JCW is working with a fast-growing fintech bank in Salt Lake City to find a Director of Model Validation to lead their independent model risk function. This is a senior role at the heart of a business that is scaling rapidly where rigorous model oversight is not a back-office function, but a genuine driver of how the bank grows responsibly.

If you have deep credit model experience, a track record of building or leading validation teams, and the credibility to engage senior stakeholders across risk, finance, and technology — this is worth a close look.

What the Role Involves

• Leading the independent validation of credit risk models — including PD, LGD, EAD, and CECL/IFRS 9 — across retail and commercial portfolios.
• Building and managing a high-performing model validation team, setting standards, processes, and governance frameworks as the bank scales.
• Overseeing the model inventory and ensuring all models in scope are validated, documented, and reviewed in line with SR 11-7 and internal policy.
• Engaging senior stakeholders across risk, finance, and the business to communicate findings, limitations, and recommendations clearly and with conviction.
• Partnering with model development teams to shape model design from the outset, promoting sound practice without slowing delivery.
• Supporting regulatory engagement — including examiner interactions — and contributing to the bank’s model risk appetite and governance committee work.
• Identifying gaps in the validation programme and taking ownership of continuous improvement across tools, methodology, and team capability.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in model validation, model risk management, or quantitative credit risk Ideally within a bank or regulated financial institution.
• Deep technical knowledge of credit risk models, including scorecard, PD/LGD/EAD, stress testing, and loss forecasting frameworks.
• Strong understanding of SR 11-7 and OCC guidance on model risk management, and how to apply it practically in a growing institution.
• Experience leading or managing a team of quantitative analysts or validators, with the ability to attract, develop, and retain strong talent.
• Comfort working across Python, R, SAS, or equivalent tools to review and challenge modelling work directly.
• Strong communication skills — able to translate technical findings into clear conclusions for risk committees, senior management, and regulators.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving environment where the function is still being built, and where initiative and ownership are genuinely valued.

JCW Group is committed to equal opportunity recruitment. We ensure that no applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, race, or any other protected characteristic.