Data Transformation Lead

VP Data Transformation – Data Strategy & Governance | Fintech AI Lab

Location:

Abu Dhbai

My client is looking for a VP Data Transformation to lead the strategic data agenda for a newly established AI Lab.

This is a senior leadership position focused on data strategy, governance, operating model and transformation
, ensuring the organisation has the data foundations, standards and governance required to scale AI, analytics and digital products across the bank.

The successful candidate will be a strategic data leader who can translate business and AI ambitions into a clear enterprise data strategy
, while driving the governance, operating model and transformation programmes required to make that strategy real.

• Define and own the enterprise Data Strategy and Data Transformation roadmap
  , aligned to the bank's broader technology, digital and AI strategy.
• Establish the data governance framework
  , including ownership, accountability, data quality, lineage, metadata, standards and controls.
• Define and evolve the organisation's Data Operating Model
  , including roles, responsibilities, decision rights and ways of working.
• Establish strong Data Ownership and Data Stewardship across business and technology functions.
• Drive enterprise-wide improvements in data quality, accessibility, consistency and trust
  .
• Develop frameworks for data governance, data products, critical data elements and data domains
  .
• Partner with the AI Lab and technology leadership to ensure data strategy supports AI, GenAI, advanced analytics and machine learning at scale.
• Drive data transformation initiatives across business functions, breaking down data silos and enabling greater reuse of enterprise data.
• Define and implement data governance policies, standards and controls aligned with regulatory and risk requirements.
• Establish appropriate data quality and data governance KPIs
  , dashboards and executive reporting.
• Work closely with Risk, Compliance, Information Security, Technology and business leadership to ensure data is managed appropriately within a regulated banking environment.
• Lead and influence senior stakeholders across the organisation to drive adoption of new data standards and operating models.
• Assess and prioritise data transformation initiatives based on business value, AI readiness and strategic importance
  .
• Build and lead high-performing data strategy, governance and transformation teams.

• Enterprise Data Strategy
• Data transformation roadmap
• Data maturity assessment
• AI / GenAI data readiness

• Data ownership and stewardship
• Metadata and lineage
• Data classification
• Governance frameworks and controls
• Data policies and standards

• Enterprise data operating model
• Data governance councils
• Business / Technology alignment
• Data accountability and decision rights
• Change management and adoption

• 15+ years' experience across Data Strategy, Data Transformation, Data Governance, Enterprise Data or a related senior data leadership function.
• Strong track record developing and implementing Data Strategy and Data Governance frameworks within complex organisations.
• Deep understanding of modern data architecture and platforms, sufficient to work credibly with Data Architects, Data Engineers and AI teams
  .
• Experience establishing or transforming data operating models
  , including data ownership, stewardship and governance structures.
• Strong understanding of data quality, metadata, lineage, master data and data management principles
  .
• Experience working with senior executives and influencing business and technology leadership.
• Strong commercial and strategic judgement, with the ability to connect data investment to business outcomes and measurable value
  .
• Experience with in banking, financial services, fintech or another highly regulated environment is strongly preferred.
• Experience with regulatory data requirements and frameworks such as BCBS 239 would be highly advantageous.
• Exposure to AI / GenAI transformation and AI-ready data strategies is highly desirable.

My client is looking for a strategic data transformation leader
, rather than a traditional Data Governance Manager or purely technical Data Architect.

The strongest candidates will have successfully built and executed enterprise Data Strategies
, established governance and operating models, and driven measurable transformation across complex organisations.

You should be comfortable operating at VP / C-suite level
, influencing senior stakeholders while still understanding the underlying architecture, technology and data challenges well enough to challenge technical teams and make informed strategic decisions.

The ideal profile combines Data Strategy + Governance + Transformation + strong banking domain experience, with a clear understanding of how high-quality, well-governed data enables AI and GenAI at enterprise scale.