Director, Project Management (AI)

Mastercard; Purchase (NY); On-site; USD 164,000 - 271,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k with company match

Paid time off

Parental leave (16 weeks)

Bereavement leave (20 days)

Job summary

Mastercard in Purchase, NY seeks a Director of Project Management (AI) to lead Finance AI initiatives, shaping roadmaps, governance, and value realization. You will coordinate across Finance, GBSC Tech, AI CoE and other partners, delivering executive-ready updates and measurable outcomes while driving scalable operating models and disciplined use case intake.

The role requires strong executive communication and stakeholder management to steer multiple workstreams through ambiguity toward defined

Qualifications

• Experience leading large-scale, cross-functional transformation programs.
• Ability to establish program governance, operating rhythms, decision forums, escalation paths and executive communications.
• Proven track record with AI, data, or digital transformation initiatives.
• Excellent presentation skills with data-backed, visuals-forward narratives for senior leadership.
• Ability to operate in ambiguity and drive results through influence.

Responsibilities

• Lead project and program management for Finance AI initiatives, including governance and value realization tracking.
• Establish governance structures, steering committees, and executive reporting standards.
• Translate strategic priorities into executable roadmaps, milestones, and measurable outcomes.
• Coordinate across Finance, GBSC Tech, AI CoE, AI Governance and other partners.
• Develop executive-ready status updates, dashboards, and decision materials.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Governance & reporting

Job description

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.

Title And Summary

Director, Project Management (AI)

Role

• Lead project and program management for Finance AI initiatives, including AI literacy, idea intake and prioritization, quick-win use cases, priority pilots, and value realization tracking.
• Establish and manage program governance structures, including steering committee routines, working team cadences, decision logs, RAID management, escalation paths, and executive reporting standards.
• Partner with Finance leadership and executive sponsors to translate strategic priorities into executable roadmaps, delivery plans, milestones, and measurable outcomes.
• Coordinate across Finance, GBSC Tech, AI / Automation, AI CoE, AI Governance, Risk, Data, Controls, and other partners to ensure initiatives are appropriately shaped, governed, and executed.
• Develop, run, and distribute executive-ready status updates, dashboards, decision materials, and progress reports that clearly communicate scope, progress, risks, dependencies, decisions needed, and business value.
• Drive cross-functional alignment across complex stakeholder groups, proactively identifying blockers, managing tradeoffs, resolving issues, and keeping workstreams moving toward agreed outcomes.
• Support disciplined use case intake, prioritization, pilot planning, benefits tracking, and scale / stop decisions to ensure AI opportunities are aligned to Finance priorities and responsible AI expectations.
• Provide insights to enhance processes, tooling, governance routines, and delivery practices, with a focus on scalable operating models and continuous improvement.
• Perform analysis and assessment activities to provide stakeholders with timely updates, actionable recommendations, and clear visibility into program health.
• Regularly communicate with senior and executive leadership regarding program status, risks, decisions, dependencies, and progress against expected outcomes.

All About You

• Experience leading large-scale, cross-functional transformation programs in complex, matrixed organizations.
• Strong project and program management experience, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple workstreams, executive stakeholders, dependencies, risks, and delivery milestones.
• Proven ability to establish program governance, operating rhythms, decision forums, escalation paths, status reporting, and executive-level communications.
• Excellent executive communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information into concise, data-backed, visually clear narratives for senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in ambiguity, bring structure to complex initiatives, manage competing priorities, and drive results through influence rather than authority.
• Experience working on AI, automation, data, digital transformation, finance transformation, or technology-enabled business change initiatives preferred.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted partnerships across Finance, Technology, Risk, Governance, Operations, and senior leadership teams.
• Experience evaluating business processes and advising on ways to streamline operations, improve controls, increase efficiency, and enable scalable ways of working.
• Strong understanding of project risk management, issue resolution, business process assessment, benefits tracking, and change management.
• Expert presenter using data, visuals, and storytelling to communicate project status, risks, decisions, and value to various audiences, including executive stakeholders.
• Professional services, consulting, PMO, transformation office, or enterprise program leadership experience a plus.
• Experience analyzing operational or program data to support business decisions and drive continuous improvement, including process design, system optimization, and measurable value realization.

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.

Corporate Security Responsibility

• 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.

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.

Pay Ranges

O'Fallon, Missouri: $143,000 - $236,000 USD

Purchase, New York: $164,000 - $271,000 USD