Managing Director, Global Head, AI Experimentation & Partnerships

Standard Chartered Bank; Singapore; On-site; SGD 450,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

Comprehensive compensation & benefits

Job summary

Standard Chartered seeks a visionary Managing Director, Global Head of AI Experimentation & Partnerships, to lead AI innovation globally from Singapore or Hong Kong. You will steer the systematic exploration, validation, and scaling of AI capabilities, aligning with strategic objectives while embedding initiatives into operations.

This role balances disruption with prudence across regulatory frameworks. You will monitor AI trends, guide investment priorities, and drive an adaptable innovation

Qualifications

• Extensive experience applying AI technologies in commercial contexts.
• Hands-on experience managing AI experimentation or innovation programs.
• Deep familiarity with AI ecosystems including foundation models and hyperscalers.
• Experience building collaborations with technology providers, universities, and industry bodies.
• Experience in regulated sectors such as financial services, with risk and compliance awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic AI experimentation and partnerships program globally.
• Develop and execute an AI innovation roadmap aligned with business goals.
• Build and govern strategic AI partnerships with fintechs, academia, and providers.
• Oversee cross-functional teams to pilot, validate, and scale AI use cases.
• Provide senior leadership with AI investment priorities and portfolio governance.

Skills

AI strategy

Innovation leadership

Ecosystem partnerships

Strategic investment governance

Portfolio management

Regulatory awareness

Tools

AI platforms

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking a visionary and strategic leader to join us as the Managing Director, Global Head of AI Experimentation & Partnerships, based in Singapore or Hong Kong. This critical role sits at the intersection of innovation, technology, and business transformation, tasking you with leading the bank’s endeavors in leveraging artificial intelligence to revolutionise banking services globally.

You will be responsible for guiding the systematic exploration, validation, and successful scaling of AI capabilities that align with the bank's strategic objectives. This involves implementing a rigorous experimentation framework, engaging cross-functional teams, and ensuring new AI initiatives are embedded robustly into operations. Your leadership will be instrumental in fostering an innovation culture that balances disruption with prudence, anticipating technological advances while embracing ethical and regulatory imperatives.

Strategic Leadership and Future Readiness

• Monitor and analyse global AI trends, regulatory shifts, and emerging technologies to inform strategic direction.
• Evaluate risks and opportunities from AI advancements, ensuring the bank remains competitive and compliant.
• Provide insightful guidance to senior leadership on AI investment priorities and innovation portfolio management.
• Develop an adaptable AI innovation roadmap promoting sustainable growth, operational excellence, and market leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Ecosystem and Strategic Partnerships

• Build and nurture dynamic partnerships with fintech innovators, academic researchers, technology providers, and consortiums to co-develop cutting-edge AI solutions.
• Design and lead a partnership strategy that aligns with enterprise-wide AI goals, fostering collaborative innovation and knowledge exchange.
• Identify novel external capabilities to bolster the bank’s AI portfolio and competitive advantage.
• Represent the bank in key AI industry forums, driving thought leadership and influencing standards.

Partnership Strategy and Commercial Governance

• Lead the end-to-end process of identifying, negotiating, and governing strategic AI partnerships to ensure alignment with business imperatives.
• Oversee transparent commercial governance frameworks, balancing ecosystem collaboration with robust risk and compliance controls.
• Facilitate seamless integration of external AI partners with internal technology and operations teams.
• Guide investment decisions and contract negotiations to maximise strategic and financial returns from AI collaborations.

Applied Innovation and Capability Incubation

• Develop and operationalise a structured innovation methodology for piloting and validating AI use cases, with clear success criteria and scaling pathways.
• Lead cross-business and technology teams in agile experimentation initiatives, fostering an environment of continuous learning and rapid iteration.
• Ensure effective transition of validated AI pilots into scalable, enterprise-grade solutions.
• Champion the dissemination of AI insights and best practices across the organisation to drive widespread adoption and capability uplift.
• Identify and advocate for transformative AI opportunities that enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.

Full-time role based in office with an expectation to collaborate extensively across teams and external partners.

This leadership position includes responsibility for managing and developing diverse teams across multiple locations, fostering a culture of inclusion and collaboration.

Skills and Experience

• Extensive experience applying AI technologies in commercial contexts, including end-to-end management of AI project lifecycles from concept through deployment and scaling.
• Robust analytical skills with proven use of AI-driven customer analytics and business intelligence tools to support data-informed strategic decisions.
• Financial acumen to evaluate and build compelling business cases for AI investment, ensuring alignment of technological capabilities with measurable business outcomes.
• Deep understanding of AI ecosystems, including knowledge of foundation model architectures, cloud service providers (hyperscalers), and cutting-edge AI platforms and tools.
• Demonstrated ability to manage balanced portfolios of AI innovation initiatives, optimising risk versus reward and integrating emerging technologies sensibly into existing frameworks.

Our Ideal Candidate

• Proven track record of over 15 years in leadership roles focused on innovation strategy, digital transformation, and enterprise technology partnerships.
• Hands‑on experience managing AI experimentation or innovation programs, particularly within fast‑evolving technology landscapes.
• In‑depth familiarity with AI ecosystems including foundation models, hyperscale platforms, and emergent AI technologies, alongside awareness of their strategic business impacts.
• Strong experience establishing and nurturing collaborations with technology providers, universities, and industry bodies to co‑create innovative AI solutions.
• Preferably seasoned within regulated sectors such as financial services, with sound understanding of compliance, risk, and ethical frameworks.
• Exceptional strategic thinker, comfortable operating amidst ambiguity and complexity, with the ability to translate insights into actionable and scalable outcomes.

About Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered is a leading international banking group, steeped in over 170 years of history and a strong commitment to making a lasting positive impact for clients and communities worldwide. We pride ourselves on an agile culture that values challenge, encourages creativity, and celebrates diversity. Our mission to drive commerce and prosperity is realised through our inclusive values and behaviours.

We champion integrity and client-centricity in every initiative, striving relentlessly for improvement and innovation while maintaining simplicity. Being better together means fostering an environment where everyone's unique perspective is respected, enabling individuals to reach their full potential in an inclusive and collaborative atmosphere.

• Integrity and Client Focus: Upholding the highest ethical standards and prioritising client needs above all.
• Continuous Improvement: Embracing innovation and learning from experiences to keep advancing.
• Collaborative Culture: Encouraging teamwork and diversity of thought to build long‑term success.

What we offer

At Standard Chartered, we offer a comprehensive remuneration package aligned with our Fair Pay Charter, designed to support your overall wellbeing and professional development.

• Competitive Salary and Benefits: Including core bank-funded retirement savings, comprehensive medical and life insurance, with flexible benefits tailored to local markets.
• Generous Time‑Off Policies: Encompassing paid annual leave, up to 20 weeks parental/maternity leave, sabbatical options up to 12 months, and volunteering leave, ensuring work‑life balance.
• Flexible Working Arrangements: Supporting a hybrid approach balancing office presence with remote work, tailored to team and role requirements.
• Wellbeing Support Programs: Access to Unmind digital wellbeing platform, resilience training, mental health resources, Employee Assistance Programmes, and dedicated mental health first‑aiders.
• Lifelong Learning Culture: Opportunities to engage in reskilling, upskilling, and continuous learning through diverse, accessible training formats.
• Inclusive and Values‑Driven Environment: Committed to celebrating diversity and fostering an atmosphere where all colleagues can thrive and contribute their unique talents.