Senior VP / First VP, Programs Management Office (PMO) for AI, Data Analytics & Digital Assets, Innovation Group

About UOB

United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB) is a leading bank in Asia with a global network of more than 500 branches and offices in 19 countries and territories in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. In Asia, we operate through our head office in Singapore and banking subsidiaries in China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, as well as branches and offices. Our history spans more than 80 years. Over this time, we have been guided by our values – Honorable, Enterprising, United and Committed. This means we always strive to do what is right, build for the future, work as one team and pursue long-term success. It is how we work, consistently, be it towards the company, our colleagues or our customers.

Job Description

Job Summary

Reporting to the Head Innovation Strategy and Planning, the SVP, AIDA (AI & Data Analytics) & Digital Assets PMO is a senior enterprise transformation executive leader responsible for orchestrating and accelerating UOB’s most critical AI‑, data‑, digital asset‑, and platform‑driven initiatives across the bank. This role sits at the centre of the Innovation Group’s high‑impact programs management unit, overseeing multiple concurrent, cross‑domain initiatives that cut across business lines, technology platforms, risk, data, and operations.

The role operates as a rapid‑response transformation and programs management unit, deploying into priority problem areas, diagnosing structural and systemic issues, and delivering end‑to‑end remediation from strategy through prototype and production rollout. The incumbent will design and operationalise future‑ready, enterprise‑grade services leveraging UOB’s core platforms in AI/ML, data & analytics, workflow automation, APIs/microservices, blockchain, tokenisation, and digital asset capabilities.

Beyond delivery, this role is foundational in shaping UOB’s evolution into a network platform organization where products, channels, partners, data, and technology converge to deliver intelligent, interoperable, and scalable services. The SVP will institutionalise repeatable blueprints, accelerators, and governance models that enable the bank to scale innovation safely, consistently, and at speed across markets.

Success in this role requires a rare combination of enterprise systems thinking, deep technology fluency, strong execution discipline, and executive‑level stakeholder leadership, with the ability to operate credibly across business, engineering, risk, compliance, and external ecosystems.

Mission & Impact

• Accelerate UOB’s enterprise transformation by converting complex, cross‑domain challenges into scalable, production‑ready solutions.
• Institutionalise reusable architectures, operating models, and accelerators that reduce time‑to‑value across markets.
• Strengthen UOB’s platform, ecosystem, and digital asset capabilities while ensuring regulatory, risk, and governance alignment.
• Build organisational muscle in rapid innovation, modern engineering, and data‑driven decision‑making.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead Rapid‑Response Enterprise Transformation Engagements

• Serve as programs manager and part of a high‑impact transformation unit deployed into priority business, operational, or platform problem areas.
• Define clear engagement models, triage mechanisms, success metrics, and operating cadence for intervention‑based delivery.
• Lead structured diagnostic cycles, including root‑cause analysis, process mining, systems and data flow mapping, stakeholder interviews, and evidence‑based assessments.
• Translate insights into actionable remediation plans, delivering solutions end‑to‑end—from assessment to prototype, pilot, and enterprise rollout—within compressed timelines.
• Apply strong analytical, systems thinking, and executive communication skills to drive clarity and alignment in ambiguous environments.

• Establish and maintain an enterprise knowledge and asset repository to accelerate reuse, adoption, and scaling across markets.
• Demonstrate strong enterprise architecture literacy, documentation discipline, and governance awareness.

2. Orchestrate Multi‑Domain Innovation Group Capabilities

• Possess knowledge of capabilities across AI, data, blockchain/digital assets, automation, and developer platforms to deliver converged, end‑to‑end solutions.
• Define and enforce cohesive design and engineering principles to reduce fragmentation across squads and initiatives.
• Ensure all solutions align with enterprise risk, compliance, data governance, and security frameworks, balancing innovation with control.
• Apply deep technical fluency in APIs, microservices, event‑driven architectures, and platform design to guide solution quality.

3. Build and Operationalise Strategic Partnerships

• Develop and deepen partnerships with fintechs, technology providers, and ecosystem partners aligned to UOB’s platform and digital asset strategy.
• Implement structured partner onboarding, including sandbox access, certification, security and risk assessments, data‑sharing agreements, and commercial alignment.
• Create and manage partner roadmaps that expand UOB’s network capabilities and ecosystem reach.
• Leverage strong external stakeholder management, negotiation, and ecosystem design skills.

4. Incubate and Productionise Emerging Technologies

• Run structured experimentation and proof‑of‑value cycles across AI, data, blockchain, and digital asset technologies.
• Mature successful prototypes into enterprise‑grade, production‑ready services with clear documentation, governance, SLAs, and adoption pathways.
• Apply hands‑on technical skills (e.g., Python, Java, Go, Node.js) for rapid prototyping, solution validation, and technology evaluation.
• Balance innovation speed with operational resilience and regulatory readiness.

5. Foster a Culture of Rapid Innovation & Modern Engineering

• Champion experimentation, systems thinking, and solution‑driven engineering across the Innovation Group and partner teams.
• Coach teams in problem framing, design thinking, prototyping, storyboarding, and iterative delivery.
• Partner with Innovation Academy and HR to uplift organisational capabilities in AI literacy, agile delivery, modern engineering, and platform thinking.
• Demonstrate strong people leadership, coaching, and talent‑building capabilities.

6. Shape Future‑State Processes and Value Models

• Design cross‑domain future‑state process flows, integration requirements, API/data standards, and interoperability models.
• Develop clear value hypotheses tied to revenue growth, cost efficiency, risk reduction, and customer/employee experience outcomes.
• Establish baseline metrics and value scorecards to track impact and benefits realisation.
• Apply strategic thinking and financial/value modelling skills to guide investment decisions.

7. Align Stakeholders and Drive Enterprise Execution

• Lead alignment forums across business, technology, data, risk, compliance, and governance stakeholders.
• Define ownership models, RACIs, guardrails, funding requirements, and delivery sequencing.
• Maintain delivery momentum through structured governance, progress tracking, risk management, and transparent communication.
• Influence effectively without formal authority, resolving conflict and driving enterprise‑wide alignment.

Qualifications & Skills

Core Experience

• 15+ years of senior leadership experience in project management, technology, digital services, enterprise platforms, or large‑scale transformation.
• 5+ years leading high‑performing, cross‑functional engineering or transformation teams in complex enterprise environments.
• Demonstrated success delivering enterprise‑wide initiatives involving multiple business units, regulators, and ecosystem partners.

Technical & Domain Expertise

• Strong understanding of APIs, microservices, integration architecture, and event‑driven design, with the ability to architect secure and scalable service layers.
• Working knowledge of AI/ML, data platforms, blockchain/digital assets, interoperability frameworks, and relevant regulatory considerations.
• Hands‑on proficiency in Python, Java, Go, or Node.js for prototyping and technology assessment.

Leadership & Behavioural Competencies

• Strategic, structured thinker who translates ambiguity into clear roadmaps and executable plans.
• Compelling communicator and storyteller across executive, regulatory, and technical audiences.
• Influences across boundaries, builds trust, and drives alignment in matrixed environments.
• Strong coach and mentor with a talent‑development mindset.
• Thrives in ambiguity; moves fast while maintaining discipline and control.

Personal Attributes

• Enterprise‑level systems thinker with strong analytical rigor.
• High integrity, ownership mindset, and bias for action.
• Curious, adaptive, and committed to continuous learning and improvement.

Additional Requirements

Be a Part of the UOB Family

UOB is an equal opportunity employer. UOB does not discriminate on the basis of a candidate's age, race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or other non-merit factors. All employment decisions at UOB are based on business needs, job requirements and qualifications. If you require any assistance or accommodations to be made for the recruitment process, please inform us when you submit your online application.

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