Sr. Associate, Program Management

It Starts Here:

Santander is a global leader and innovator in the financial services industry and is evolving from a high-impact brand into a technology-driven organization. Our people are at the heart of this journey and together, we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what’s possible.  This is more than a strategic shift.  It’s a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference.

If you are interested in exploring the possibilities We Want to Talk to You!

The Difference You Make:
The Sr. Associate supports the Corporate Development function by driving governance, coordination, and execution of high-priority strategic initiatives across North America. This role partners closely with senior leadership, business, product, technology, finance, and risk teams to ensure initiatives are delivered with discipline, transparency, and alignment to enterprise growth objectives.

This is a high-visibility role suited for an experienced project manager who can operate in a fast-paced environment, manage complexity, and influence outcomes across a broad set of stakeholders.

• Provide centralized governance oversight for Corporate Development initiatives, ensuring adherence to internal frameworks (including EMPO) and alignment with enterprise priorities.

• Prepare and manage governance materials in partnership with analyst teams; coordinate with BCO, Risk, and control functions to support compliance and risk mitigation.

• Lead end-to-end project management for strategic initiatives across North America (U.S. and Canada), covering both in-flight programs and new opportunities.

• Define project scope, requirements, timelines, and deliverables in collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders across Business, Product, Technology, and Finance.

• Track progress against milestones, manage risks and dependencies, and drive issue resolution and escalation to ensure timely execution.

• Develop and deliver executive-level updates, presentations, and reporting; provide regular status updates to senior leadership.

• Own and manage internal and external workstreams, facilitating meetings, working sessions, and governance forums to maintain alignment and accountability.

• Partner with Finance and Originations Product leads to track key deliverables, performance metrics, and overall initiative progress.

• Support partner engagements and on-site meetings, including agenda coordination, stakeholder alignment, and follow-up actions; contribute to ad hoc strategic initiatives as needed.

What You Bring:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree: in related field or equivalent demonstrated through a combination of work experience, training, military service, or education - Required

Qualifications:

• 9+ Years Formal Project Management experience in a Financial Services environment - Required.

• 9+ Years Estimating and budgeting to ensure project costs are maintained - Required.

• 9+ Years Experience with SW Project Management tool - Required.

• 9+ Years Managing multi-year projects with cross-enterprise interdependencies. - Required.

• 9+ Years Enabling individuals to work effectively as they plan, implement, and experience change - Required.

• 9+ Years Building project planning documents - Required.

• 9+ Years Engaging the support and resources of others to achieve project goals and objectives; influencing without authority - Required.

• 9+ Years Developing and coaching others indirectly or directly- Coaches, reviews and delegating work to lower level professionals - Required.

• Ability to influence others at an operational level regarding new concepts, practices and approaches.

• Ability to influence people to get things done even when direct authority does not exist.

• Demonstrated knowledge of project and portfolio management tools (i.e. Clarity, Visio, Excel, MS Project, PowerPoint, etc.).

• Track record as a successful change agent.

• Highly organized and possesses the ability to quickly adjust priorities and work in a complex environment.

• Recognized as a project management subject matter expert.

• Strong attention to detail and results focused approach.

• Expertise in Technology Program/Project Management or deep technology execution experience required.

• Excellent communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to effectively communicate with all levels in the organization.

• Ability to manage all aspects of multiple projects, deliverables and timelines.

• Demonstrated ability to build strong collaborative business and technology relationships; recognizes organizational limitations and uses corporate culture and resources to eliminate barriers when possible.

• Ability to research, interpret, and incorporate industry and other best practices into project management processes.

• Ability to think both tactically and strategically moving through both fluidly.

• Skilled in cross-cultural awareness, leadership, communication, influence, negotiation and conflict resolution.

• Demonstrated experience engaging the support and resources of others to achieve project goals and objectives; influencing with and without authority.

• Ability to understand, apply, and articulate industry project management principles, theories, and concepts.

• Ability to identify risks and manage them, escalation when necessary.

• Ability to think both tactically and strategically moving through both fluidly.

• Ability to analyze project data, metrics and financials, making data-driven analytical decisions.

• Knowledge of functional area may be required.

• Proven experience prioritizing, budgeting, estimating, project implementation.

It Would Be Nice For You To Have:

• Established work history or equivalent demonstrated through a combination of work experience, training, military service, or education.

Work Authorization & Sponsorship:
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without requiring employer sponsorship to commence employment.

What Else You Need To Know:

The base pay range for this position is posted below and represents the annualized salary range. For hourly positions (non-exempt), the annual range is based on a 40-hour work week. The exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, training, licensure and certifications and location.

Base Pay Range:

Minimum:

Maximum:

Risk Culture:

We embrace a strong risk culture and all of our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management.

EEO Statement:

At Santander, we value and respect differences in our workforce. We actively encourage everyone to apply. Santander is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Working Conditions:

Frequent minimal physical effort such as sitting, standing and walking is required for this role. Depending on location, occasional moving and lifting light equipment and/or furniture may be required.

Employer Rights:

This job description does not list all of the job duties of the job. You may be asked by your supervisors or managers to perform other duties. You may be evaluated in part based upon your performance of the tasks listed in this job description. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description is not a contract for employment and either you or the employer may terminate your employment at any time for any reason.

What To Do Next:

Review the internal eligibility guidelines here. If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply.

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible application process for all candidates. If you require any assistance or accommodation due to a disability or any other reason, please contact us at TAOps@santander.us to discuss your needs.