Director of Artificial Intelligence

Tompkins Community Bank

16d

About The Position

The Director of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will lead the strategy, evaluation, and implementation of AI technologies across the organization to drive innovation, efficiency, and business value. This role will partner closely with the CTO and CISO to ensure that AI initiatives align with corporate technology strategy, cybersecurity standards, and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical expertise with strategic business acumen to identify high-impact use cases, measure return on investment (ROI), and oversee successful deployment and adoption of AI solutions.

Requirements

15+ years in technology, automation, or data-driven solution development.
Minimum 3 years leading AI initiatives in a complex enterprise environment, preferably financial services.
Proven success in implementing AI technologies with measurable business impact.
Experience with regulatory compliance and model governance in financial services.
Expertise in AI/ML frameworks, natural language processing, predictive analytics, and automation platforms.
Familiarity with generative AI, LLMs, and prompt engineering.
Strong knowledge of cloud AI services (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and MLOps practices.
Deep understanding of data governance, secure software development lifecycle, and AI risk frameworks.
Exceptional ability to translate technical concepts into business strategies.
Strong project management, change management, and executive communication skills.
Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or Business Administration preferred.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:
Develop and execute the organization’s AI strategy in alignment with enterprise technology and business objectives.
Collaborate with the CTO and CISO to ensure all AI initiatives adhere to enterprise architecture, data governance, secure software development standards, and security policies.
Stay abreast of emerging AI trends, tools, risks, and regulatory developments to guide long-term innovation.
AI Evaluation & Implementation:
Identify, evaluate, and recommend AI technologies and vendors that align with organizational goals.
Lead pilot programs and proof-of-concept initiatives to assess AI capabilities, scalability, and business impact.
Oversee implementation, testing, and post-implementation validation of AI solutions across departments.
Business Partnership & ROI Measurement:
Work with business unit leaders to identify AI use cases that deliver measurable value.
Develop ROI frameworks and performance metrics to assess the financial and operational impact of AI initiatives.
Communicate AI project outcomes and value realization to executive leadership, governance & documentation:
Establish AI governance processes to ensure ethical, secure, transparent, and compliant AI usage.
Document all AI activities, including technology selection, testing results, performance metrics, and validation outcomes.
Ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulations regarding data usage and model governance.
Team Leadership:
Build and lead a cross-functional team of AI engineers, data scientists, and analysts.
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning within the AI function.