Who We Are

Join a team that puts its People First! As a member of the First American family of companies, First American Trust is a federal savings bank that has provided banking, wealth management, and trust solutions on a national, full-service basis for more than five decades. Since 1889, First American (NYSE: FAF) has held an unwavering belief in its people. They are passionate about what they do, and we are equally passionate about fostering an environment where all feel welcome, supported, and empowered to be innovative and reach their full potential. Our inclusive, people-first culture has earned our company numerous accolades, including being named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for nine consecutive years. We have also earned awards as a best place to work for women, diversity and LGBTQ+ employees, and have been included on more than 50 regional best places to work lists. First American will always strive to be a great place to work, for all. For more information, please visit www.careers.firstam.com.

What We Do

Director, IT Applications

Summary

Manages a department multiple groups comprised of product owners, and managers from varied disciplines. Has significant responsibility for developing the capabilities of senior level staff and managers.

Job Description

Essential Functions

• Develops standards and practices for cross-functional teams; advocate for Agile and product-oriented IT teams
• Identifies, tracks and analyzes relevant product performance metrics
• Authorizes projects, approves project designs and cost estimates. Reports projects’ status and critical issues to IT senior management.
• Sets objectives and priorities and ensures the effective allocation and use of department resources.
• Develops and administers department budget with input from work group managers.
• Develops long-range plan for the department and is a key participant in strategic planning for the IT Products function. Translates strategic goals and priorities into technical strategies and objectives for his/her department.
• Introduces best practices and ensures the timeliness and quality of his/her department’s delivery of products and services.
• Coordinates activities and efforts among different internal organizational groups, customers and vendors.
• Prepares and maintains job descriptions for positions that report to him/her.
• Writes and conducts performance reviews, provides ongoing performance feedback. Establishes salary budget and approves salary increases. Makes hiring decisions.

COMPLEXITIES & IMPACT

• Works on a diverse range of critical and complex problems of significant scope, where analysis of situations or data requires evaluation of a variety of factors, an in-depth understanding of current business and technological trends, organizational objectives and political dynamics.
• Exercises judgment as a seasoned professional and manager with a full understanding of industry best practices and established policies and procedures. Makes decisions that require integrating knowledge of best practices, competitors, product lines, business cycle, product development and financial information.
• Authorizes changes in departmental processes and procedures.
• Responsible for developing and accountable for executing department strategic plan and budget. Key contributor to IT Operations strategic plan.
• Approves department policies, procedures, metrics and standards.
• Makes decisions that have moderate to significant impact on the overall success of the function, one or more business units and/ or company operations.
• Oversees projects that have broad business impact.
• Makes hiring and other employment decisions for senior level staff and managers; provides input to hiring decisions in other departments.
• Participates in the development, modification and execution of policies that affect one or more business units or the company.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED OR EXTENDED

• Works under minimal direction from functional executive.
• Establishes and communicates departmental objectives, ensuring alignment with function and company strategic direction.
• Provides operational and project direction to department managers and monitors performance against agreed upon objectives.
• May make exceptions to policy under unique and/or urgent circumstances.
• Utilizes a broad internal and external network of professional contacts and resources to explore new approaches for solving problems and enhancing the department’s capabilities.
• Reviews managers’ objectives and results to evaluate success of operation, quality, schedules and budgets.
• Results and progress toward goals is periodically reviewed by functional executive.

The pay range for this role is $192,400.00 - $256,550.00

This hiring range is a reasonable estimate of the base pay range for this position at the time of posting.  Pay is based on a number of factors which may include job-related knowledge, skills, experience, business requirements and geographic location.

Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal work hours and/or responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

• Frequently interfaces with executives inside and outside the company to make operational and project-related decisions, to resolve critical issues, to gather industry and competitive information and to foster a productive professional network.
• Required to perform duties outside of normal work hours based on business needs.

Job Complexities

• Works on a diverse range of critical and complex problems of significant scope, where analysis of situations or data requires evaluation of a variety of factors, an in-depth understanding of current business and technological trends, organizational objectives and political dynamics.
• Exercises judgment as a seasoned professional and manager with a full understanding of industry best practices and established policies and procedures. Makes decisions that require integrating knowledge of best practices, competitors, product lines, business cycle, product development and financial information.
• Authorizes changes in departmental processes and procedures.

Supervision Received or Extended

• Works under minimal direction from functional executive.
• Establishes and communicates departmental objectives, ensuring alignment with function and company strategic direction.
• Provides operational and project direction to department managers and monitors performance against agreed upon objectives.
• Utilizes a broad internal and external network of professional contacts and resources to explore new approaches for solving problems and enhancing the department’s capabilities.
• Reviews Managers’ objectives and results to evaluate success of operation, quality, schedules and budgets.
• Results and progress toward goals is periodically reviewed by functional executive.

Impact

• Responsible for developing and accountable for executing department strategic plan and budget. Key contributor to IT Products strategic plan.
• Approves department policies, procedures, metrics and standards.
• Makes decisions that have moderate to significant impact on the overall success of the function, one or more business units and/ or company operations.
• Oversees projects that have broad business impact.
• Makes hiring and other employment decisions for senior level staff and managers; provides input to hiring decisions in other departments.
• Participates in the development, modification and execution of policies that affect one or more business units or the company.

Knowledge and Skills/Technology Used

Technical Qualifications:

Varies by department. Functional executive to identify, documents and communicates technical skill and knowledge requirements for director level jobs.

• Management and Leadership Qualifications:

Successful track record designing, developing and executing critical complex projects in more than one area of functional expertise.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships at the senior management level across functional groups and business units.

Ability to change the thinking of, or gain acceptance from, others in sensitive situations, using influence and preventing damage to the relationship.

• Strategic Management:

Ability to communicate function vision and establish aligned direction and goals for his/her department.

Obtains and effectively allocates resources.

Creates systems to measure results.

Has in-depth understanding of competitor, financial and industry dynamics.

Team Development: Actively recruits, retains and develops talent and holds employees accountable for results.

Translates vision into action, leads change, and inspires people to get results.

• Ethics:

Deals with others in an honest manner, assures adherence to company policies, and addresses questionable business practices.

• Customer Focus:

Drives and models customer loyalty, manages customer expectations, uses customer feedback to establish department goals, and ensures commitments are met.

• Communication:

Provides others with reliable information, delivers informative and persuasive presentations.

Uses good listening skills and negotiates effectively.

Typical Education

Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

Typical Range of Experience

5+ years technical experience as a senior contributor

8+ years of management experience in a similar technical and business environment

What We Offer

By choice, we don’t simply accept individuality – we embrace it, we support it, and we thrive on it! Our People First Culture celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion not simply because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it’s the key to our success. We are proud to foster an authentic and inclusive workplace For All. You are free and encouraged to bring your entire, unique self to work. First American is an equal opportunity employer in every sense of the term.

First American will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws (e.g., the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act).

First American intends to conduct a review of an applicant’s criminal history in connection with a conditional offer. First American reasonably believes that a criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following material job duties for this position potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment: handling of confidential, proprietary or trade secret information belonging to First American or its customers, administrating or facilitating financial transactions, and the ability to meet customer-imposed criminal history requirements.

Based on eligibility, First American offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401k, PTO/paid sick leave and other great benefits like an employee stock purchase plan.