Managing Director, Head of Data, Storage and Middleware Services

Managing Director, Head of Data, Storage and Middleware Services

This senior leadership role is situated within the CTS Data Services group , a global team of over 2,000 professionals. This group is a key division of Cloud Technology Services , which has a global workforce of more than 8,000 people, and is part of the broader Technology and Business Enablement (T&BE) organization.

The CTS Data. Storage and Middleware Services group is the central organization tasked with defining and executing the firm-wide data, storage and middleware strategy. The group engineers, certifies, and operates core data and storage platforms for the bank, including databases, data lakes (on-prem and in public cloud), Block and file storage infrastructure, Web app, messaging middleware infrastructures, data analytics and reporting tools and Citi’s AI infrastructure.

Position Summary

The Head of Data, Storage and Middleware Services will be a transformative leader responsible for designing, delivering, and managing the foundational data & storage capabilities that will underpin the firm's future. This executive will lead the creation of Storage platform strategy, oversee the firm's overall data platform design, and direct the data architecture and middleware strategy. A key focus of this role is enabling the firm's Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy by providing the robust data platforms required for advanced analytics and machine learning.

This position requires a leader with comprehensive, hands‑on experience in a wide array of Infrastructure (Storage, Middleware) and data technologies, a deep understanding of data architecture theory and practice, and a proven track record of implementing large‑scale designs in the financial services industry. The successful candidate will manage multiple teams of senior professionals, influence a wide range of senior stakeholders, and drive the firm's commercial objectives through strategic data management.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Architectural Leadership:

• Develop and execute the comprehensive Data , Storage and Middleware Services strategy for the firm, encompassing relational databases, big data, Storage, Backup, middleware, data curation, and security both on-prem and in public cloud.
• Design a large-scale, enterprise-wide data architecture that covers all aspects of data management, data governance, Middleware ( Webapp, Messaging and ETL) ,Storage (Block and File), backup, retention, Archival, and data security.
• Define and select implementation methodologies, platforms, and technologies for system build-out and integration.
• Lead the design of foundational data capabilities, including data warehousing, data lineage, data transformation, document management, public/private cloud storage, and data analytics.
• Drive innovation by leading the prototyping and execution of proof‑of‑concepts for new technologies and platforms.
• Enable the firm's Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy by architecting and delivering robust, scalable data platforms to support advanced analytics and machine learning initiatives.

Management & Execution:

• Manage a large, multi-layered architectural function, leading teams of senior professionals through other senior managers.
• Assume full management responsibility, including strategic workforce planning, performance counselling, career development, and compensation decisions.
• Oversee the full spectrum of the group's activities, from Product Strategy, Architecture, and Engineering to Automation and Quality Assurance.
• Direct the service offerings of the group, including Enterprise Analytic Services (EAP), Big Data platforms (Hadoop), Database as a Service (DBaaS), public cloud data platforms (Databricks, Snowflake) and Software defined storage, object storage, Messaging as a service, Streaming as a service and containerized web offering.
• Provide significant business management oversight, strategically planning and managing headcount, productivity, and investment across all services.

Stakeholder Engagement & Influence:

• Act as a key influencer, advising senior leaders across technology and data management on architectural patterns and strategic decisions.
• Foster key partnerships with technology heads in Services, Markets, Banking, Functions , Wealth and USCC, the CISO, peers across the CIO organization, and other Foundational services organizations.
• Lead internal and external negotiations that have a major impact on the managed area and the organization.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• 20+ years of hands‑on experience in a Data and System Architecture role , with a significant portion in a senior technology engineering and leadership capacity.
• Extensive Experience: Proven track record in the design and implementation of large-scale, mission‑critical data platforms within the Financial Services industry or a similarly complex, global environment.
• Expert‑Level Technical Knowledge: Deep, hands‑on experience with a broad range of data, storage platform and middleware technologies, including:
  • Databases: SQL, NoSQL, In-Memory Databases, Graph Databases (e.g., Oracle, MSSQL, MongoDB).
  • Big Data & Analytics: Hadoop ecosystem, messaging middleware, search engines, and data analytic platforms.
  • Cloud: On-premises, public, and private cloud data platform design and implementation.
  • Storage Engineering: In-depth understanding of file, block and object storage architecture and management, including data backups, retention and media management.
  • Middleware Engineering : In-depth understanding of WebApp , Messaging and ETL products , architecture and management.
• Standards: In-depth understanding of object-oriented, semantic web, and relational data modelling standards and practices.
• Industry Acumen: Deep knowledge of how technology integrates within a large enterprise and a strong awareness of direct competitors' products and services.

Leadership & Management Competencies

• Exceptional Leadership: An outcome‑oriented engineering leader with a successful track record of executing and delivering results, and the ability to build, mentor, and lead a cohesive team capable of succession to more senior roles.
• Culture Carrier: An advocate for a strong engineering culture with a focus on attracting, developing, and retaining expert talent from leading global organizations.
• Stakeholder Influence: Ability to engage, influence, and build working relationships with stakeholders at all levels, from technical developers to the savviest business and executive leaders.
• Strategic & Creative Thinker: A thought leader with the ability to exercise evaluative judgment in complex situations and contribute to strategic decisions that impact the overall technology function, including planning, budgeting, and policy setting.
• Adaptability: Proven ability to manage multiple activities with changing priorities, work under pressure to meet tight deadlines, and take ownership of complex initiatives.
• Risk & Regulatory Acumen: Must possess a strong understanding of risk and regulatory processes and be able to appropriately assess compliance risk when making business decisions.

Education

• Bachelor's/University degree or equivalent experience is required.
• An advanced degree (Master's, Ph.D.) is preferred but not required.

Job Family Group:

Technology

Job Family:

Systems & Engineering

Time Type:

Full time

Primary Location:

Irving Texas United States

Primary Location Full Time Salary Range:

$250,000.00 - $500,000.00

In addition to salary, Citi’s offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards.

• medical
• dental & vision coverage
• 401(k)
• life, accident, and disability insurance
• wellness programs
• paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation)
• unplanned time off (sick leave)
• paid holidays

For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.

Automated Processing and AI

We use automated processing, including artificial intelligence, for our legitimate business interests (or our reasonable and appropriate business purposes) to identify and align the candidate's skills and abilities with a specific job opening. Additionally, if you so choose, or consent, we can match your skills and abilities to other suitable roles at Citi.

Importantly, all our hiring processes and decisions, including determining your suitability for a role, are conducted, checked, and decided by individuals. Our automated processing and AI do not involve relying on automatic or autonomous decision‑making. Please refer to any Jurisdictional Considerations, with specific provisions for your country (where relevant) for further details.

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