Global Financial Crimes Technology, AI Transformation Team Lead - Director

MUFG•Irving, TX

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) is seeking an exceptional Director of AI Transformation to lead the strategic development and project execution of AI-powered solutions that will transform financial crimes processes and core compliance operations. This newly created role will report directly to the Global Head of Financial Crimes Compliance Technology and will be responsible for defining the AI transformation roadmap, lead the strategic design, execution, and scaling of artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI, and advanced automation capabilities, and building a high-performing team to drive innovation across the Global Financial Crimes Division. The successful candidate will combine deep expertise in AI/ML technologies with substantial financial crimes and compliance experience, enabling them to bridge technical innovation with regulatory requirements and business impact. Operating at the intersection of technology, compliance, and innovation, the Director will drive adoption of AI-enabled operating models, establish scalable delivery patterns, and ensure alignment with MUFG’s AI governance, risk management, and regulatory expectations. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of compliance technology at one of the world's leading financial institutions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Finance, or related field required.
10+ years of experience in technology leadership with AI or automation exposure
Experience leading enterprise-scale transformation in regulated financial institutions
Strong understanding of financial crimes compliance domains
Experience successfully building software products as a product manager or product owner within a technology organization in the financial industry
Experience leading product development in an evolving Agile environment
Strong understanding of technical concepts and consideration in building complex web applications, systems integration, and comfort in working closely with engineers
Experience managing product lifecycles from planning to completion
Demonstrated hands-on experience with AI/ML technologies, including supervised/unsupervised learning, natural language processing, generative AI, model development, and deployment.
Deep understanding of compliance technologies, including sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, KYC/CDD, fraud detection, markets surveillance, control room, e-communications surveillance, and suspicious activity detection.
Strong technical background with understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), data architecture, APIs, and enterprise software development lifecycle.
Knowledge of regulatory frameworks governing AI in financial services, model risk management (SR 11-7), and compliance technology requirements.
Proven ability to develop and execute transformational strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes.
Strong communication and presentation skills with ability to influence senior executives and cross-functional stakeholders.
Exceptional interpersonal skills with track record of building partnerships across technology, business, risk, and compliance functions.
Experience leading organizational change, driving adoption of new technologies, and managing resistance.
Analytical mindset with ability to navigate complex challenges, balance competing priorities, and drive solutions.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in AI/ML, Data Science, or related technical discipline strongly preferred.
Relevant certifications (e.g., CAMS, ACAMS, AWS/Azure AI certifications) are a plus.

Responsibilities

Define and Execute AI Transformation Strategy: Develop and lead the comprehensive AI transformation execution strategy for GFCD, aligning technology innovation with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and risk management priorities.
Use Case Prioritization: Leverage the existing framework for identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing AI use cases. Providing feedback and enhancements as needed to ensure alignment with business value, technical feasibility, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation goals.
Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as the primary AI strategy advisor to GFCD leadership, presenting transformation roadmaps, progress updates, and ROI analysis to executive stakeholders.
Define Success Metrics: Establish clear success metrics and track realized benefits to measure the effectiveness and impact of AI transformation initiatives.
AI Agent Development: Lead teams responsible for the design, development, and testing of AI agents and machine learning models tailored to e-communication surveillance, trade surveillance, financial crimes operation, and compliance workflows.
Technology Infrastructure: Collaborate with technology teams across MUFG to ensure GFCD has access to the right tools, platforms, cloud environments, and data infrastructure necessary to build, deploy, and scale AI solutions.
Innovation Pipeline: Establish repeatable AI delivery patterns to accelerate time-to-value and global scalability
Governance Framework: Refine the comprehensive AI governance framework that defines standards for compliance including, bias detection, explainability, and regulatory compliance. Collaborating with Model Risk Management and Legal to support AI risk assessments and validations
Guardrails & Controls: Establish clear guardrails and control mechanisms for vetting, approving, and monitoring AI use cases to ensure alignment with regulatory expectations and embed explainability and auditability into AI solutions.
Regulatory Alignment: Ensure all AI initiatives comply with relevant financial crimes regulations, data privacy requirements, and model risk management standards across multiple jurisdictions.
Business Unit Partnership: Drive cross-functional collaboration with business units within financial crimes, AML operations, sanctions compliance, fraud detection, and front-line teams to understand requirements and deliver impactful solutions.
Technology Team Coordination: Work closely with enterprise data engineering, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and enterprise architecture teams to ensure seamless integration and scalability of AI solutions.
Global Collaboration: Partner with MUFG teams across regions, including Japan, to share best practices, align on global standards, and leverage enterprise-wide AI capabilities.
Team Development: Build and lead a high-performing AI transformation team over time, recruiting top talent in data science, AI/ML engineering, and compliance technology.
Talent Development: Mentor and develop team members, fostering a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and excellence.
Change Management: Champion AI adoption across GFCD and Core Compliance through change management, training programs, and communication strategies.