Vice President, AI Operations

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Vice President, AI Operations

Who is Mastercard?
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Overview
MasterCard AI organization is looking for a Vice President, AI Operations to support the EVP of AI and their leadership team. This role ensures efficient operations, drives alignment, and enables strategic decision-making.
As the central point of contact, you will engage with all aspects of the business, all levels of the organization, executive priorities, program objectives, and strategic thought leadership. The Vice President will report to the EVP of AI and work alongside them, the Chief Data & AI Officer, and various leadership stakeholders to drive key projects and initiatives. The ideal candidate will also have strategic advisory experience in enterprise architecture for Data and AI solutions, AI commercialization efforts, and identifying innovative solutions to drive strategic business transformation.
Role
• Support the EVP of AI through coordination of executive priorities, program objectives, and strategic thought leadership.
• Collaborate closely with the office of the Chief Data & AI Officer, EVP Data, AI product managers and AI engineering leads, and the overall Mastercard organization (e.g., Services, TECH, Regional teams, Finance, P&C, Communications, Marketing, Legal) to execute strategic AI priorities.
• Develop executive presentations and messaging for internal audiences (e.g., Quarterly Business Reviews, Governance meetings, business updates, Teams Channel); facilitate transparent and effective communication across the organization.
• Shape external-facing narratives with strong analytic support and product knowledge.
• Drive business reporting ensuring operational excellence, including coordinating updates into Data & AI Quarterly Operations Review (QOR), Earnings, and other Investor Relations activities; identify insights and make meaningful recommendations as needed.
• Lead implementation of employee communication and engagement initiatives (e.g., Town Hall meetings, Directs meetings, Leadership offsites, Community engagements); partner with the HR organization to support workforce initiatives.
• Monitor and analyze emerging technologies and trends in AI and data analytics, identifying innovative solutions that drive strategic business transformation and create opportunities for sustained growth.
• Tackle complex business problems with limited definition, uncover root causes, leverage raw data and dashboards to drive analysis, develop solutions, and translate into specific recommendations for action.
• Translate current-state Data and AI solutions and high-level goals into clear, actionable roadmaps that enable strategic alignment and effective implementation within a global matrixed organization operating in a highly regulated industry.
• Support the EVP of AI across engagements, including oral and written communications and presentation preparations, ensuring timely execution.
All About You
• Proven experience in enterprise architecture for Data and AI solutions across global B2B and B2C markets, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, diverse business models, and IT strategies.
• Demonstrated success in strategic advisory for AI commercialization efforts, translating technical capabilities into marketable products and services that deliver measurable business value across diverse industries, while addressing unique market demands and competitive dynamics.
• Proven experience in executive/leadership communications and business reporting, translating strategies to execution plans.
• Excellent writing skills, ability to “storyboard” and develop visually compelling presentations with clear logic and structure.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented; proficient in managing competing priorities and multi-tasking in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Intellectually curious with an entrepreneurial attitude and a results-driven mindset.
• Ability to influence with authority - anticipate and proactively address issues that may arise.
• Flexible and creative, able to not only adapt but also excel under pressure and thrive in a constantly changing environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to build relationships and interact effectively with individuals at all levels.
• Trusted partner who can manage sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
• Experience in financial services and digital payments with an understanding of competitive offerings and industry trends is a plus.
• Experience in technology with an emphasis on software delivery is a plus.
• A passion to achieve and excel, a good sense of humor, and a penchant for having fun.

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary based on location, experience and other qualifications for the role and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance), flexible spending account and health savings account, paid leaves (including 16 weeks new parent leave, up to 20 paid days bereavement leave), 10 annual paid sick days, 10 or more annual paid vacation days based on level, 5 personal days, 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays, 401k with a best-in-class company match, deferred compensation for eligible roles, fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities, eligibility for tuition reimbursement, gender-inclusive benefits and many more.

Pay Ranges

San Francisco, California: $200,000 - $320,000 USD