At Meridian our aspiration is to integrate our purpose into everything we do for people, the planet, and communities. We believe that our greatest opportunity is to create opportunity and meet people where they are. 

Factor us into your next career opportunity. We want you to grow with us and have an experience that’s different. This is a place where you can expect the unexpected.  

Find our story here: About Meridian

The role:

The Business Optimization & Partnerships Specialist, reporting to the Director of Partnerships and Reporting, is responsible for supporting and occasionally leading process optimization opportunities, managing purpose lending programs, and providing subject matter expertise to line-of-business and internal partners.

This role involves building and maintaining strong cross-functional relationships, developing recommendations on process improvements, and acting as a single point of contact for purpose lending vendors. The Specialist approaches their work with a consultative mind-set, supports function-lead initiatives and identifies opportunities to streamline business processes.

The role requires effective communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to navigate difficult conversations and manage multiple priorities effectively. The Specialist must also be tech-savvy, detail-oriented, and possess knowledge of lending policies and procedures.

Key Responsibilities:

Purpose Lending Programs

Support in the design, execution, measurement and to ensure Meridian is a leader in the delivery of products and services to specialized markets Lead day-to-day management of purpose lending programs and manage external partner relations Build and maintain productive working relationships with internal and external partners to exchange ideas, minimize financial losses, discuss industry trends, resolve concerns and drive change Lead/own the creation, and continuous updating of Purpose Lending Policies and Procedures in conjunction with Internal Partners. Partner with Retail Branches, Business Banking and Wealth partners to continuously improve program delivery with dual aims of driving profitable growth and delivering an exceptional Member Experience Provide input on creation of marketing collateral for use in promotion of purpose lending programs to both Employees and Members Provide training, coaching and guidance to internal staff at Member-facing and back-office levels and serve as the first point of escalation for any issues Vendor Management - this role acts as the single point of contact for Purpose Lending vendors, ensuring alignment with enterprise guidelines. It includes managing vendor accountability and performance, supporting RFP/RFI processes and contract renewals Monitor, review and report on key operational performance metrics and provide informed insights and recommendations to management that will enhance existing systems, processes and/or products and services thereby increasing KPIs / ROI with all strategic partnerships

Functional and Business Initiatives Support

Support the Director, Partnerships & Reporting by representing the Lines of Business in approved enterprise projects and initiatives by actively participating in meetings, providing subject matter expertise and ensuring the needs of the Member are at the forefront  Provide input and support the implementation of Line of Business run-rate activities and ad hoc projects  Provide Member and Branch/BBC-based insights to support key business decisions and recommendations as required by the project or LOB Leadership Lead communication efforts for impacted employees and provide input in Member communication. Manage communication with LOB leadership on the initiative Contribute to project learning plans and content to ensure employee readiness Take initiatives from ideation through to implementation and demonstrate resourcefulness to find answers when they are unknown/unclear Consults, makes recommendations and provides guidance as appropriate on projects and operational initiatives, facilitates open communication with stakeholders and team, and informs on progress towards strategic deliverables

Business Process Optimization

Identify opportunities to develop or streamline business processes and improve efficiency to deliver an exceptional Employee and Member Experience Gather requirements, conduct appropriate due diligence and collect feedback from internal partners to build process improvement recommendations In conjunction with the Director, Partnerships and Reporting and LOB Leadership, work to execute approved process improvement activities Proactively evaluate, enhance and update Meridian SOPs (standard operating procedures), policies and procedures on an as-needed basis to ensure they remain efficient and effective Provide input on Member and LOB-based analytics to support key business decisions and recommendations as requested Develop, recommend, or lead programs designed to achieve Member Experience strategic objectives Act as a resource and subject-matter expert to lines of businesses and corporate partners with a thorough knowledge and understanding of the various Lines of Business

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Demonstrates an innovative thinking mindset with a strong focus on the Member experience A financial services professional with sufficient business savvy and industry experience to be seen as an expert and contribute to Meridian and Partner organization’s success Exceptional relationship building, interpersonal, collaboration and communication skills (verbal and written) Ability to develop plans and recommendations that support the achievement of Meridian’s business objectives Quick to learn, flexible, creative, and possess the ability to solve problems and manage through ambiguity Strong organizational and time management skills; strong ability to quickly grasp concepts and processes Anticipates change and risks; demonstrates the ability to quickly prioritize work; effectively handle critical / complex issues; and moves with agility through competing priorities Analytical and detail-oriented with the ability to communicate findings and put forth optimal recommendations and or solutions Proven capacity to take initiative, handle multiple/competing priorities and deliver results with minimal supervision or direction Strong inter-personal skills with a high-level of energy along with a results driven attitude Tech savvy with developed computer literacy sufficient to use Meridian applications and desktop tools along with other external applications Well-developed problem-solving skills sufficient to identify problems, generate solutions, decide on a course of action and ensure root causes are addressed in full.  Ability to evaluate solutions in terms of business, financial and Member impacts. Advanced knowledge of lending policies and procedures, techniques and documentation requirements Strong business acumen coupled with a demonstrated ability to initiate action to achieve results and meet deadlines while respecting fundamental corporate values Proven ability to navigate difficult conversations and conflict with both internal and external partners Familiarity with existing regulatory guidelines as it relates to lending, and shared equity lending specifically, in Ontario Highly organized and professional, with attentive to detail and ability to be concise without compromising fact

Office Location:  Toronto Corporate Office with the ability to travel to our St. Catharines office as needed. This is a hybrid work opportunity.

 

What's in it for you?

We have an inclusive and collaborative working environment that encourages teamwork, creativity, curiosity, and celebrates success! We provide you with the tools and technology needed to delight your candidates and clients! You will get to work with and learn from diverse industry leaders and colleagues, who have hailed from top organizations. Hybrid work arrangements with in-person office time to collaborate, innovate and build relationships with your colleagues. This is not your typical "corporate" job. We work hard and we have fun!

 

Who we are:

Meridian is Ontario’s largest credit union, and second largest in Canada, helping to grow the lives of our more than 380,000 Members. Meridian has more than 80 years of banking history and is 100% owned by its members. With 87 retail branches and 15 Business Banking Centers across Ontario and $ 32B in assets under management, Meridian offers a full range of financial products and services to its retail, business banking and wealth members. With over 2200 employees and corporate offices located in Toronto and St. Catharines, Meridian has a track record of creating and delivering innovative new offerings and is committed to investing in the communities that we serve.  Our plan is to build on our momentum as we deliver on our purpose - helping our members achieve their best life. 

Find our story here: About Meridian

 

Experience the Difference!

Meridian committed to promoting an inclusive, accessible environment, where all employees and customers feel valued, respected and supported. We are dedicated to employing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities and Members in which we live and serve.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability.

Please note that due to the volume of applications, only those under consideration will be contacted for an interview.

Thank you for your interest in Meridian Credit Union.

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