Why Work at Bank First
At Bank First, we’re not just a bank—we’re a community. Consistently ranked among the top-performing banks in the U.S. and Wisconsin, and recognized by American Banker as one of the “Best Banks to Work For”. We combine professional excellence with a culture that truly values people. When you join Bank First, you’re joining a team that invests in your growth, supports your well-being, and celebrates your contributions.
Why You’ll Love Working Here
Imagine a workplace where:
- Your career growth is supported through training, mentoring, and advancement opportunities
- Flexibility allows you to balance work and life without compromise
- Your contributions directly impact guests and communities you care about
- You’re part of a culture built on respect, collaboration, and empowerment
At Bank First, you don’t just fill a role—you make a difference. Every interaction matters, and every team member helps shape the experience our guests love.
About the Role: Project Manager
The Project Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing strategic projects across the organization. This role works closely with business units, operations, lenders, deposit teams, technology teams, vendors, and executive leadership to ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and aligned with organizational objectives. The Project Manager serves as the primary point of coordination for system implementations, process improvements, regulatory initiatives, mergers and acquisitions, and technology enhancements.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead projects through the full project lifecycle, including planning, execution, testing, implementation, communication, and post-implementation support.
- Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, milestones, status reports, risk logs, and project documentation.
- Coordinate resources and activities across business units, operations, Information Technology, and third-party vendors to ensure project objectives are achieved.
- Serve as the primary point of coordination and communication between stakeholders, facilitating meetings, tracking action items, and providing project updates to leadership.
- Manage project scope, risks, dependencies, issues, and change requests while developing appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Coordinate system implementations, upgrades, integrations, conversions, process improvements, and strategic initiatives.
- Lead and coordinate testing efforts, including test planning, user acceptance testing (UAT), issue resolution, and implementation readiness activities.
- Support merger, acquisition, and conversion activities through planning, coordination, testing, communication, training, and execution.
- Collaborate with Risk Management, Compliance, Information Security, and business units to ensure regulatory, security, and operational requirements are met.
- Manage vendor relationships and implementation activities to ensure project deliverables, timelines, and expectations are achieved.
- Identify opportunities for process improvement and operational efficiencies that support organizational objectives and enhance the customer and employee experience.
What We’re Looking For
- Two to Five or more years of project management experience, preferably within financial services or banking.
- Experience managing projects that involve multiple teams, departments, and outside vendors.
- Experience leading system implementations, process improvements, or other significant business initiatives.
- Understanding of project management principles, planning, tracking, and reporting.
- Ability to organize work, manage timelines, and keep projects moving forward.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work through challenges and find practical solutions.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities at the same time.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to build relationships and work effectively with employees, leadership, vendors, and business partners.
- Comfortable leading meetings, facilitating discussions, and obtaining decisions when needed.
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams, and project management software.
- Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
- Ability to adapt to changing priorities and business needs.
About Bank First
Headquartered in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Bank First serves communities across Wisconsin and the Illinois Stateline region. Our growth is built on relationship-based banking—getting to know our guests personally and helping them create lasting value.
Our Culture & Vision
We foster curiosity, creativity, and responsiveness while embracing individual differences. Employees are empowered with tools to succeed and supported in their careers. Our vision is to remain the top-performing, independent provider of financial services, delivering personalized solutions and value to guests and communities alike.
Our Values
Relationship Based | Community Focused | Innovative Solutions | Value Driven
Join Bank First and build a career where your contributions matter, your growth is supported, and your work makes a difference every single day.
Skills Required
- Two to five or more years of project management experience
- Project management experience within financial services or banking
- Experience managing projects involving multiple teams, departments, and outside vendors
- Experience leading system implementations, process improvements, or significant business initiatives
- Understanding of project management principles, planning, tracking, and reporting
- Ability to organize work, manage timelines, and keep projects moving forward
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to develop practical solutions
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to build relationships and work effectively with employees, leadership, vendors, and business partners
- Comfort leading meetings, facilitating discussions, and obtaining decisions
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams, and project management software
- Strong attention to detail and follow-through
- Ability to adapt to changing priorities and business needs
What We Do
Bank First is headquartered in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Through a combination of acquisitions and de novo offices, our Bank has expanded to serve the financial needs of those throughout Wisconsin. Our growth has been achieved through our relationship-based model of banking. We take pride in knowing our customers on a personal level and working together to create value for themselves, their families, and the communities in which we live. As a result of our growth throughout the State of Wisconsin, our valued customers have access to an increased lending capacity, a wider range of products and services, an expanded branch network, and a larger team of bankers dedicated to providing superior financial solutions that are value driven. Bank First employs over 300 full-time equivalent staff and has been consistently named one of the best banks to work by American Banker. At Bank First, we strive for excellence, not only for our customers, but for our employees, community, and shareholders as well. Our focus on excellence has resulted in Bank First being recognized as one of the top performing banks in the United States. We are one of 26 banks in the country to be awarded the Raymond James Community Bankers Cup. The award recognizes the top 10% of community banks in the nation based on profitability, operational efficiency, and balance sheet metrics. Additionally, we have been recognized on the Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Bank Honor Roll. As Bank First looks to the future, we will continue to focus on our relationship-based model of banking and expanding our reach throughout the State of Wisconsin. Bank First will continue to expand through organic growth and in the form of de novo branches and strategic acquisitions in the coming years and is excited for the opportunity to provide superior products and services to a larger base. Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender.
