Head of Data & AI
Head of Data and Technology - Amsterdam
About the Opportunity
A leading international financial institution is seeking a Head of Technology, Data & Information Integrity to lead technology strategy, data governance, cybersecurity, operational resilience, and AI adoption across a regulated banking environment.
This is a senior leadership role sitting within the management team, responsible for shaping the future technology operating model while ensuring the organisation remains secure, compliant, resilient, and capable of supporting long-term business growth.
The position combines technology leadership, data strategy, information security, and regulatory oversight. The successful individual will be responsible for defining the technology roadmap, improving operational performance, strengthening governance frameworks, and ensuring technology and data capabilities support both business objectives and regulatory requirements.
This is not a hands-on engineering role. The business is looking for an experienced technology executive who can operate at board and executive level, influence senior stakeholders, and lead large-scale transformation initiatives across a complex regulated environment.
About the Team
The successful candidate will be part of the senior leadership team and will work closely with:
- Board members
- Executive leadership
- Risk and Compliance teams
- Cybersecurity teams
- Data leaders
- Operations leadership
- External regulators
- Global technology stakeholders
The function has responsibility for technology, data, AI governance, information security, operational resilience, and corporate technology services.
The role requires balancing regulatory obligations with commercial priorities while ensuring technology remains an enabler rather than a constraint to the business.
Key Responsibilities
Technology Leadership
- Define and execute the technology strategy
- Shape the long-term technology roadmap
- Lead technology transformation initiatives
- Improve operational efficiency and service performance
- Reduce technical debt across the technology landscape
Data & AI Leadership
- Own the organisation's data strategy
- Improve data governance and data quality frameworks
- Drive data literacy across the business
- Lead AI governance and AI adoption initiatives
- Ensure AI programmes align with regulatory requirements
Risk, Security & Resilience
- Own technology, data and AI risk management
- Strengthen cybersecurity capabilities
- Improve incident response and monitoring functions
- Develop resilient operating models
- Maintain compliance with evolving regulatory requirements
Stakeholder Management
- Partner with senior business leaders
- Communicate technology strategy at executive level
- Influence decision-making across multiple functions
- Align technology priorities with commercial objectives
Governance & Regulatory Oversight
- Ensure compliance with banking regulations
- Maintain strong governance frameworks
- Support regulatory engagement and audits
- Embed risk management practices across technology and data functions
Required Skills & Experience
- Senior technology leadership experience within financial services
- Experience leading large-scale technology organisations
- Strong background in technology strategy and transformation
- Data governance and data quality management experience
- Cybersecurity leadership experience
- Technology risk management expertise
- Experience operating in highly regulated environments
- Strong understanding of operational resilience
- Executive stakeholder management capability
- Experience delivering large-scale organisational change
Regulatory Knowledge
Experience with some or all of the following:
- DORA
- BCBS239
- EU AI Act
- Information security governance
- Data governance frameworks
- Technology risk frameworks
Nice-to-Have Skills
- Capital markets experience
- Trading technology exposure
- International technology leadership experience
- Cloud transformation programmes
- AI strategy ownership
- Enterprise architecture exposure
- Large-scale platform modernisation programmes
- Regulatory relationship management
What Success Looks Like
After 12 months, the successful candidate would likely have:
- Established a clear technology and data strategy
- Increased confidence in technology governance
- Improved cybersecurity maturity
- Reduced technology risk exposure
- Enhanced data quality and governance standards
- Delivered measurable progress on AI initiatives
- Improved operational resilience capabilities
- Built strong relationships with business and regulatory stakeholders
- Increased technology performance while reducing operational inefficiencies
Why Someone Would Join
- Significant executive-level ownership
- Opportunity to influence business strategy
- Visibility across the entire organisation
- Exposure to technology, AI, cybersecurity and data leadership
- Ability to drive meaningful transformation
- Highly strategic and commercially important role
- Strong interaction with executive leadership and regulators
- Opportunity to shape the future technology landscape of a complex financial institution
FAQs
Congratulations, we understand that taking the time to apply is a big step. When you apply, your details go directly to the consultant who is sourcing talent. Due to demand, we may not get back to all applicants that have applied. However, we always keep your resume and details on file so when we see similar roles or see skillsets that drive growth in organizations, we will always reach out to discuss opportunities.
Yes. Even if this role isn’t a perfect match, applying allows us to understand your expertise and ambitions, ensuring you're on our radar for the right opportunity when it arises.
We also work in several ways, firstly we advertise our roles available on our site, however, often due to confidentiality we may not post all. We also work with clients who are more focused on skills and understanding what is required to future-proof their business.
That's why we recommend registering your resume so you can be considered for roles that have yet to be created.
Yes, we help with resume and interview preparation. From customized support on how to optimize your resume to interview preparation and compensation negotiations, we advocate for you throughout your next career move.