Executive Director, AI Transformation

Job information:

• Functional title – Executive Director, AI Transformation
• Department – CEO Office
• Corporate level – Executive Director (ED)
• Report to – Managing Director, CEO Office
• Location – New Jersey, US
• Expected full-time salary range between $250,000 - $300,000 variable compensation 401(k) match benefits.

What you will be doing:

The CEO Office supports the evolution and maintenance of the company’s strategy and owns the performance metrics. In this context, it monitors business and technology trends which may impact the company’s business, and steers innovation research and experimentation efforts. The CEO Office is responsible for determining and implementing the global communications marketing strategy across all external audiences and leads public policy efforts. It provides the secretariat function for CLS-internal governance bodies and facilitates the company’s decision-making processes.

The Executive Director, AI Transformation plays a central role in steering and facilitating transformative cross-departmental activities around the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at CLS. They will shape the organization’s AI strategy and facilitate organizational transformation activities in view of wider AI usage. The successful candidate is expected to establish and lead the firm’s AI Center of Excellence of ~2-3 FTEs, plus stand up and mobilize ~10 AI Champions embedded into various functions and teams (not a direct reporting line).

The Executive Director, AI Transformation will be responsible for:

• Building and leading a multi-disciplinary AI Center of Excellence which owns AI governance & processes and drives firm-wide AI adoption across business functions.
• Defining and implementing the firm’s AI strategy and multi-year roadmap, in view of the evolving AI landscape in financial services and aligned with the CLS mission and broader business objectives.
• Identifying opportunities where AI can create measurable business value, and associated challenges and risks.
• Prioritizing AI use cases and bringing them to life by driving them through the project management lifecycle, coordinating across cross-functional design & delivery teams and through associated project management governance processes.
• Defining firm-wide KPIs and monitoring performance.
• Leading AI change management across the organization – coordinating training, communications and adoption campaigns with HR and AI Champions embedded in key functions, and proactively providing executive briefings and guidance.
• Providing direct advice to the C-suite and senior leadership on AI strategy, governance, and practical implementation.
• Maintaining awareness of AI trends (e.g., novel use cases, emerging opportunities and threats) and proactively supporting the firm in addressing them.

What we’re looking for:

• Experience in leading large-scale AI and digital transformations within the financial sector.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in innovation or technology governance roles, preferably within financial services.
• Proven track-record of leading diverse teams, and ability to coordinate and influence cross-functional teams
• Creative and innovative thinking with an ability to see the bigger picture.
• Excellent time management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple/competing deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, to collaborate effectively with different teams and divisions across CLS.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality work with precision and accuracy, ensuring attention to detail in all aspects of execution.
• Familiarity with model risk management (MRM) or operational risk frameworks in a regulated institution
• Experience operating within or designing programmatic delivery governance

Professional qualifications / certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance/economics, law or information technology, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Project or change management certifications (e.g. PMP, Agile)
• Demonstrated fluency with AI/ML concepts and tools