Director AI Strategy & Intelligent Automation

Bancorp Bank, The; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bancorp is seeking a Director of AI Strategy & Intelligent Automation to lead the enterprise AI strategy, governance, and delivery across the organization. This executive role drives intelligent automation initiatives that move from task-based automation to predictive, decision-driven operating models in a regulated banking environment.

You will influence executives across technology, risk, finance, and operations to align with enterprise architecture and risk management standards.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in AI, intelligent automation, technology strategy, or related enterprise technology functions.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Owns the enterprise AI and intelligent automation strategy, roadmap, and operating model in alignment with priorities and regulatory expectations.
• Leads prioritization of AI-enabled automation opportunities through governance, business case development, funding alignment, and executive decision forums.
• Provides executive leadership for design and delivery of AI solutions integrating ML, NLP, document intelligence, and decisioning into workflows.
• Oversees a portfolio of intelligent automation use cases including alert triage, document intelligence, predictive exception handling, decision support, knowledge assistants, and workflow orchestration.
• Partners with Technology, Data Science, Operations, Risk, Compliance, Legal, Information Security, and business leaders to operationalize AI in production environments.
• Establishes enterprise standards, reusable frameworks, and controls for AI model integration, orchestration with RPA platforms, cloud services, APIs, LLM capabilities, and scalable delivery.
• Ensures AI solutions meet responsible AI, model risk management, data governance, privacy, cybersecurity, auditability, and regulatory requirements.
• Defines performance metrics and executive reporting to measure productivity, risk reduction, cycle time improvement, and adoption of AI-enabled solutions.
• Builds and leads a high-performing AI and automation capability with mentorship and accountability for delivery quality and readiness.
• Advances AI literacy and change management by translating complex concepts into practical business value and implementation plans.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / Data Science / Engineering / Business / Information Systems, or related field

Job description

Position Summary

At The Bancorp, we've spent more than 25 years driving innovation in the financial services industry. As one of the first banks to embrace fintech, we combine technology, expertise and a forward-looking approach to deliver creative, real-world solutions. We work side by side with our partners to help them grow and innovate with confidence. Across Fintech Solutions, Institutional Banking, Commercial Lending and Real Estate Bridge Lending, we provide the people, processes, technology and banking capabilities that turn bold ideas into outcomes.

Join a team that brings urgency and rigor to every challenge and plays a direct role in driving growth for our clients and the communities we serve.

The Director AI Strategy & Intelligent Automation role is responsible for establishing and leading the enterprise strategy, roadmap, governance, and delivery of AI-enabled automation capabilities across The Bancorp. This role advances the organization from task-based automation to intelligent, predictive, and decision-driven operating models by applying artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, document intelligence, generative AI, agentic workflows, and data-driven decision making to high-value business processes.

This position serves as the enterprise leader and executive sponsor for AI within the Automation program, ensuring that solutions are scalable, secure, measurable, compliant, and aligned with enterprise architecture, model risk management, data governance, information security, vendor risk, and regulatory expectations. The role operates across business, technology, operations, risk, compliance, legal, and data functions, requiring strong executive influence, strategic planning, portfolio leadership, change management, and the ability to translate emerging AI capabilities into practical business outcomes within a regulated banking environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Owns the enterprise AI and intelligent automation strategy, roadmap, and operating model in alignment with business priorities, risk appetite, regulatory expectations, and enterprise transformation objectives.
• Leads prioritization of AI-enabled automation opportunities through intake governance, feasibility assessment, business case development, funding alignment, benefits estimation, and executive decision-making forums.
• Provides executive leadership for the design, architecture, and delivery of enterprise AI solutions that integrate machine learning, NLP, document intelligence, cognitive services, generative AI, and decisioning capabilities into business workflows.
• Oversees a portfolio of intelligent automation use cases, including alert triage, document intelligence, predictive exception handling, decision support, knowledge assistants, workflow orchestration, and agentic AI-enabled process improvement.
• Partners cross-functionally with Technology, Data Science, Operations, Risk, Compliance, Legal, Information Security, Financial Crimes, and business leaders to operationalize AI solutions in production environments.
• Establishes enterprise standards, reusable frameworks, controls, and best practices for AI model integration, orchestration with RPA platforms, cloud-based AI services, APIs, LLM-enabled capabilities, and scalable automation delivery.
• Ensures AI solutions meet responsible AI, model risk management, data governance, privacy, cybersecurity, auditability, third-party risk, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Evaluates, selects, and governs AI technologies, automation platforms, implementation partners, and vendors in accordance with enterprise architecture, procurement, legal, risk, and compliance standards.
• Defines performance metrics, value realization methods, and executive reporting to measure productivity improvement, risk reduction, cycle-time improvement, cost optimization, quality enhancement, and adoption of AI-enabled solutions.
• Builds, develops, and leads a high-performing AI and automation capability, providing direction, mentorship, talent development, and accountability for delivery quality and organizational readiness.
• Advances AI literacy, adoption, and change management across the enterprise by translating complex technical concepts into practical business value, controls, and implementation plans.
• Represents the Automation program in governance forums, executive updates, audit or regulatory reviews, vendor assessments, strategic planning activities, and cross-functional decision-making forums, as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Business, Information Systems, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 12+ years of experience in AI, intelligent automation, technology strategy, digital transformation, data science, advanced analytics, or related enterprise technology functions.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing cross-functional teams, enterprise