Area Operations Manager - Pacific NW Region - (Eastside)

About the role

Mechanics Bank is searching for an Area Operations Manager to join our team at either our Bellevue, Redmond, Newcastle, Issaquah, or Southcenter Branch. The Area Operations Manager is responsible for the Retail Branches within a defined area, providing supervision to the operations staff and overseeing all aspects of FTE budget, risk, operations, and compliance. This role ensures performance aligns with the Bank’s goals and standards while ethically supporting the financial needs of customers. The position fosters a high-performance culture, creates strategic plans to mitigate risk, and closely tracks operational performance for all branches within the territory.

Approximately 10–20% travel is required.

Responsibilities

• Manage a Retail Branch office and defined operations area, ensuring overall performance of operational and service goals.
• Implement strategies to manage risk, develop employees, and provide exemplary customer service.
• Drive team performance through huddles, meetings, coaching, direction, and leading by example.
• Personally perform operational tasks according to policies and procedures.
• Provide approvals for high-risk transactions and operational exceptions within the area.
• Lead and manage branch supervisors, employees, and branch management within the operations area.
• Conduct daily huddles and regular branch/area meetings.
• Perform human resource management tasks, including hiring, performance appraisals, promotions, salary increases, coaching, training, development, and disciplinary actions.
• Ensure branch management achieves superior results in human resource management, including hiring and performance management.
• Lead branch management to coach and develop employees in their area.
• Perform on-site and remote periodic inspections of branch operational tasks.
• Review and approve periodic branch certifications, reports, and other operational tasks.
• Monitor Retail Operations reporting for all branches within the area.
• Regularly visit branches to observe performance, complete operational task reviews, and coach operations staff.
• Foster a customer-centric culture, addressing inquiries, concerns, and escalations promptly.
• Implement strategies to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Manage FTE for the defined area, working with local management to redeploy staffing resources for maximum efficiency and positive customer experience.
• Support Operations Managers in executing Retail’s operational soundness strategy.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in reviewing Retail policies and procedures in PolicyTech.
• Ensure operations staff supports production targets through ethical sales referrals.
• Advocate for the entire business and support internal production campaigns.
• Execute on Retail community reinvestment strategy, ensuring active community participation and leadership, including CRA activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience; High School Diploma or GED required.
• Notary license preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of banking experience with an emphasis in operations.
• Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience.
• Knowledge of State and Federal banking regulations pertinent to Retail operations.
• Leadership ability to supervise, direct, and provide coaching and development to subordinate employees.
• Skilled in dealing with customer issues in challenging situations.
• Attention to detail and accuracy to mitigate risk.
• Excellent organizational skills to direct workflow, balance assignments, and ensure consistent scheduling for complete office coverage.
• Thorough knowledge of Retail office operations, including complex transactions, Bank policy and procedures, and Risk Management policies.
• Ability to assess Retail branches within the area for actions to increase production, improve efficiency, reduce risk, and improve operating quality.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, team members, and all levels of management.
• Ability to motivate employees to provide excellent customer service, demonstrate initiative, and maintain operational soundness.

ADA Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Pay

Pay Range: $85,000 – $130,000 annually. Eligible for Retail Incentive Plan AIP Bonus up to 15%. Final compensation package will be determined by work experience, education, and/or skill level of the applicant along with internal equity and alignment with geographic market data.

Benefits

Employees working 25 hours or more per week are eligible for health benefits effective the first day of the month following or coinciding with their date of hire. Benefits package includes:

• Medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their eligible family members.
• Employer-paid Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, AD&D, and Disability benefits.
• Health Savings Account with employer contribution.
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts and Commuter/Parking Benefit.
• 401(k) and Roth 401(k) with company contribution.
• 529 Education Savings plan, Tuition Reimbursement Program, and Student Loan Assistance Program.
• Supplemental Health plans, Voluntary Legal, and Identity Theft Services.
• 11 paid holidays, paid Sick days (accrual of one hour for every 30 hours worked), up to 25 paid vacation days, and 16 hours of paid volunteer time throughout the calendar year.
• Free personal checking and savings account; Discounted rates on primary residence loan with $0 origination fees (restrictions apply).