VP, Recovery Legal Strategy

Job Description:

Role Summary/Purpose:

The VP, Recovery Legal Strategy will lead end-to-end strategy development and analytics for Synchrony’s Legal Recovery business, with responsibility for $100–150MM annual recovery income / net loss impact and $30–35MM expense budget. This role is accountable for delivering superior business performance through innovation and advanced analytics across the entire Legal Recovery process lifecycle. The VP develops, executes, and continuously optimizes strategies to maximize net loss reduction within budget and to ensure regulatory and compliance excellence. Collaborating closely with Recovery Operations, Legal, Compliance, Fair Lending Technology, Finance, and Business Intelligence / Reporting, this leader drives top-tier results through rigorous analytics and continuous business transformation. The person in this role will also be backup for the VP, Recovery Debt Sales Strategy role.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Own the development, testing, execution, and ongoing optimization of legal recovery strategies for all Synchrony businesses / platforms, clients and products, including segmentation, legal vs. non-legal channel optimization, legal channel management, and post-judgment recovery including dormant (non-performing) judgment strategies.

• Lead advanced analytics and predictive modeling initiatives (e.g., CHAID/CART, champion-challenger testing) to enhance legal recovery effectiveness, profitability, and efficiency.

• Lead rigorous business case development, risk assessment, implementation, and validation of all new or modified strategies, ensuring swift and successful rollouts.

• Develop a transformational legal recovery strategy vision and multi-year roadmap.  Lead discussions with executives to ensure they understand and support the future state vision and roadmap. Conduct benchmarking and industry research to identify legal strategy and operational best practices.

• Actively manage a portfolio of legal recovery strategies, including tracking performance and providing regular updates to senior management and to other stakeholders.

• Drive cross-functional partnerships with Recovery Operations, Legal, Compliance, Fair Lending, Business Intelligence / Reporting, Model Development, external law firms, and other stakeholders to ensure aligned, effective, and compliant execution.

• Monitor legal recovery performance, capitalize on opportunities to improve liquidation rates, operational efficiencies, accuracy, and cost management.

• Ensure strict compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, regulatory guidelines and company policies; proactively prevent, detect, and remediate any Legal Recovery strategy issues.

• Develop, implement, and maintain robust documentation, controls, and governance for all legal recovery strategies / non-model tools (NMTs); lead legal strategy support for second line reviews, internal audits and regulatory exams.

• Perform other duties and/or special projects as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative major (e.g., STEM, economics, business); in lieu of a degree 11+ years of strategy, analytics, collections/recovery, risk, or legal/recovery management experience.

• 8+ years of strategy, analytics, collections/recovery, risk, or legal/recovery management experience.

• 5+ years of experience with data analytics and segmentation platforms (e.g., SAS, SQL, Python/R, CHAID / CART decision tree software).

Desired Characteristics:

• 3+ years of experience leading legal recovery strategy, attorney management, or litigation recoveries in the financial industry (preferably for a credit card issuer).

• Expertise in legal/regulatory frameworks impacting recoveries (FDCPA, Fair Lending, UDAAP, etc.).

• Demonstrated success developing and executing strategy, testing protocols, and delivering measurable results in a regulated financial services environment.

• Experience managing processes, risks and controls.

• Exceptional communication, cross-functional leadership, and executive influencing skills.

• Outstanding project management, organizational, and change leadership abilities.

• Advanced degree (Master’s or JD) preferred.

Grade/Level: 12

The salary range for this position is 135,000.00 - 230,000.00 USD Annual and is eligible for an annual bonus based on individual and company performance.

Actual compensation offered within the posted salary range will be based upon work experience, skill level or knowledge.

Salaries are adjusted according to market in CA, NY Metro and Seattle.

Eligibility Requirements:

• You must be 18 years or older

• You must have a high school diploma or equivalent

• You must be willing to take a drug test, submit to a background investigation and submit fingerprints as part of the onboarding process

• You must be able to satisfy the requirements of Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

• New hires (Level 4-7) must have 9 months of continuous service with the company before they are eligible to post on other roles.  Once this new hire time in position requirement is met, the associate will have a minimum 6 months’ time in position before they can post for future non-exempt roles.  Employees, level 8 or greater, must have at least 18 months’ time in position before they can post.  All internal employees must consistently meet performance expectations and have approval from your manager to post (or the approval of your manager and HR if you don’t meet the time in position or performance expectations).

Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required.  We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. 

Our Commitment:

When you join us, you’ll be part of an inclusive culture where your individual skills, experience, and voice are not only heard – but valued. Together, we’re building a future where we can all belong, connect, and turn ideals into action. More than 50% of our workforce is engaged in our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), where community and passion intersect to offer a safe space to learn and grow.

This starts when you choose to apply for a role at Synchrony. We ensure all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. We’re proud to have an award-winning culture for all. 

Reasonable Accommodation Notice:

• Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.

• If you need special accommodations, please call our Career Support Line so that we can discuss your specific situation. We can be reached at 1-866-301-5627.   Representatives are available from 8am – 5pm Monday to Friday, Central Standard Time

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