ICBA INNOVATION - SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, INNOVATION & PRODUCT STRATEGY

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA)’s guiding mission is to create and promote environments where community banks flourish. We are:

• Dedicated advocates providing community bankers, policymakers and the public with authoritative insights and resources to support and strengthen community banking.
• Knowledgeable, applying their expertise to offer personalized service that addresses the distinct challenges and opportunities facing community banks.
• Community-centered, driving meaningful change that strengthens community banks and the communities they serve. We turn commitment into action and deliver real results.

ICBA’s workplace culture is built on our core values:

• Caring -We support and prioritize your well-being and professional growth.
• Connected - We foster strong relationships that create meaningful impact.
• Collaboration – We are team-oriented and results driven where diverse perspectives are valued, and innovative ideas are encouraged to achieve our common goals.

Summary
The Senior Vice President, Innovation and Product Strategy, leads the team responsible for managing the ICBA ThinkTECH Center of Excellence, the newly imagined business unit responsible for delivering year-round innovation programming. Through the Center of Excellence, the SVP will lead the operation of the ThinkTECH Accelerator program, and as needed execute periodic topical challenges, additional accelerator programs, targeted hackathons and the development of a foundry process. They will lead the identification, analysis, and strategic positioning of innovative products, services, and solutions specifically designed to meet the evolving needs of community banks. This role will serve as a key strategic partner in advancing ICBA’s mission to support independent community banks through comprehensive product offerings that enhance their competitive position and operational effectiveness.

This role will be responsible for collaborating with the organization’s stakeholders, both internal and external, in support of the mission to identify their top priorities and determine how technology can help solve real-world problems for community banks. With direct day-to-day management of team members, the SVP works to build and maintain healthy, productive relationships for maximum collaboration and effectiveness.

This position may be remote, but preference may be given to candidates in the Atlanta area.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Working with ICBA stakeholders (marketing, communications, events, education et.al), create and deliver a world-class technology innovation environment, capable of executing the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program while maximizing the principals of education, collaboration and acceleration.
• Work directly with the state relations team to foster a more direct engagement between the state associations and ICBA ThinkTECH programs.
• Develop and implement measurable processes necessary to operate the Center of Excellence on a full-time basis and deliver mission-driven and purpose-built solutions in support of the ICBA mission.
• Establish effective relationships and collaborations with other departments (Marketing, Communications, Service Network companies, PSPs, Community Banker University etc.) to address key business issues and opportunities.
• Facilitate and encourage increased communication, identifying needs, activities, and trends, between the broader technology ecosystem and ICBA staff in other areas to keep all parties aligned and informed.
• Ensure effective hiring, orientation, training, development and retention of department staff.
• Provide direct supervision and support through the measurement of results, to include performance appraisals and salary reviews.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual reporting as necessary in support of the programming activities.
• Maintain competitive knowledge to create and maximize the reach and performance of the various programs delivered through the Center of Excellence.
• Provide support to the Vendor Solutions team in the maximization of engagement between those companies participating in the various Center of Excellence programs and ICBA member banks.
• Support the management of the ThinkTECH portfolio companies and the Opportunity Fund Innovation Investment Committee.
• Conduct comprehensive market research and analysis to identify emerging trends, regulatory changes, and technological developments that impact community banking. This includes developing and maintaining a strategic product roadmap that aligns with ICBA’s organizational objectives and member needs, while evaluating potential partnerships and vendor relationships to expand service offerings.
• Work closely with ICBA subsidiaries to support subsidiary needs for growth and advancement by understanding their unique challenges, opportunities, and product requirements.
• Monitoring and analyzing product performance metrics, member adoption rates, and market penetration to continuously refine and improve existing offerings. This includes developing key performance indicators for product success and presenting regular reports to leadership on product portfolio performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing or finance preferred.
• 10 years of executive management experience within the financial services industry with at least 5 years of experience managing a not-for-profit technology accelerator program.
• Required experience with digital transformation initiatives in banking and an established network within the community banking sector. Understanding of community banking operations, regulatory environment, and competitive landscape.
• Familiarity with banking technology platforms and fintech solutions. Knowledge of regulatory requirements affecting community banks and experience with vendor management and partnership development.
• Proven business analysis and judgment with the ability to proactively manage business and P&L to meet objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to professionally develop and coach team members.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking abilities with proven track record in product and market analysis.
• Experience with project management methodologies and cross-functional team leadership.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and market research methodologies.
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills, strong relationship building skills, strong written and oral presentation skills.
• Ability to travel as required; likely 30-40% travel.
• Candidates residing within commuting distance of the Atlanta office desired.

Compensation and Benefits
ICBA offers competitive compensation and benefits and is conveniently located in the nation’s capital. The target annual salary range for this role is currently $180,000 to $225,000 based on a regular, full-time schedule. The amount of compensation offered will be determined by several factors, including but not limited to experience, qualifications, market data and internal equity.

Equal Employment Opportunity
ICBA is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. ICBA does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Join ICBA and further your career while making a lasting impact!
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