Vice President and CRO, AACU Risk Management Office

Are you ready to explore a world of possibilities, both at work and during your time off? Join our American Airlines family, and you'll travel the world, grow your expertise and become the best version of you. As you embark on a new journey, you'll tackle challenges with flexibility and grace, learning new skills and advancing your career while having the time of your life. Feel free to enrich both your personal and work life and hop on board

This job is within the American Airlines Credit Union.

The Chief Risk Officer (CRO), reporting directly to the CEO, is responsible for leading the organization's comprehensive Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Program, ensuring effective and integrated governance, management, and oversight of risk across the enterprise. This executive will be a key member of the leadership team, serving as a strategic partner to the CEO, Board of Directors, and senior leaders as the credit union prepares for the next phase of growth.

This is a critical, high-impact leadership position within an evolving and purpose-driven financial institution. The organization offers a collaborative culture, a strong commitment to member value, and an opportunity to shape enterprise-wide risk strategy during a pivotal time of transformation and growth.

The CRO will oversee the identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring of risk, and will lead the development of a risk framework that supports enterprise objectives and aligns with the company's risk appetite. This role requires a forward-looking, hands-on leader with exceptional analytical and communication skills, strong risk management expertise, and the ability to build and scale a high-performing second line of defense.

Strategy Development

• Design and administer the enterprise risk strategy, frameworks, and governance policies to ensure the organization operates within defined risk tolerances
• Develop and implement a Risk Appetite Framework and integrate risk considerations into strategic planning processes

Operations Oversight

• Lead the organization's risk management activities, including oversight of third-party risk, operational risk, and risk exposure across business functions
• Collaborate with internal audit, compliance, and business leaders to create consistency and coordination across the three lines of defense

Enterprise Risk Governance

• Implement a robust ERM program across the organization, including risk identification, control frameworks, risk and control self-assessments (RCSAs), and risk metrics
• Maintain risk inventories, perform regular assessments, and ensure alignment of risk priorities with business objectives
• Create and maintain key performance and risk indicators (KPIs/KRIs), dashboards, and reporting systems

Board and Executive Engagement

• Serve as a key advisor to the CEO, Board of Directors, and Board Committees on risk-related matters
• Prepare and deliver enterprise risk assessment, quarterly risk reports, and presentations that support strategic decision-making
• Coordinate issue remediations and risk assurance activities with the Chief Auditor and compliance leaders

Framework and Risk Culture Development

• Establish an integrated risk framework and governance structure that addresses emerging risks, operational resilience, vendor management, and technology-related risks
• Foster a culture of informed risk-taking accountability through training programs, coaching, and executive engagement
• Evaluate the impact of new products, services, or strategic initiatives and lead cross-functional risk analysis and integration planning

Collaboration and Coordination

• Partner with operations, technology, digital, fraud, and compliance functions to embed risk thinking into core processes
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on regulatory readiness and enterprise risk practices
• Provide mentorship and leadership across the organization to elevate enterprise-wide risk awareness and capabilities

The selected candidate will be responsible for ensuring the security and confidentiality of all account and related information which is part of their work and for ensuring that his/her work is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations including, but not limited to, the Bank Secrecy Act.

Minimum Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

• Bachelor's degree required
• 10+ years of progressive risk, compliance, audit, or operational leadership experience in financial services, preferably including credit union or banking environments
• Demonstrated success building or scaling a formal risk program and leading through change or regulatory thresholds (e.g., $10B+ asset growth)
• Deep knowledge of risk management frameworks (COSO, Basel, FFIEC), risk assessment methodologies, and GRC systems
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills with the ability to influence across functions and at the Board level
• Proven ability to work in lean environments, manage ambiguity, and building high-impact programs from the ground up

Preferred Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

• Advanced degree or relevant certification

Skills, Licenses & Certifications

• Skilled in Microsoft Office software (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator) gained through either work experience with the software or education and hands-on use of the software
• Experience in the establishment and/or management of Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC), and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) programs
• Ability to strategically monitor the current performance of risk units/risk owners and drive them toward the desired future state of the credit union's risk management culture and strategies
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal skills to interact with associates at all levels of responsibility, along with the ability to communicate with tact and diplomacy
• Organizational and time management skills to prioritize workloads to meet time-sensitive deadlines. Must be results-oriented with the ability to change priorities, as needed
• Capability to accumulate, summarize, and interpret risk reports from business units, risk units, support units, and assurance units
• Ability to effectively analyze significant amounts of data and information to facilitate understanding and decision-making
• Experience building and maintaining working relationships with all levels of management, committees, and the Board of Directors
• Ability to set and influence risk management vision and strategy
• Ability to solve problems and make decisions
• Skilled in developing and motivating others toward leadership potential
• Ability to maintain satisfactory performance and attendance
• Ability to pass applicable American Airlines and Credit Union pre-hire compliance checks

Feel free to take advantage of all that American Airlines has to offer:

• Travel Perks: Ready to explore the world? You, your family and your friends can reach 365 destinations on more than 6,800 daily flights across our global network.
• Health Benefits: On day one, you'll have access to your health, dental, prescription and vision benefits to help you stay well. And that's just the start, we also offer virtual doctor visits, flexible spending accounts and more.
• Wellness Programs: We want you to be the best version of yourself – that's why our wellness programs provide you with all the right tools, resources and support you need.
• 401(k) Program: Available upon hire and, depending on the workgroup, employer contributions to your 401(k) program are available after one year.
• Additional Benefits: Other great benefits include our Employee Assistance Program, pet insurance and discounts on hotels, cars, cruises and more

From the team members we hire to the customers we serve, inclusion and diversity are the foundation of the dynamic workforce at American Airlines. Our 20+ Employee Business Resource Groups are focused on connecting our team members to our customers, suppliers, communities and shareholders, helping team members reach their full potential and creating an inclusive work environment to meet and exceed the needs of our diverse world.

Are you ready to feel a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction as you do your part to keep the largest airline in the world running smoothly as we care for people on life's journey? Feel free to be yourself at American.