Head of AI and Analytics Strategy and Exploration

• The ideal candidate brings a strong track record in strategy and exploration, with 5–10 years of relevant experience and a solid commercial grounding in AI and Analytics within the financial services industry
• Beyond experience, the role requires the ability to navigate ambiguity, shape direction, and translate innovation into meaningful outcomes for Swift and its community
• They combine disciplined execution with strategic vision, and demonstrate curiosity, foresight, and a genuine passion for applying emerging technologies to complex, real-world challenges at global scale
• Track record of translating technical capability into business outcomes including revenue growth, operational efficiency, and risk reduction
• 10+ years in data, analytics, or AI roles, with at least 3 to 5 years at a senior or leadership level
• Demonstrated experience setting AI or analytics strategy in a complex, enterprise environment, shaping direction and building the case for investment, not just delivering projects
• Comfortable operating in a matrixed organisation, influencing without direct authority across product, engineering, commercial, and senior leadership teams
• Understanding of data infrastructure fundamentals — pipelines, governance, and data quality — as a prerequisite to realising AI value at scale
• Background in or alongside consulting, advisory, or product strategy functions
• Preferred Qualifications
• Familiarity with agentic AI architectures, multi-model orchestration, and emerging AI infrastructure patterns
• Working knowledge of modern AI and ML approaches including classical ML, large language models, and agentic systems, with sound judgement on when each is appropriate
• Commercial exposure: having owned or influenced a P&L, shaped a product, or worked directly with enterprise clients on AI adoption
• Exposure to the SWIFT ecosystem or equivalent — correspondent banking, ISO 20022, sanctions screening — would meaningfully accelerate onboarding
• Experience working in or closely with financial services, payments, or infrastructure-adjacent sectors, with a strong understanding of industry dynamics, regulatory environments, and client expectations
• Hands-on background in data science, ML, or software engineering earlier in career, lending credibility with technical teams and sharpening build-versus-buy instincts
• Deep familiarity with regulated AI deployment including governance frameworks, explainability requirements, and vendor risk management
• Strong external network across AI research, fintech, or financial standards bodies
• Sufficient depth to interrogate technical proposals, assess feasibility, and hold vendors and partners accountable
• Don’t meet every single requirement? At Swift, we are dedicated to building a workplace where people can bring their full selves and ideas to the team, so if you are excited about this role, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every single qualification

Key responsibilities

• Shaping and defining the AI and Analytics strategy for Swift, ensuring the organization has the vision and capability to lead in the age of AI.
• Identifying and developing high-value opportunities, driving experimentation through to validated outcomes, and building a balanced portfolio of bets that reflects both near-term commercial reality and longer-term ambition.
• Building and maintaining relationships with key external stakeholders, representing Swift as a credible voice on AI strategy in industry forums and client conversations.