Director, AI & Data Strategy

Our Purpose

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.

Title and Summary

Director, AI & Data Strategy

Role Summary
The Director, AI & Data Strategy is an established subject-matter expert responsible for advancing Mastercard’s thinking, frameworks and practices across AI and data strategy. The role applies deep expertise and extensive experience to deliver key strategic initiatives and make significant improvements to new and existing products, services and business processes.
The Director leads pioneering research, evaluates emerging AI and data developments, and provides forward-looking guidance on their potential business, regulatory, ethical and societal implications. Working across business, technology, legal, privacy, compliance and risk teams, the role develops responsible AI frameworks, anticipatory guardrails and practical methods that enable innovation while protecting customer trust and Mastercard’s long-term resilience.

Key Responsibilities:
• AI and Analytics Integration: Champion the responsible incorporation of advanced analytics, generative AI, agentic AI and other innovative methodologies into core products, services, processes and decision-making frameworks.
• Cross-Functional Governance Partnership: Collaborate with legal, privacy, compliance, risk, technology, data, product and business teams to embed responsible AI and data practices into operational workflows, product-development processes and strategic decisions.
• Global Standards and Societal Expectations: Monitor evolving regulatory requirements, industry standards, ethical expectations and societal concerns. Help Mastercard’s frameworks and practices remain responsive to changing global expectations.
• Data and AI Literacy: Promote a culture of data literacy, responsible experimentation and informed decision-making. Develop practical guidance that enables technical and non-technical colleagues to understand both the potential and limitations of AI and data-driven approaches.
• Methods and Best Practices: Create reusable frameworks, assessment models, research methods, decision tools and best practices that improve the consistency and quality of AI and data strategy across Mastercard.
• Capability Development and Mentoring: Mentor colleagues by sharing specialist knowledge, emerging research, innovative techniques and best practices. Build deeper expertise within the team and strengthen Mastercard’s broader community of AI and data practitioners.

All About You:
• Recognized subject-matter expertise in AI strategy, data strategy, responsible AI, AI governance, technology policy or a closely related discipline.
• Significant experience applying specialist knowledge to complex business, technology, regulatory or societal challenges.
• Deep understanding of generative AI, agentic AI, machine learning, advanced analytics and the data foundations required to support these capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead research and horizon-scanning activities and translate emerging developments into strategic business implications.
• Experience developing advanced governance frameworks, ethical standards, guardrails, assessment models or responsible innovation practices.
• Ability to evaluate emerging and hypothetical risks where historical evidence, regulatory direction or established industry practices may be limited.
• Strong understanding of privacy, security, transparency, fairness, accountability, data rights, model risk and other responsible AI considerations.
• Ability to communicate complex and uncertain topics clearly to senior executives, technical specialists, control functions and business stakeholders.
• Demonstrated influence across organisational boundaries, particularly when working with legal, compliance, privacy, risk, technology and product teams.
• Strong critical-thinking skills, intellectual curiosity and willingness to challenge assumptions constructively.
• Ability to balance innovation, customer value, feasibility, governance and long-term societal considerations.
• Experience mentoring colleagues and developing specialist capability through knowledge sharing and practical guidance.
• Bachelor’s degree in data science, computer science, engineering, technology, public policy, law, ethics, business or equivalent practical experience. An advanced degree is advantageous but not required.

Preferred Experience
• Experience within payments, financial services or another highly regulated and globally distributed industry.
• Experience in responsible AI, AI assurance, technology ethics, algorithmic accountability, model governance or technology-policy research.
• Familiarity with global AI regulations, governance standards and industry frameworks.
• Experience advising senior leaders on emerging technologies, strategic uncertainty and long-term organisational resilience.
• Evidence of external or internal thought leadership through research papers, executive publications, conference participation or industry working groups.
• Experience translating research and policy developments into operational controls, product-development practices and enterprise governance.

Measures of Success
• Mastercard has a clear, credible and forward-looking perspective on emerging AI and data developments.
• Senior leaders receive timely and actionable guidance on emerging opportunities, risks, ethical considerations and potential societal impacts.
• Responsible AI frameworks and guardrails anticipate future developments rather than addressing only known or immediate risks.
• Emerging AI capabilities are evaluated consistently against customer value, technical feasibility, strategic relevance, ethical considerations and potential harm.
• Responsible AI and data practices are embedded into product, technology and operational workflows across Mastercard.
• Complex research and emerging trends are translated into practical frameworks, decisions and organisational actions.
• AI and data literacy improves across technical, business and control functions.
• Reusable research methods, governance models and best practices strengthen the consistency and maturity of Mastercard’s AI and data strategy.
• Team members and cross-functional partners develop deeper expertise through mentoring, knowledge sharing and exposure to emerging practices.

This role is not eligible for Mastercard-sponsored work authorization. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States now and in the future without employer sponsorship.

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact reasonable_accommodation@mastercard.com and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• 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.

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.

THIS POSTING RELECTS ONE OR MORE CURRENT VACANCIES ON OUR TEAM, AND MASTERCARD INTENDS TO FILL THIS POSITION BY 01/10/2027. If the fill date has passed, Mastercard intends to fill this position as soon as possible.

Pay Ranges

Purchase, New York: $179,000 - $305,000 USD

O'Fallon, Missouri: $156,000 - $265,000 USD