Area Operations Manager - Southwest, CA (Foothills)

About the role

Mechanics Bank is searching for an Area Operations Manager to oversee Retail Branches within a defined area (Pasadena, Los Angeles, Baldwin Park, Glendora, or Fontana). This role provides supervision to operations staff, ensuring performance aligns with the Bank’s goals and standards while ethically supporting customer financial needs. The Area Operations Manager fosters a high-performance culture, creates strategic plans to mitigate risk, and manages operational performance for all branches within the territory. They are accountable for human resource tasks, including hiring, development, and performance management, and collaborate with Retail Production Managers to meet bank objectives.

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, and leading by example.
• Perform operational tasks according to policies and procedures, including approvals for high-risk transactions and exceptions.
• Provide leadership to branch supervisors, employees, and management within the operations area.
• Conduct daily huddles and regular branch/area meetings.
• Handle 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 and employee development.
• Perform on-site and remote inspections of branch operational tasks, reviewing and approving periodic certifications and reports.
• Monitor Retail Operations reporting for all branches within the area and regularly visit branches to observe performance and coach staff.
• Foster a customer-centric culture, addressing inquiries, concerns, and escalations promptly to enhance satisfaction and loyalty.
• Manage FTE for the defined area, redeploying staffing resources for efficiency and positive customer experience.
• Support Operations Managers in executing Retail’s operational soundness strategy and serve as a subject matter expert for Retail policies and procedures.
• Ensure operations staff supports production targets through ethical sales referrals and advocates for internal production campaigns.
• Execute Retail’s community reinvestment strategy, ensuring active participation and leadership in 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.
• Approximately 10–20% travel required.
• Knowledge of State and Federal banking regulations pertinent to Retail operations.
• Leadership ability to supervise, direct, and develop subordinate employees.
• Skilled in handling customer issues in challenging situations.
• Attention to detail and accuracy to mitigate risk.
• Excellent organizational skills to direct workflow and ensure consistent scheduling.
• Thorough knowledge of Retail office operations, including complex transactions, Bank policies, and Risk Management.
• Ability to assess branches for actions to increase production, improve efficiency, reduce risk, and enhance operating quality.
• Strong communication skills with customers, team members, and all levels of management.
• Ability to motivate employees to provide excellent customer service and maintain operational soundness.

ADA Requirements

The physical demands described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Regularly required to sit, talk, or hear, and use hands to handle objects, tools, or controls.
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Pay

Pay Range: $85,000 – $130,000. Eligible for Retail Incentive Plan AIP/Bonus up to 15%. Final compensation will be determined by work experience, education, skill level, internal equity, and 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 include:

• Medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage for employees and 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 per calendar year.
• Free personal checking and savings account; discounted rates on primary residence loans with $0 origination fees (restrictions apply).