Director, AI Acceleration, Business Strategy (PL)

Charles Schwab; Westlake (TX); On-site; USD 260,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Employee stock purchase plan

Paid sabbatical

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Health insurance

Job summary

Charles Schwab is seeking a Director to lead the AI Acceleration function, translating strategy into measurable outcomes across the firm. You’ll oversee end-to-end execution, partner with AI Strategy, Technology, Data, Risk, Legal, Finance and HR to accelerate adoption of AI across businesses.

You will build and lead a high-performing team, manage the firmwide AI product roadmap, establish governance for risk and compliance, and report progress to executives.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in financial services or a regulated industry.
• Experience leading large-scale transformation programs, including AI, tech, data, analytics or digital transformations.
• Strong knowledge of the AI landscape, including tools, vendors, and trends.
• Experience operating at the intersection of business and technology leadership.
• Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives in large enterprise environments.
• Experience designing, implementing, and managing risk governance processes in regulated industries.
• Experience negotiating and managing complex agreements with AI and technology providers.
• Strong program leadership skills, with ability to manage large, interdependent portfolios of work.
• Excellent executive communication skills, including ability to convey complex technical concepts in business terms.
• Strong understanding of enterprise technology architectures, data platforms, and AI ecosystems.
• Experience overseeing both product-oriented teams and platform / enablement functions.
• Ability to balance strategic vision with execution focus.
• Strong stakeholder management and influence across executive leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead multiple high-performing teams and juggle numerous conflicting priorities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a high-performing AI Acceleration team, fostering collaboration across AI Strategy, AI Program, Technology, Data, Cybersecurity, Product, Risk, Legal, Finance and HR.
• Manage the firmwide roadmap for the highest priority AI products / use cases across the company.
• Partner with executive leadership to shape how enterprises deliver their AI strategies and required AI infrastructure.
• Build out the functions that will help Schwab accelerate and scale delivery of business impact from AI.
• Ensure governance frameworks are designed and implemented across AI initiatives, including model risk, compliance and responsible AI.
• Provide executive-level reporting on AI progress, risks, and outcomes.
• Partner with external technology providers and lead negotiations for enterprise AI and data-related agreements.
• Ensure coordination and integration of AI platforms, tooling, and data capabilities across the organization.

Skills

Executive communication

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

AI strategy

Stakeholder management

Risk governance

Negotiation

Program leadership

Enterprise architecture

Job description

Your opportunity

We believe in the importance of in-office collaboration and fully intend for the selected candidate for this role to work on site in the specified location(s).

At Schwab, you’re empowered to make an impact on your career. Here, innovative thought meets creative problem solving, helping us challenge the status quo and transform the finance industry together.

The Strategy & Innovation organization, led by the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, is responsible for corporate strategy, strategic planning and programs, innovation, and AI across the business. The organization partners with executive leadership and business units to

shape Schwab’s direction and drive high-priority, cross-enterprise initiatives.

Within Strategy & Innovation, the AI Strategy, Acceleration and Program team (ASAP) helps shape, organize, and accelerate Schwab’s AI goals in close partnership with enterprises/businesses, technology, and data teams.

We are seeking a Director to lead the AI Acceleration function that is responsible for translating AI strategy into measurable business outcomes. The team includes leaders that run functions (e.g., AI firm-wide product roadmap, cross-enterprise platform partnerships with AI providers, AI risk governance) that allow Schwab to accelerate and scale the use of AI across the businesses. The Director will oversee the firm’s end-to-end AI execution model – from concept acceleration to enterprise-scale enablement. The Director will report to the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer.

This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who can bring structure to ambiguity, connect strategy to execution, and help senior stakeholders make better decisions. The ideal candidate should have a track record of accomplishment in AI, technology, data or analytics in a leading financial services company. They should have led large-scale transformation initiatives such as managing AI and digital products, extracting business value from underlying technology and data assets, and leveraging analytics and AI to power revenue growth, operational efficiency, and client experience.

You will:

• Develop and lead a high-performing AI Acceleration team, fostering strong collaboration across functions including AI Strategy, AI Program, Technology, Data, Cybersecurity, Product, Risk, Legal, Finance and HR
• Manage the firmwide roadmap for the highest priority AI products / use case across the company. Drive alignment across AI products for efficient and coordinated delivery
• Partner with executive leadership to shape how enterprises think about delivering their AI strategies, and ensuring the technical teams understand what AI enablement / infrastructure is required to accelerate their AI strategies
• Build out the functions that will help Schwab accelerate and scale delivery of business impact from AI
• Ensure effective governance frameworks are designed and implemented across AI initiatives, including model risk, compliance, supervision and responsible AI
• Provide executive-level reporting on AI progress, risks, and outcomes
• Partner with external technology providers and lead negotiations for enterprise AI and data-related agreements with strategic AI partners
• Ensure coordination and integration of AI platforms, tooling, and data capabilities across the organization

What you have

Required Qualifications:

• 15+ years of experience in financial services or another highly regulated industry
• Significant experience leading large-scale transformation programs, including AI, technology, data, analytics or digital transformations
• Strong knowledge of the AI landscape, including tools, vendors, and emerging trends
• Experience operating at the intersection of business and technology leadership
• Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives in large enterprise environments
• Significant experience designing, implementing, and managing risk governance processes in regulated industries
• Experience negotiating and managing complex agreements with AI and technology providers
• Strong program leadership skills, with ability to manage large, interdependent portfolios of work
• Excellent executive communication skills, including ability to convey complex technical concepts in business terms
• Strong understanding of enterprise technology architectures, data platforms, and AI ecosystems
• Experience overseeing both product-oriented teams and platform / enablement functions
• Ability to balance strategic vision with execution focus
• Strong stakeholder management and influence across executive leadership
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead multiple high-performing teams and juggle numerous conflicting priorities

What’s in it for you

At Schwab, you’re empowered to shape your future. We champion your growth through meaningful work, continuous learning, and a culture of trust and collaboration—so you can build the skills to make a lasting impact. Our Hybrid Work and Flexibility approach balances our ongoing commitment to workplace flexibility, serving our clients, and our strong belief in the value of being together in person on a regular basis.

We offer a competitive benefits package that takes care of the whole you – both today and in the future:

• 401(k) with company match and Employee stock purchase plan
• Paid time for vacation, volunteering, and 28-day sabbatical after every 5 years of service for eligible positions
• Paid parental leave and family building benefits
• Tuition reimbursement
• Health, dental, and vision insurance