SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 130 offices and 80,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG's shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges.
In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization's extensive global network. The Group's operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC MANUBANK, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd.
Role Description We are seeking a visionary and strategic
Head of Artificial Intelligence to lead the development and execution of our enterprise AI strategy within the Data Organization. This role will be responsible for driving innovation, operational efficiency, and business value through the application of AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical foundation, proven leadership experience, and a passion for transforming data into actionable intelligence.
Role is based out of our Charlotte office.
Role Objectives - Strategic LeadershipDefine and lead the enterprise-wide AI strategy in alignment with business goals.Partner with executive leadership to identify high-impact AI opportunities across functions.Champion a culture of innovation, experimentation, and ethical AI use.
- AI & ML DevelopmentOversee the design, development, and deployment of AI/ML models and platforms.Ensure scalability, performance, and governance of AI solutions.Drive adoption of generative AI, NLP, computer vision, and predictive analytics.
- Team & Capability BuildingBuild and lead a high-performing team of data scientists, ML engineers, and AI researchers.Foster cross-functional collaboration with data engineering, product, and business teams.Develop talent through mentorship, training, and career development programs.
- Governance & EthicsEstablish frameworks for responsible AI, including fairness, transparency, and compliance.Collaborate with legal, risk, and compliance teams to ensure regulatory alignment.
- Innovation & Thought LeadershipStay ahead of emerging AI trends and technologies.Represent the organization at industry events, conferences, and forums.Cultivate partnerships with academia, startups, and technology vendors.
Qualifications and Skills - Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, AI, or a related field.
- 10+ years of experience in AI/ML, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
- Proven track record of delivering AI solutions at scale in complex environments.
- Deep expertise in machine learning, deep learning, generative AI, and MLOps.
- Strong understanding of data architecture, cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS, Google Cloud Platform), and modern data stacks.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and strategic thinking skills.
- Regulatory experience required, Financial Sector experience a plus
SMBC's employees participate in a Hybrid workforce model that provides employees with an opportunity to work from home, as well as, from an SMBC office. SMBC requires that employees live within a reasonable commuting distance of their office location. Prospective candidates will learn more about their specific hybrid work schedule during their interview process. Hybrid work may not be permitted for certain roles, including, for example, certain FINRA-registered roles for which in-office attendance for the entire workweek is required.
SMBC provides reasonable accommodations during candidacy for applicants with disabilities consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please let us know at
Never miss an opportunity! Create an alert based on the job you applied for.
