Sr Innovation Strategist - Remote

Join the People Helping People

PSCU/Co-op Solutions is now Velera! PSCU and Co-op Solutions became a single entity on January 2, 2024, and our new company name was announced on May 7, 2024. Our new brand represents our combined company’s shared mission and unique ability to drive velocity and positive momentum for credit union success in a new era of financial services.

As a Senior Innovation Strategist in Emerging Services at Velera, you will be at the forefront of applying Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning technologies within the enterprise organization. Using your experience in AI in the financial services sector, you will work with technology vendors and internal partners to evaluate and assess the feasibility of AI-related projects and lead the strategy to ensure alignment with business objectives and measurable results.

This position will be a champion, fusing AI with payments and member experience capability within our Clients and Velera. Develop and drive corporate AI strategy to lead assessments of new product ideas. Develop business cases and lead prototype creation to reach formal business recommendations on new opportunities to enhance service and member experience. Drive vision, thought leadership, and market research on how AI can best be used in conjunction with financial services . Develop and recommend components for multi-year corporate strategy plans and roadmaps. Consult with Credit Unions and industry players to understand how to leverage both existing and new Velera solutions. Consult on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive revenue for both Velera and Credit Unions. Establish key industry contacts, drive discussions, and educate key Velera stakeholders on strategies and initiatives. Monitor and guide with solutions and frameworks to promote proposed regulations from a product or industry perspective.

Role Responsibilities:

• Research AI and machine-learning and develop strategy for key Velera solutions to remain relevant in the market; Serve as a thought leader both internally and client-facing on aligning AI business goals and objectives.
• Lead holistic short and long-term AI product strategy to conceptualize and develop new products, or solutions – may incorporate machine learning, AI, and cognitive computing into Velera’s suite of products to add value and innovation. Oversee the development and implementation of Artificial Intelligence-driven Proofs-of-Concepts with partners and with clients.
• Collaborate with product, technology, and data analytics teams to ensure the strategic alignment instead of Artificial Intelligence tools and systems with the organization.
• Manage cross-functional relationships to foster a culture of innovation and ensure the successful adoption of Artificial Intelligence technologies.
• Stay updated with the latest trends and developments in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning.
• Provide guidance and support to team members, ensuring skill development and knowledge transfer in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning applications.
• Structure and present strategy recommendations to senior leadership for approval internally and externally.
• Serve in an advisory role on client engagements, advising both account leads (internal) and clients (external); Drive high-level discussions on the role of payments within the total solution ecosystem
• Partner with the client team leads to demonstrate the value of Velera services to their business – help them define needs and potential solutions; Interface with clients up to the CEO level.
• Create a vision for Velera that incorporates a strategy around a holistic product analytics solution ensuring solutions incorporate foundational analytics and metrics to support the products operating in a multi-channel environment.
• Serve as a resource for teams in the development of insight-driven strategies from opportunity identification through to experience definition.
• Through leadership involvement, manage the solutions roadmap balancing risk, reward, and future opportunities.
• Work with stakeholders and product owners to capture, evaluate, and prioritize ideas, requirements, and feasibility.
• Research/gather information on business needs and industry analysis to identify key business challenges and opportunities; Identify potential solutions through a consumer-driven “problem-solving” approach, gathering and analyzing market data, consumer intelligence, competitive information, and internal capability/capacity; direct efforts to quickly introduce new and emerging products/solutions and drive them from concept to delivery
• Provide analysis to justify and allocate funding against the most strategic services and/or AI-powered solutions.
• Understand and communicate demographical, financial, and technological market trends affecting solution offerings so market opportunities may be maximized and the negative effects of competitive activity may be minimized; manage new solution offerings appropriately around current market trends.
• Develop collaborative relationships amongst all lines of business, to help ensure the team meets corporate strategies and delivery targets.
• Keep abreast of emerging trends, and opportunities along with value-added insights to drive the business; Provide insight and direction for product management roadmap considerations.
• Support customer requirements and new product design meetings; understand business processes and strategies and closely match technology solutions to those requirements.
• Provide guidance and leadership over project teams involving internal members, as well as, outside vendors and consultants where appropriate.
• Represent the company at conferences, tradeshows, and in all major vendor negotiations that impact the development of new products and/or AI solutions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management or related field required.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Experience

• Seven (7) years experience in financial services card programs/processing product management, marketing, or development with new technologies required.
• At least five (5) years of managing cross-functional teams experience required.
• Experience with the credit union industry and core or account processing preferred.

About Velera

At Velera we are committed to fostering a workplace where every employee feels valued, respected, and connected. We understand, attract and engage a diverse workforce where every employee can live up to their full potential; ensuring that our employee base reflects the consumers we serve. The result of this effort is an inclusive environment where diverse talent thrives. We strive to foster a safe and inclusive work environment for people to bring their authentic selves in order to build a better community within our company and with our partners.   Learn more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion HERE!

Pay Equity

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Actual Pay will be adjusted based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law.

Great Work/Life Benefits!

• Competitive wages

• Medical with telemedicine

• Dental and Vision

• Basic and Optional Life Insurance

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Maternity, Parental, Family Care

• Community Volunteer Time Off

• 12 Paid Holidays

• Company Paid Disability Insurance

• 401k (with employer match)

• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) with company provided contributions

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• Supplemental Insurance

• Mental Health and Well-being: Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Wellness program

• Benefits are subject to generally applicable eligibility, waiting period, contribution, and other requirements and conditions

Velera is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local law.

Velera is an Equal Opportunity Employer that complies with the laws and regulations set forth in the following "EEO is the Law" Poster and the "EEO is the Law" Poster Supplement. Velera will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the legal duty to furnish information.

Velera is an E-Verify Employer. Review the E-Verify Poster here (English and Spanish). For information regarding your Right To Work, please click here (English and Spanish poster).

As an ongoing commitment to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities please contact a recruiter at recruiters@pscu.com for assistance.