VP - Data, Analytics & AI

VP, Data, Analytics & AI

Job Summary

UFCU is transforming into a data-driven, digitally advanced, member-centric financial cooperative. As part of this evolution, we are seeking an exceptional head of Data, Analytics & AI to lead UFCU’s enterprise data strategy, platform modernization, AI/ML advancement, decision sciences, and analytics innovation.

This senior leader will own UFCU’s data vision, strategy, and execution—building world-class data platforms, scalable analytics capabilities, advanced modeling solutions, and governance frameworks that drive measurable business outcomes, growth, operational excellence, and member value.

The VP, Data, Analytics & AI holds full accountability for the success, financial impact, and strategic alignment of UFCU’s enterprise data function. Reporting to the EVP, Chief Strategic Growth & Digital Officer, this role is integral to positioning UFCU as a national leader in data-driven financial services.

About UFCU

Our Credit Union founded in 1936 and has grown to serve members throughout Texas and beyond. At UFCU, we are more than just a financial institution, and our people are more than just employees. We are dedicated to our purpose of empowering our Members to achieve financial success and build brighter futures.
In pursuit of our aspiration that UFCU is loved by millions of Members and built to thrive for generations, we are guided by our values:

Purposefully Member-Obsessed

We are driven by a profound sense of empathy to deeply understand our Members’ needs and

preferences, what brighter futures means to them, and the obstacles in their way. We act in our

Members’ best interests, forever seeking to empower their financial success.

Possibilities Reimagined

We are inspired to courageously experiment, learn, and iterate in pursuit of positive impact for our

Members, UFCU, and coworkers. We challenge assumptions, embrace diverse perspectives, and make use of data and insights.

Performance Excellence Rooted in Unwavering Integrity

We do the right thing, always. We champion teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement, and celebrate successful outcomes of others, fostering an inclusive environment of excellence and

collaboration.

Essential Functions

Enterprise Data Strategy & Ownership

• Architect and execute UFCU’s enterprise data, analytics, and AI strategy, aligned to business growth, operational efficiency, and digital transformation.
• Ownership and accountability of the enterprise intelligence layer (data platforms, analytics, decisioning, measurement).
• Lead the modernization of UFCU’s data infrastructure—including cloud-native platforms, real-time data pipelines, APIs, and AI/ML environments.
• Own full accountability for the performance, scalability, and business impact of UFCU’s data and analytics ecosystem.
• Owner of data and AI product strategy, prioritization, and value realization; and accountability for outcomes (ROI, performance, adoption, engagement).

Modeling, Decision Sciences & Advanced Analytics

• Build and scale advanced modeling, AI/ML, and decision science capabilities to drive predictive insights, personalization, intelligent automation, and optimized decision-making.
• Oversee enterprise-wide forecasting and analytics to support growth, risk mitigation, product optimization, and member engagement.
• Implement rigorous experimentation, model validation, and AI governance frameworks that deliver high-quality, reliable, and ethical insights.
• Responsible for strategy and implementation of AI as a driver of member experience, responsible growth, efficiency, personalization, and decision automation.

P&L Management & Business Value Delivery

• Own the financial impact and return on investment of all data, AI, and analytics initiatives—including revenue growth, margin improvement, risk reduction, and operational efficiency.
• Define and manage key performance indicators (KPIs) and objectives (OKRs) such as:
• Data-driven revenue contribution
• Cost-to-serve reduction
• Member satisfaction and engagement uplift
• Model performance accuracy and reliability
• Operational and decision-making efficiency gains

Data Governance, Quality & Compliance

• Lead enterprise data governance programs ensuring trusted, secure, compliant, and high-quality data across all platforms and business units.
• Oversee data stewardship, privacy, security, metadata management, and regulatory compliance, including alignment to NCUA, and other industry standards.
• Champion responsible data use, ethical AI principles, and bias mitigation across all modeling and analytics applications.
• Own and elevate ethical AI, governance, and regulatory alignment.

Insights Generation & Strategic Decision Support

• Deliver actionable insights that improve business performance, member experience, product development, and strategic decision-making.
• Translate complex data and analytics into clear, executive-ready storytelling and recommendations that drive business outcomes.
• Lead enterprise reporting, dashboards, and advanced analytics to enable data-informed leadership at all levels.

Enterprise Collaboration & Leadership Influence

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the executive team, aligning data and AI strategies with enterprise priorities and growth initiatives.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships across Product, Finance, Technology, Marketing, Operations, Risk, and other functions to maximize data impact.
• Represent UFCU’s data vision and achievements in board-level discussions, industry forums, and strategic partnerships.

Talent Development & Organizational Excellence

• Recruit, develop, and mentor a high-performing team across analytics, AI/ML, governance, and insights.
• Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, innovation, and data literacy across the organization.
• Drive continuous improvement, operational rigor, and measurable results within the Data & AI function.

Other

• Adhere to all company policies, procedures and business ethics codes.
• Complete required regulatory training as assigned.

• Maintain strict adherence and compliance to all laws, rules, regulations and internal controls specific to your role, including but not limited to Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering, USA Patriot Act, OFAC and Fair Lending regulations.

Education & Experience

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; Ph.D or Master’s in Data Science, Analytics, Business, or related field preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive leadership in enterprise data, analytics, AI, or decision sciences in financial services, fintech, or similarly complex, regulated environments.
• Proven success building modern data platforms, advanced modeling capabilities, and scalable AI/ML ecosystems delivering tangible business value.
• Track record of full ownership and accountability for data-driven revenue generation, cost optimization, and operational impact.

• Must be bondable.

Technical & Domain Expertise

• Deep experience with cloud-native data platforms, real-time data pipelines, APIs, ML Ops, and scalable data architectures.
• Advanced expertise in AI/ML, predictive modeling, intelligent automation, and decision optimization.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise data governance, regulatory compliance, privacy, and data quality standards.
• Familiarity with tools and technologies such as Snowflake, Databricks, SQL, Python, Power BI, Tableau, and advanced analytics platforms.

Technical Core Competencies

• Enterprise Data & AI Strategy
• Advanced Modeling & Decision Sciences
• AI/ML & Automation Enablement
• Scalable Data Platform Modernization
• P&L Ownership & Business Value Delivery
• Data Governance, Quality & Compliance
• Insights Generation & Storytelling
• Executive & Stakeholder Alignment
• Talent Development & Cross-Functional Leadership
• Ethical AI & Responsible Data Practices

Preferred Certifications

• DAMA CDMP, Certified Analytics Professional (CAP), or equivalent
• AI/ML, Data Science, or Decision Science credentials
• Agile/SAFe, product management, or digital leadership certifications

Competencies

Driving Member Obsession

Ensuring the internal or external customer’s perspective is a driving force behind strategic priorities, business decisions, organizational processes, and individual activities; crafting and implementing service practices that meet customers’ and own organization’s needs; promoting and operationalizing customer service as a value.

• Sets the standard for a compelling member experience, ensuring members are the #1 driving force behind the organization's direction, strategy, and decision-making.
• Builds a culture that values members and keeps their needs at the heart of all decisions.

Driving Innovation

Driving organizational and cultural changes needed to achieve strategic objectives; catalyzing new approaches to improve results by transforming organizational culture, systems, or products/services; helping others overcome resistance to change.

• Sets the standard for driving organizational and cultural changes needed to achieve strategic objectives.
• Builds a culture that inspires people to challenge assumptions, embrace diverse perspectives, and make use of data and insights in generating novel solutions.

Driving Performance Excellence

Translating strategic priorities into operational reality; aligning communication, accountabilities, resource capabilities, internal processes, and ongoing measurement systems to ensure that strategic priorities yield measurable and sustainable results.

• Sets the standardfor the organization’s resolute drive towards operational excellence.
• Builds a cultureof excellence, accountability, and continuous learning and improvement, where ideas for improvement can grow, while continuing to deliver on determined goals.

Delivering Empowered Leadership

Motivating increased employee effort by communicating a compelling view of the organization’s purpose and its future state in a way that helps others understand the importance of their contributions and feel how outcomes will be different when progress is achieved. Establishing systems and processes to attract, develop, engage, and retain talented individuals; creating a work environment where people can realize their full potential, thus allowing the organization to meet current and future business challenges.

• Sets the standard in leadership, motivating increased employee effort by communicating a compelling view of the organization’s purpose and its future state in a way that helps others understand the importance of their contributions.
• Builds a culture where people can realize their full potential, thus allowing the organization to meet current and future business challenges.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee, with or without accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Will make extensive use of the telephone or virtual communication platforms requiring the ability to effectively and accurately explain complex information.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. 

• This position is required to frequently work at UFCU Plaza in Austin, Texas.
• This position may involve periodic stressful conditions.
• May occasionally require an adjusted work schedule, overtime, and evening/weekend hours.
• May occasionally move from one work location/branch to another.
• Public contact position, requiring appropriate professional appearance.
• Frequent computer use at a workstation up to two hours at a time.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.