Head of AI Science & Portfolio Value, Sydney

Westpac; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Westpac in Sydney seeks a senior, hands‑on Data Science leader to architect and deliver an AI portfolio within Business Banking & Wealth. You will shape problems, guide delivery across squads, and ensure measurable business value while building and mentoring a growing AI team.

You will embed responsible AI, balance risk and return, and partner across Business, Risk, Product, Technology and Operations to turn ambitious ideas into real outcomes.

Qualifications

• Senior‑level, hands‑on Data Science expertise in regulated financial services.
• Experience delivering predictive, generative and agentic AI solutions end‑to‑end.
• Strong portfolio strategy and value realization capabilities.
• Proven people leadership and inclusive team building.
• Executive‑level influence across Business, Risk, Product, Technology and Operations.
• Deep understanding of AI risk, model governance and human oversight.
• Business lending and wealth domain experience.

Responsibilities

• Own the portfolio AI roadmap, capacity plan, commitments and measurable benefits with business owners.
• Shape problems, decide solution approach and determine continuation or pivot.
• Lead delivery across squads, managing dependencies and portfolio trade‑offs.
• Judge technical trade‑offs and collaborate with Craft Exec Manager, engineers and operations.
• Build and develop a high‑performing AI Science team with clear performance expectations.
• Embed responsible AI including privacy, security, fairness, data governance and auditability.
• Own adoption, benefits and live outcomes with business owners and monitor drift or incidents.

Skills

Senior data science

Generative AI

Portfolio strategy

People leadership

Executive influence

AI risk & governance

Lending & wealth domain

Job description

Westpac in Sydney seeks a senior, hands‑on Data Science leader to architect and deliver an AI portfolio within Business Banking & Wealth. You will shape problems, guide delivery across squads, and ensure measurable business value while building and mentoring a growing AI team.

You will embed responsible AI, balance risk and return, and partner across Business, Risk, Product, Technology and Operations to turn ambitious ideas into real outcomes.