Managing Director, Head of Data, Storage and Middleware Services

Citi; Irving (TX); On-site; USD 250,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

Citi is seeking a transformative Head of Data Services to design, deliver, and manage foundational data capabilities underpinning the firm’s future. The role leads data modelling standards, platform design, and architecture strategy to enable AI and advanced analytics across the organization.

The executive will manage large, multi‑team groups, influence senior stakeholders, and drive commercial outcomes through data management excellence in a global financial services environment.

Qualifications

• 20+ years in data and system architecture with senior leadership experience.
• Proven track record delivering large‑scale data platforms in complex, global environments.
• Strong knowledge of data governance, security, and privacy frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the firm‑wide Data Services strategy, covering databases, big data, and cloud data platforms.
• Lead enterprise data architecture design, data modelling standards, and data lineage.
• Oversee data engineering, analytics, and AI/ML data infrastructure to support AI initiatives.
• Manage multiple teams of senior professionals and influence senior stakeholders.
• Drive cross‑functional partnerships with technology heads, CISOs, and CIO‑level leaders.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Data architecture

Stakeholder management

AI/ML data platforms

Cloud & on‑prem data platforms

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

SQL databases

NoSQL

Hadoop

Databricks

Snowflake

DBaaS

Data lakes

Job description

This 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 - $500,000.00

In addition to salary, Citi’s offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards.

Benefits

• 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.

Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

Automated Processing and AI

We use automated processing, including artificial intelligence, for our legitimate business interests (or our reasonable and appropriate business purposes) to identify and align the candidate's skills and abilities with a specific job opening. Additionally, if you so choose, or consent, we can match your skills and abilities to other suitable roles at Citi.

Importantly, all our hiring processes and decisions, including determining your suitability for a role, are conducted, checked, and decided by individuals. Our automated processing and AI do not involve relying on automatic or autonomous decision‑making. Please refer to any Jurisdictional Considerations, with specific provisions for your country (where relevant) for further details.

Illinois residents – AI Notice and Right

We use automated processing, including artificial intelligence, for our legitimate business interests (or our reasonable and appropriate business purposes) to identify and align the candidate's skills and abilities with a specific job opening.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi.

View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.