Director of Data and AI

Castle Trust Group; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus up to 25%

Pension

Life Assurance

Holiday buy/sell

Volunteer day

Private healthcare

EAP access

Gym discounts

Season ticket loans

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Castle Trust Bank is seeking an experienced Director of Data & AI to define and deliver the Bank's data strategy, turning data into a trusted business asset while enabling the responsible adoption of AI.

This role, based in Basingstoke with occasional travel to London, is hybrid: 3 days in the office and 2 days at home. You will lead data platforms, governance and analytics while partnering with executives to drive growth and improve customer outcomes.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in Data, Analytics or AI within financial services or a similarly regulated environment.
• Proven experience delivering data strategy, data platform modernisation and analytics capabilities.
• Strong understanding of data governance, AI governance and regulatory expectations.
• Ability to translate technical capability into clear commercial outcomes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills at Executive and Board level.
• Strong leadership capability with experience building and developing teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver the Bank's Data & AI strategy aligned to business growth plans.
• Lead the development of data platforms, architecture, governance and analytics capabilities.
• Drive the adoption of AI across the organisation, delivering measurable business value.
• Establish robust governance to ensure data and AI are used responsibly within a regulated environment.
• Provide strategic insight and management information to support decision-making across the Bank.
• Lead and develop a high-performing data function, spanning data engineering, governance, business intelligence and analytics.

Skills

Data & AI leadership

Data governance

AI governance

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Analytics capabilities

Job description

"Transform data into commercial value and shape the future of AI at Castle Trust Bank."

At Castle Trust Bank, we pride ourselves on being a fintech challenger bank, providing specialist property mortgages, retail finance lending and savings accounts to a wide range of customers.

Director of Data & AI

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Data & AI to define and deliver the Bank's data and AI strategy, helping turn data into a trusted business asset while enabling the responsible adoption of AI across the organisation.

This role is based in Basingstoke, with some travel to London, on a hybrid basis with 3 days in the office and 2 days at home.

What you'll lead and deliver

Reporting to the Chief Technology & Operations Officer, you will lead the Bank's data and AI agenda, working closely with Executive and Board stakeholders to support growth, innovation and better customer outcomes.

Data & AI Leadership

• Define and deliver the Bank's Data & AI strategy aligned to business growth plans.
• Lead the development of data platforms, architecture, governance and analytics capabilities.
• Drive the adoption of AI across the organisation, delivering measurable business value.
• Establish robust governance to ensure data and AI are used responsibly within a regulated environment.
• Provide strategic insight and management information to support decision-making across the Bank.
• Lead and develop a high-performing data function, spanning data engineering, governance, business intelligence and analytics.

What you’ll bring

• Significant leadership experience in Data, Analytics or AI within financial services or a similarly regulated environment.
• Proven experience delivering data strategy, data platform modernisation and analytics capabilities.
• Strong understanding of data governance, AI governance and regulatory expectations.
• Ability to translate technical capability into clear commercial outcomes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills at Executive and Board level.
• Strong leadership capability with experience building and developing teams.

Why join Castle Trust Bank?

As well as taking on a high-profile leadership role, you'll have the opportunity to shape how data and AI support the Bank's future growth, influence strategic investment decisions and play a key role in our ongoing technology transformation.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Annual performance bonus (up to 25% of base salary, based on individual and company performance)
• Generous contributory pension through Hargreaves Lansdown
• Life Assurance
• 28 days' holiday + option to buy/sell (up to maximum of 30 days' per year)
• Additional paid volunteering day
• Private healthcare through BUPA
• Free access to BHSF Rise EAP to support colleague health and wellbeing
• Gym discounts
• Season ticket travel loans (if applicable)
• A supportive, inclusive culture where your work has real impact