Director of Trust Operations at Amalgamated Bank in New York, NY

Purpose of Position:

The First Vice President, Director of Trust Operations is responsible for leading the Trust Operations function while remaining actively engaged in the execution and oversight of critical day-to-day operational activities. This role is accountable for ensuring accurate, timely, and controlled processing across trust and custody operations, including transactional processing, cash management, trade support, reconciliations, exception management, and control execution.

The Director provides leadership, management, and development of the Trust Operations team; maintains a strong control framework; oversees vendor performance; supports adherence to defined service levels; and identifies opportunities to improve processes, reduce risk, and enhance the client and stakeholder experience.

This position partners closely with Trust business teams and supports interactions with Amalgamated Bank clients, investment managers, consultants, and other external stakeholders. The Director represents Trust Operations in key trust, operational, vendor, and risk-related forums and collaborates with internal partners, including Information Technology, Legal, Compliance, Information Security, Relationship Management, Client Support, and other operational areas. The role also involves significant interaction with the Bank’s largest outsource partner, FIS.

This position is based at the Bank’s New York City headquarters and follows a hybrid work schedule that includes both in-office and remote work.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Provide strategic direction and hands-on leadership for Trust Operations by aligning departmental priorities with organizational goals, regulatory requirements, and operational risk expectations, while actively supporting day-to-day execution across trading oversight, reconciliations, failed trade resolution, cash management, fund accounting, common trust fund cash flows, and related operational activities.
2. Oversee transactional processing and daily control execution to ensure work is completed accurately, timely, within established service levels, and in accordance with internal policies, procedures, and regulatory expectations.
3. Maintain a strong control environment by managing operational KPIs and KRIs, reviewing control effectiveness and trends, and monitoring key operational risks, including overdrafts, trade funding, transaction authentication, failed trades, uninvested cash, suspense activity, reconciliations, and exception reporting.
4. Identify root causes of operational issues, resolve escalated matters, and implement timely remediation plans to reduce errors, strengthen controls, and mitigate business risk.
5. Promote Operational Excellence by identifying, leading, and implementing continuous improvement and standardization initiatives that streamline processes, reduce manual effort, improve consistency, and support scalable execution.
6. Leverage technology, automation, AI-enabled tools, Copilot, and data-driven solutions to enhance productivity, quality, decision-making, operational controls, and client and stakeholder outcomes.
7. Maintain current policies, procedures, process flows, desktop guidance, and other documentation supporting the team’s responsibilities, with particular focus on manual processes, key controls, and opportunities for simplification.
8. Manage vendor oversight responsibilities, including service level performance, issue escalation, risk reviews, third-party risk management activities, and follow-up on remediation items or performance concerns.
9. Support risk and control activities, including Business Impact Analysis, Disaster Recovery testing, Compliance Detail Self-Assessments, audits, examinations, and other control or regulatory reviews.
10. Lead the Operational Services and Reconciliation and Control teams by providing effective supervision, coaching, talent development, cross-training, rotation planning, performance accountability, succession planning, operational coverage, and consistent execution of operational standards.
11. Partner with Trust business teams, Operations, Technology, Legal, Compliance, Information Security, Finance, and other internal stakeholders to resolve issues, support business needs, strengthen controls, and advance operational priorities.
12. Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by management.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, operations, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
2. Minimum of ten years of progressive experience in securities, custody, trust operations, or related financial services operations, including demonstrated experience leading teams and managing complex operational functions.
3. Comprehensive knowledge of trust, custody, and securities operations, including transaction processing, cash management, trade support, reconciliations, exception management, fund accounting, and related control activities.
4. Strong understanding of securities industry practices, operational risk management, internal controls, service level expectations, and applicable regulatory requirements.
5. Demonstrated ability to assess operational risks, analyze KPIs and KRIs, identify root causes, resolve escalated issues, and implement effective remediation and process improvement plans.
6. Experience promoting Operational Excellence through process optimization, standardization, automation, technology adoption, AI-enabled tools, Copilot, and data-driven solutions that improve efficiency, quality, controls, and stakeholder outcomes.
7. Proven ability to develop, coach, supervise, and hold teams accountable while supporting talent development, cross-training, succession planning, operational coverage, and consistent execution of standards.
8. Strong vendor management skills, including experience overseeing service level performance, issue escalation, third-party risk management activities, risk reviews, and remediation follow-up.
9. Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to interact effectively with business partners, clients, investment managers, consultants, vendors, and internal control functions.
10. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Word, and the ability to use industry-specific systems and reporting tools to support operational oversight and decision-making.
11. Knowledge of the Global Plus system and other FIS core products preferred.
12. Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, manage multiple priorities, exercise sound judgment, maintain attention to detail, and act with an appropriate sense of urgency.