Job description

Job Description

Role Purpose

Reporting to the Head of Innovation Strategy and Planning, this role leads UOB’s innovation research ecosystem, overseeing research labs and Centres of Excellence across partner universities, corporations, and industry bodies. The candidate manages strategic partnerships with research students, academic institutions, research institutes, and unions to drive applied research in AI, cryptography, digital trust, and system design, ensuring outputs translate into deployable capabilities and measurable business value. A core responsibility is building a robust research‑to‑production pipeline that moves innovations seamlessly from experimentation into enterprise deployment.

The role also serves as a senior member of the Value Management Office, responsible for quantifying, tracking, and maximising value generated from AI models, data assets, and digital capabilities across ASEAN. Beyond research leadership, the mandate spans platform commercialisation, data governance, and enterprise value measurement. The leader establishes UOB’s AI Value Measurement Framework, drives data asset monetisation, and embeds responsible AI and data governance standards across the bank. Success requires strategic vision, deep technical expertise, and the ability to operate across business, technology, and regulatory domains to accelerate UOB’s transformation into a data‑driven, AI‑enabled regional bank.

Key Responsibilities

Research Labs, Centres of Excellence & Applied Research Leadership

• Lead and manage AI research labs and Centres of Excellence located across universities, corporations, and industry bodies.
• Oversee partnerships with research students, academic institutions, research institutes, and unions, ensuring alignment with UOB’s strategic AI agenda.
• Drive applied research programmes in AI, cryptography, digital trust, and system design, ensuring outputs translate into deployable capabilities and measurable business value.
• Build a pipeline of research-to-production innovations, ensuring seamless transition from experimentation to enterprise deployment.

Stakeholder Engagement & Change Leadership, Value Management

• Operationalise <AI and data assets value measurement frameworks” to enable consistent measurement across markets and business lines.
• Partner with Data Management Office and Business Support Units to align value measurement.
• Shape UOB’s data strategy, including internal use, cross-border leverage, and ecosystem partnerships.
• Drive commercialisation of data assets, including reusable features, datasets, and model components.
• Lead UOB’s alignment with emerging AI regulations in ASEAN, MAS, HKMA, and global standards.
• Integrate cryptography, digital trust frameworks, and secure system design into AI governance and model deployment.
• Conduct regular business reviews to ensure value delivery and identify new opportunities

Skills & Competencies

• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and measurable outcomes.
• 12–18 years in AI, data science, digital product management, analytics, or technology strategy within financial services.
• Proven track record in commercialising digital or data products, ideally in a regional bank.
• Experience managing research labs, academic partnerships, and applied research programmes.
• Deep understanding of data governance, AI ethics, cryptography, digital trust, and system design.
• Experience working at the intersection of business, technology, and risk.
• Education
• Post‑graduate degree in Computer Science, Data Science, AI, or related fields is preferred.
• PhD in AI, cryptography, digital trust, or system design is advantageous.
• Strong analytical and commercial acumen; able to quantify value rigorously.
• Expertise in AI/ML lifecycle, model monitoring, and data productisation.
• Strong stakeholder management across senior levels and cross‑functional teams.
• Ability to operate in ambiguity and build new capabilities from 0 to 1.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, especially in articulating value

Additional Requirements