AI Strategy Director — Payments Transformation Advisory

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Position Overview: Reporting to the Principal and working closely with the Mastercard AI team, the Senior Managing Consultant/Director, AI Strategy will spearhead AI-driven consulting engagements for clients—especially card issuers and other financial services organizations. You will lead multidisciplinary teams of data scientists, ML engineers, and business strategists to develop long-term strategies to build AI solutions and implement AI solutions that transform how clients approach analytics, automation, and value generation.

In This Role, You Will:

• Shape and deliver AI strategies that address complex business challenges for payments-centric companies.
• Advance the firm’s AI capabilities through consistent thought leadership, external outreach, and the development of new service offerings.
• Mentor and grow junior colleagues, fostering a collaborative team culture around innovative AI methodologies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop AI-Driven Strategies for Business Impact
• Identify high-impact opportunities for AI and analytics within client organizations, particularly in card issuing and payments.
• Quantify the full value potential of AI solutions, detailing the value levers, critical dependencies, and feasibility pathways to maximize ROI.
• Architect end-to-end AI solutions by combining expertise in data engineering, solution design, and domain-specific knowledge (e.g., credit card issuing).
• Secure alignment from executive stakeholders, translating ambitious AI visions into actionable plans with clear timelines, deliverables, and success metrics.
• Scale effective AI initiatives across multiple use cases, proactively addressing technical or organizational hurdles to ensure widespread adoption.
• Lead Rapid, Iterative AI Delivery
• Partner with AI and ML engineering leaders to oversee project roadmaps, ensuring iterative versioning, pilot rollouts, and timely stakeholder updates.
• Collaborate closely with business leaders to co-own solutions, gather continuous feedback, and adjust scopes for maximum business value.
• Drive a balanced approach to problem-solving, focusing on both technical feasibility and strategic payoff—avoiding unnecessary complexity.
• Augment client teams by providing change management and AI expertise, ensuring full realization of value and adoption of best practices.
• Expand Thought Leadership & External Network
• Publish and present on cutting-edge AI methods and industry insights—e.g., through whitepapers, case studies, conference keynotes, and journal articles.
• Build an external network of AI experts, industry leaders, and academic partners to keep the firm at the forefront of emerging AI trends.
• Advise on best practices around AI ethics, governance, and regulatory considerations in financial services.
• Elevate the firm’s reputation by participating in relevant forums, client discussions, and industry events, driving new business opportunities.
• Innovate & Scale the AI Operating Model
• Develop new delivery frameworks and methodologies to enhance the speed and consistency of AI project execution.
• Codify best practices, creating reusable assets (templates, playbooks) that help internal teams replicate successful approaches.
• Mentor junior colleagues, providing technical guidance and career development support to foster a robust, forward-thinking AI community.
• Champion cross-functional collaboration, ensuring alignment among data science, engineering, and business teams to deliver holistic solutions.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Strong experience leading data-driven strategies and delivering measurable outcomes (preferably in financial services, payments, or card issuing).
• GenAI hands-on experience: Developed and deployed GenAI use cases with proven value from end to end. Developed tools with open-source LLM models (e.g., Deepseek, Liama).
• Thought Leadership: Demonstrated history of publishing, speaking at conferences, or driving innovative AI solutions in a recognized industry setting.
• Communication: Excellent executive-level presentation skills and the ability to translate complex AI concepts for non-technical stakeholders.
• Agile Mindset: Familiarity with agile methodologies, iterative development, and modern technology project management practices.
• Financial Services Domain: Deep understanding of the payments ecosystem and key operational challenges relevant to card issuers.
• Leadership: Experience managing direct reports and/or cross-functional teams, with a track record of mentoring talent and building high-performing groups.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in computer science, engineering, or related fields; Master’s degree or equivalent advanced study strongly preferred.

Why Join Us:

• Impact at Scale: Collaborate with top-tier clients in the financial services space to drive transformational AI initiatives.
• Thought Leadership Platform: Shape industry perspectives by publishing, attending major events, and building an influential network.
• Professional Growth: Develop your leadership and technical skills by working on cutting-edge projects with leading experts in applied AI.
• Innovative Culture: Contribute to a dynamic environment that values experimentation, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.

Corporate Security Responsibility:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.