Managing Director, Head of Data Services

Citibank (Switzerland) AG; Irving (TX); On-site; Confidential; Full time

Job summary

Citibank (Switzerland) AG in Irving, TX seeks a Managing Director, Data Services – Head of Data Architecture to lead firm-wide data strategy and platforms. You will design enterprise data architecture, govern data assets, and enable AI initiatives across on-prem and cloud environments.

The role requires deep hands-on experience with databases, data governance, and large-scale data platforms, plus strong leadership across global teams and senior stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of hands-on Data and System Architecture experience in leadership roles.
• Proven track record designing large-scale data platforms for global enterprises.
• Expert knowledge of data modelling, governance, security, and architecture standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the comprehensive Data Services strategy for the firm.
• Design an enterprise-wide data architecture spanning on-prem and cloud.
• Lead and mentor senior teams, manage stakeholder relationships, and drive delivery.
• Enable AI initiatives by delivering robust, scalable data platforms.

Skills

Data architecture

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Cloud architecture

Data governance

AI/data analytics enablement

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Databases (SQL/NoSQL)

Big Data platforms (Hadoop)

Databricks

Snowflake

Job description

## Managing Director, Data Services – Head of Data ArchitectureApplylocations: Irving Texas United Statestime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Todaytime left to apply: End Date: October 11, 2026 (30+ days left to apply)job requisition id: 26961293This senior leadership role is situated within the **CTS Data Services group**, a global team of over 2,000 professionals. This group is a key division of **Cloud Technology Services**, which has a global workforce of more than 8,000 people, and is part of the broader **Technology and Business Enablement (T&BE)** organization.The CTI Data Services group is the central organization tasked with defining and executing the firm-wide data strategy. The group engineers, certifies, and operates core data platforms for the bank, including databases, data lakes (on-prem and in public cloud), messaging infrastructures, data analytics and reporting tools and Citi’s AI infrastructure.**Position Summary**The Head of Data Services will be a transformative leader responsible for designing, delivering, and managing the foundational data capabilities that will underpin the firm's future. This executive will lead the creation of data modelling standards, oversee the firm's overall data platform design, and direct the data architecture strategy. A key focus of this role is enabling the firm's Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy by providing the robust data platforms required for advanced analytics and machine learning.This position requires a leader with comprehensive, hands-on experience in a wide array of data technologies, a deep understanding of data architecture theory and practice, and a proven track record of implementing large-scale designs in the financial services industry. The successful candidate will manage multiple teams of senior professionals, influence a wide range of senior stakeholders, and drive the firm's commercial objectives through strategic data management.**Key Responsibilities****Strategic & Architectural Leadership:*** Develop and execute the comprehensive Data Services strategy for the firm, encompassing relational databases, big data, middleware, data curation, and security both on-prem and in public cloud.* Design a large-scale, enterprise-wide data architecture that covers all aspects of data management, data governance, data backup, retention and data security.* Define and select implementation methodologies, platforms, and technologies for system build-out and integration.* Lead the design of foundational data capabilities, including data warehousing, data lineage, data transformation, document management, public/private cloud storage, and data analytics.* Drive innovation by leading the prototyping and execution of proof-of-concepts for new technologies and platforms.* Enable the firm's Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy by architecting and delivering robust, scalable data platforms to support advanced analytics and machine learning initiatives.**Management & Execution:*** Manage a large, multi-layered architectural function, leading teams of senior professionals through other senior managers.* Assume full management responsibility, including strategic workforce planning, performance counselling, career development, and compensation decisions.* Oversee the full spectrum of the group's activities, from Product Strategy, Architecture, and Engineering to Automation and Quality Assurance.* Direct the service offerings of the group, including Enterprise Analytic Services (EAP), Big Data platforms (Hadoop), Database as a Service (DBaaS), and public cloud data platforms (Databricks, Snowflake).* Provide significant business management oversight, strategically planning and managing headcount, productivity, and investment across all services.**Stakeholder Engagement & Influence:*** Act as a key influencer, advising senior leaders across technology and data management on architectural patterns and strategic decisions.* Foster key partnerships with technology heads in ICG and GCB, the CISO, peers across the CIO organization, and other CTI Enterprise organizations.* Lead internal and external negotiations that have a major impact on the managed area and the organization.* Document and communicate models and designs using formal industry standards (e.g., UML, OCL, RDF, ERD).**Required Qualifications & Experience*** **20+ years of hands-on experience in a Data and System Architecture role**, with a significant portion in a senior technology engineering and leadership capacity.* **Extensive Experience:** Proven track record in the design and implementation of large-scale, mission-critical data platforms within the Financial Services industry or a similarly complex, global environment.* **Expert-Level Technical Knowledge:** Deep, hands-on experience with a broad range of data platform technologies, including: + **Databases:** SQL, NoSQL, In-Memory Databases, Graph Databases (e.g., Oracle, MSSQL, MongoDB). + **Big Data & Analytics:** Hadoop ecosystem, messaging middleware, search engines, and data analytic platforms. + **Cloud:** On-premises, public, and private cloud data platform design and implementation. + **Storage Engineering:** In-depth understanding of file, block and object storage architecture and management, including data backups, retention and media management. + **Standards:** In-depth understanding of object-oriented, semantic web, and relational data modelling standards and practices.* **Data Governance & Security:** In-depth knowledge of data privacy rules, data security implementations, and data entitlement frameworks.* **Industry Acumen:** Deep knowledge of how technology integrates within a large enterprise and a strong awareness of direct competitors' products and services.**Leadership & Management Competencies*** **Exceptional Leadership:** An outcome-oriented engineering leader with a successful track record of executing and delivering results, and the ability to build, mentor, and lead a cohesive team capable of succession to more senior roles.* **Culture Carrier:** An advocate for a strong engineering culture with a focus on attracting, developing, and retaining expert talent from leading global organizations.* **Stakeholder Influence:** Ability to engage, influence, and build working relationships with stakeholders at all levels, from technical developers to the savviest business and executive leaders.* **Strategic & Creative Thinker:** A thought leader with the ability to exercise evaluative judgment in complex situations and contribute to strategic decisions that impact the overall technology function, including planning, budgeting, and policy setting.* **Adaptability:** Proven ability to manage multiple activities with changing priorities, work under pressure to meet tight deadlines, and take ownership of complex initiatives.* **Risk & Regulatory Acumen:** Must possess a strong understanding of risk and regulatory processes and be able to appropriately assess compliance risk when making business decisions.**Education*** Bachelor's/University degree or equivalent experience is required.* An advanced degree (Master's, Ph.D.) is preferred but not required.------------------------------------------------------## **Job Family Group:**Technology------------------------------------------------------## **Job Family:**Systems & Engineering------------------------------------------------------## **Time Type:**Full time------------------------------------------------------## **Primary Location:**Irving Texas United States------------------------------------------------------## **Primary Location Full Time Salary Range:**$250,000.00 - $500,000.00In addition to salary, Citi’s offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.