Director AI Strategy & Intelligent Automation

The Director AI Strategy & Intelligent Automation role is responsible for establishing and leading the enterprise strategy, roadmap, governance, and delivery of AI-enabled automation capabilities across The Bancorp. This role advances the organization from task-based automation to intelligent, predictive, and decision-driven operating models by applying artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, document intelligence, generative AI, agentic workflows, and data-driven decision making to high-value business processes.

This position serves as the enterprise leader and executive sponsor for AI within the Automation program, ensuring that solutions are scalable, secure, measurable, compliant, and aligned with enterprise architecture, model risk management, data governance, information security, vendor risk, and regulatory expectations. The role operates across business, technology, operations, risk, compliance, legal, and data functions, requiring strong executive influence, strategic planning, portfolio leadership, change management, and the ability to translate emerging AI capabilities into practical business outcomes within a regulated banking environment.

• Owns the enterprise AI and intelligent automation strategy, roadmap, and operating model in alignment with business priorities, risk appetite, regulatory expectations, and enterprise transformation objectives.
• Leads prioritization of AI-enabled automation opportunities through intake governance, feasibility assessment, business case development, funding alignment, benefits estimation, and executive decision-making forums.
• Provides executive leadership for the design, architecture, and delivery of enterprise AI solutions that integrate machine learning, NLP, document intelligence, cognitive services, generative AI, and decisioning capabilities into business workflows.
• Oversees a portfolio of intelligent automation use cases, including alert triage, document intelligence, predictive exception handling, decision support, knowledge assistants, workflow orchestration, and agentic AI-enabled process improvement.
• Partners cross-functionally with Technology, Data Science, Operations, Risk, Compliance, Legal, Information Security, Financial Crimes, and business leaders to operationalize AI solutions in production environments.
• Establishes enterprise standards, reusable frameworks, controls, and best practices for AI model integration, orchestration with RPA platforms, cloud-based AI services, APIs, LLM-enabled capabilities, and scalable automation delivery.
• Ensures AI solutions meet responsible AI, model risk management, data governance, privacy, cybersecurity, auditability, third-party risk, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Evaluates, selects, and governs AI technologies, automation platforms, implementation partners, and vendors in accordance with enterprise architecture, procurement, legal, risk, and compliance standards.
• Defines performance metrics, value realization methods, and executive reporting to measure productivity improvement, risk reduction, cycle-time improvement, cost optimization, quality enhancement, and adoption of AI-enabled solutions.
• Builds, develops, and leads a high-performing AI and automation capability, providing direction, mentorship, talent development, and accountability for delivery quality and organizational readiness.
• Advances AI literacy, adoption, and change management across the enterprise by translating complex technical concepts into practical business value, controls, and implementation plans.
• Represents the Automation program in governance forums, executive updates, audit or regulatory reviews, vendor assessments, strategic planning activities, and cross-functional decision-making forums, as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Business, Information Systems, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 12+ years of experience in AI, intelligent automation, technology strategy, digital transformation, data science, advanced analytics, or related enterprise technology functions.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing cross-functional teams, enterprise technology portfolios, transformation programs, or AI/automation delivery capabilities.
• Demonstrated experience defining enterprise strategy, governance, roadmaps, operating models, and measurable outcomes for AI, automation, analytics, or technology-enabled transformation initiatives.
• Proven ability to influence senior executives and lead complex initiatives across business, technology, data, risk, compliance, legal, information security, and operations stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML, generative AI, NLP, intelligent automation, workflow orchestration, cloud-based AI services, data governance, model risk management, and regulatory considerations within financial services.
• Advanced degree, such as a Master’s degree or PhD, in AI, Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or related discipline, preferred.
• Experience building, leading, or scaling an enterprise AI, intelligent automation, digital transformation, innovation, or AI Center of Excellence capability, preferred.
• Experience operating within banking, sponsor banking, fintech, payments, lending, financial crimes, compliance, or other regulated financial services environments, preferred.
• Familiarity with platforms and technologies such as UiPath, Python, Azure AI/OpenAI, cloud AI services, APIs, RAG, LLMOps, MLOps, document intelligence, predictive modeling, and agentic AI workflows, preferred.
• Experience establishing responsible AI governance, model lifecycle management, risk controls, production monitoring, auditability, and human-in-the-loop oversight for AI-enabled processes, preferred.
• Experience evaluating AI vendors, automation platforms, implementation partners, third-party risk considerations, commercial models, and enterprise technology investment decisions, preferred.
• Exceptional executive communication, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and presentation skills with the ability to translate technical capabilities into business impact, preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to drive change management, adoption, training, and organizational readiness for AI-enabled transformation in evolving program structures, preferred.
• Strong business judgment, strategic thinking, and execution discipline with the ability to balance innovation, operational value, risk management, compliance, and enterprise scalability, preferred.

This job will be open and accepting applications for a minimum of five days from the date it was posted.

Working at The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Benefits Information: https://thebancorp.com/company/join-our-team/