As First Citizens Bank continues to grow and mature within the Large Financial Institution (LFI) space, we are investing in greater resilience, responsiveness, and operational discipline across our technology and business landscape. The Operational Readiness Specialist ensures that new projects, systems, processes, or facilities are fully prepared for safe, efficient, and successful operation prior to launch. This role bridges the gap between project delivery and ongoing operations, coordinating stakeholders, validating requirements, identifying risks, and confirming that all people, processes, and tools are in place for a seamless transition.
Responsibilities & Qualifications:
Responsibilities
Readiness Planning: Develop and maintain operational readiness plans, checklists, and transition frameworks to support successful project rollout.
Cross-Functional Coordination: Collaborate with operations, business units, SRE teams and project teams to align deliverables, requirements, and expectations.
Risk Identification & Mitigation: Identify operational risks, gaps, and dependencies; recommend and track mitigation actions.
Process & Procedure Development: Ensure operational procedures, workflows, SOPs, and contingency plans are created, validated, and approved prior to go-live.
Training & Competency: Coordinate and validate staff training, competency assessments, and resource readiness.
Documentation & Handover: Ensure all operational documentation is complete, accurate, and transferred to operational teams.
Performance Metrics: Develop and track readiness KPIs and provide regular status reports to leadership.
Continuous Improvement: Capture lessons learned and contribute to improving the organization’s operational readiness framework and methodologies.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in business, operations management, engineering, project management, or related field (or equivalent experience).
3–5+ years experience in operations, project coordination, commissioning, or process improvement.
Strong understanding of operational workflows and change management.
Excellent problem-solving and risk-assessment skills.
Strong communication, organization, and documentation abilities.
Familiarity with project management methodologies is an asset.
Industry-specific certifications (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, ITIL, PMP) are beneficial.
Core Competencies
Strategic and analytical thinking
Attention to detail
Collaboration and stakeholder management
Adaptability in fast-paced environments
Process-oriented mindset
Strong facilitation and communication skills
Additional Information:
Benefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates. More information can be found at https://jobs.firstcitizens.com/benefits.
Numbers & Facts
Location
Raleigh, North Carolina
Job Type
Full-time
Industry
Banking
Company Size
10,000 employees or more
Year Founded
1898
Website
https://www.firstcitizens.com
Benefits
Paid Sick Days, Prescription Drug Coverage, Professional Development, 401K, Flexible Spending Accounts, Retirement / Pension Plans, Life Insurance
About Company
First Citizens Bank helps personal, business, commercial and wealth clients build financial strength that lasts. As the largest family-controlled bank in the United States, First Citizens is continuing a unique legacy of strength, stability, and long-term thinking that has spanned generations. Founded in 1898 and headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., First Citizens also operates a nationwide direct bank and a network over 550 branches in 22 states. Industry specialists bring a depth of expertise that helps businesses and individuals meet their specific goals at every stage of their financial journey. First Citizens Bank brings together personal service and powerful tools to help customers do more with their money – and make more of their future.
Looking for a career with CIT? CIT is now a division of First Citizens Bank.
First Citizens Bank. Forever First®
Skills
Business Operationsunmatched
Business Solutionsunmatched
Change Managementunmatched
Communication Skillsunmatched
Compensation and Benefitsunmatched
Contingency Plansunmatched
Continuous Improvementunmatched
Cross-Functionalunmatched
Detail Orientedunmatched
Documentationunmatched
ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library)unmatched
Leadershipunmatched
Lean Six Sigmaunmatched
Operations Managementunmatched
Operations Planningunmatched
Operations Processesunmatched
Organizational Development/Managementunmatched
Organizational Skillsunmatched
Performance Metricsunmatched
Problem Solving Skillsunmatched
Procedure Developmentunmatched
Process Improvementunmatched
Project Commissioningunmatched
Project Management Professional (PMP)unmatched
Project/Program Coordinationunmatched
Project/Program Managementunmatched
Requirements Validation/Verificationunmatched
Risk Analysisunmatched
Risk Managementunmatched
Staff Trainingunmatched
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)unmatched
Status Reportsunmatched
Strategic Analysisunmatched
Systems Analysisunmatched
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