

Payments Intelligence & Analytics

• Own the strategy for payment-risk analytics across ACH wires Card Faster Payments and digital channels.
• Partner with Fraud Digital Banking and Core vendors (e.g. Jack Henry Bottomline) to enhance behavioral analytics and anomaly detection.
• Drive insight generation using event-based data patterns machine learning opportunities and external threat intel.
• Serve as the technology-informed advisor for new payments capabilities ensuring cyber and operational risk alignment from day one.

Cross-Functional Governance & Prioritization

• Create and facilitate the banks integrated Security and Payments Defense governance framework.
• Translate complex risks into business-aligned prioritization for executives operational leaders and technology teams.
• Ensure control owners across security infrastructure and payments are aligned on timelines dependencies and value of each initiative.
• Develop dashboards that communicate maturity shifts risk thresholds and future posture needs.

Technology Architecture & Modernization

• Partner with Infrastructure and Enterprise Architecture to influence control design telemetry and automation.
• Evaluate vendor solutions (SIEM SOAR analytics platforms payment monitoring tools) and ensure integration with modern stack.
• Identify opportunities to leverage cloud-native security event streaming and advanced behavioral modeling.
• Drive operational efficiency by reducing complexity and eliminating unnecessary manual processes.

Customer-Facing Security Innovation

• Extend the banks internal risk and control maturity to customer-facing solutions by advising Digital and Payments teams on protection features.
• Lead the strategy and thought leadership for next-generation customer safeguards including risk-based authentication behavioral biometrics safe-push payment flows and payment interlocks.
• Drive a cultural shift from reactive client guidance to proactively designing safeguards that anticipate real human behavior.

Advisory Communication & Leadership

• Serve as an advisor to the CIO Director of Info Security Director of Infrastructure Director of Operational Risk and Chief Client Experience Officer.
• Communicate technical risks and analytical findings clearly to Executive Leadership Audit and Regulatory partners.
• Provide situational leadership across functions without direct ownership of budgets or staff.
• Mentor teams in advanced analytics threat awareness and modern payments risk concepts.
• Partner with Enterprise Learning and Development to enrich appropriate education plans.
• Participates in special projects or duties as assigned.
• Performs compliance and risk management duties as required or assigned.
• Regular reliable attendance is required.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

• 10 years in security engineering threat analysis payments technology or enterprise architecture.
• Experience in a mid-sized or regional bank environment.
• Robust communication and relationship management skills.
• Strong hands-on technology background: cloud platforms event streaming modern auth API-based architectures security tooling and payments systems.
• Deep understanding of ACH/wire/Faster Payment rails digital banking platforms and the fraud patterns unique to each.
• Proven ability to lead through influence across security infrastructure risk and payments teams.
• Payments or cyber certifications (CAMS CISM CISSP ETA certifications) preferred.
• Strong understanding of NIST CSF FFIEC guidance payments modernization and real-time payments risk.
• Familiarity with Jack Henry Bottomline and other typical community/regional bank platforms.
• Understanding or familiarity of advanced fraud and security platforms and services.
• Strong analytical instincts capable of connecting customer behavior technology patterns and controls.
• Experience evaluating security and payments vendors with strong discernment between effective solutions and shelfware.
• Strong detail orientation with high level of organizational skills and ability to multi-task managing interruptions with multiple projects.
• Demonstrated self-motivation and initiative; ability to work well both independently and with others.
• Ability to prioritize assignments and handle multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of service to clients in a deadline driven environment under the direction of management.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate with and work effectively with diverse groups of people managing conflict and negotiating for results when needed.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical people.
• Preferred experience working in the financial services industry.
• Ability to work additional hours as required by operational and production workloads.

Pay Range: $126222 - $189332

The compensation range represents the low and high end of the base compensation range for this position located in Spokane Washington. Actual compensation will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to location experience and performance. This position is also eligible to participate in an applicable annual bonus.

What Our Culture Can Offer You:

Our benefit philosophy is to provide you with a comprehensive package to secure your overall wellness and help you become and remain a fulfilled and productive employee. Our benefits include Health Financial Retirement and Work/Life Benefits. We are proud to share an overview of our benefitsHEREas part of your total compensation.

Washington Trust Bank celebrates diversity in the workplace and actively recruits talent to help reflect the unique communities where we live and work. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination or harassment based on race religion sex gender identity sexual orientation national origin age pregnancy disability genetic information and any other protected characteristics outlined by state federal and local laws. We believe strength comes from the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our team and we are dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment.

Required Experience:

Director