Director, Global AI Thought Leadership

Mastercard Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 138,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

Mastercard in Toronto is seeking a Director, AI Thought Leadership to shape Mastercard’s external and internal narratives on artificial intelligence and data. You will lead research, create flagship content, and guide programs that establish Mastercard as a trusted leader in applied AI.

You will collaborate with AI product, engineering, and marketing teams, coordinate complex publications, and measure program impact across executives, customers, and stakeholders to drive strategic outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience in thought leadership, market research, management consulting, technology research, journalism, publishing, editorial strategy, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of artificial intelligence, machine learning, generative AI, data strategy, responsible AI, and enterprise AI adoption trends.
• Track record producing high-quality research, reports, articles, or executive content for business audiences.
• Effective project and production management, coordinating publications from planning to delivery.

Responsibilities

• Monitor AI and data technologies landscape, identify opportunities and risks for Mastercard and its customers.
• Develop original thought leadership, research, and viewpoints on AI adoption, trust, economy, workforce transformation, and the future of commerce.
• Create flagship content including research reports, whitepapers, executive briefs, articles, presentations, and webinars.
• Lead the end-to-end thought leadership lifecycle from research to publication and refresh.
• Measure the impact of thought leadership programs and improve content effectiveness and engagement.
• Partner with executives and cross-functional teams to deliver leadership programs and activation through speeches, bylines, and events.
• Represent Mastercard at industry events, customer forums, analyst engagements, and external opportunities.

Skills

Thought leadership

Market research

Management consulting

Technology research

Editorial strategy

Writing and storytelling

Project management

Synthesis of information

Executive collaboration

Payments/fintech knowledge

Job description

Title and Summary Director, Global AI Thought Leadership

Our Purpose Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Who is Mastercard?

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

Overview

The AI & Data Office is responsible for the strategy, acquisition, evaluation, and responsible use of AI and data capabilities that power innovation and operations across Mastercard. It defines the enterprise AI and data vision, develops shared capabilities, and helps the business realize value from AI and data responsibly and at scale. The Director, AI Thought Leadership, will report to the Vice President, AI Thought Leadership and partner with AI product, engineering, and SMEs, to cultivate a unified narrative for Mastercard’s AI solutions and position. Within the AI & Data Office, the AI Thought Leadership team shapes Mastercard's internal and external perspective on artificial intelligence and its impact on our business, our customers, and on commerce, business, and society. The team develops original insights, executive narratives, and thought leadership programs that strengthen Mastercard's reputation as a trusted leader in applied AI and execute on Mastercard's AI positioning to strengthen engagement with customers, stakeholders, and employees, and reinforce Mastercard's unique role in the evolving AI landscape.

Role

• Monitor AI and data technologies landscape, their application, and industry trends to identify emerging opportunities, risks, and implications for Mastercard and its customers.
• Develop original thought leadership, research, and points of view on topics such as AI adoption, trust, economy, workforce transformation, and the future of commerce.
• Create flagship content including research reports, whitepapers, executive briefs, articles, presentations, keynote materials, and webinar content, building towards an AI-driven AI content studio.
• Lead the end-to-end thought leadership lifecycle, including research, content development, stakeholder coordination, reviews, approvals, publication, and ongoing content refresh.
• Measure the impact of thought leadership programs and continuously improve content effectiveness, audience engagement, and business outcomes.
• Partner with executives and cross-functional teams across AI & Data, Products, Marketing, and Communications to deliver through leadership programd and activation through speeches, bylines, presentations, customer briefings, executive workshops, facilitation sessions, strategic discussions, and thought leadership programs.
• Represent Mastercard at industry events, customer forums, analyst engagements, and external thought leadership opportunities.

All About You

• Experience in thought leadership, market research, management consulting, technology research, journalism, publishing, editorial strategy, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of artificial intelligence, machine learning, generative AI, agentic systems, data strategy, responsible AI, and enterprise AI adoption trends including evaluating emerging technologies and their business and socio-economic implications
• Track record producing high-quality research, reports, articles, or executive content and translating complex technology topics for business audiences.
• Effective project and production management skills, with experience coordinating complex publications from planning through review, approval, and delivery.
• Strong market research and analytical capabilities, able to synthesize large volumes of information into clear viewpoints.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling abilities, and leading the use of AI tools to accelerate and amplify thought leadership work.
• Experience working with senior executives, technical subject matter experts, communications and marketing.
• Knowledge of payments, technology, financial services, or digital commerce preferred.
• Ability to operate independently in ambiguous and rapidly evolving environments.

Corporate Security Responsibility

• All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:
• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role.

In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail] and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

Pay Ranges

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in Canada, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive pay based on location, experience and other qualifications for the role and may be eligible to participate in a discretionary annual incentive program. This posting reflects one or more current openings on our team.

Pay Ranges Toronto, Canada: $138,000 - $221,000 CAD

Everyone wants easier ways to pay; we invent them. Checkout lines are slow; we speed them along. Merchants want more sales; we give them data and insights. People need financial access; we connect them. Corporate purchasing is complicated; we make it simple. Commuters are busy; we speed them on their way. Governments need greater efficiencies; we help create them. Small businesses are virtual; we give them access to a world of buyers. Retailers want to fight fraud; we provide the tools.