Full-Time
Chief of Staff & Portfolio Operations Lead
AI Engineering
Posted on 8/17/2026
Citizens Financial Group
51-200 employees
Middle-market M&A advisory for strategic transactions
Compensation Overview
$146k - $191k/yr
Charlotte, NC, USA
In Person
 Business & Strategy (1) |
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- 8+ years in program or portfolio management within technology organizations, with banking experience preferred.
- Experience managing artificial intelligence, machine learning, and generative artificial intelligence portfolios.
- Understanding of the artificial intelligence and machine learning lifecycle, including data, training, deployment, and monitoring.
- Understanding of generative artificial intelligence and large language model-based solutions.
- Understanding of agentic frameworks and orchestration patterns.
- Understanding of machine learning operations and artificial intelligence operations practices.
- Experience with cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform.
- Understanding of data engineering and big data ecosystems.
- Understanding of DevOps and continuous integration and continuous delivery pipelines.
- Experience with portfolio budgeting and forecasting.
- Experience with cost optimization strategies for cloud and artificial intelligence workloads.
- Experience with vendor contracts and statements of work management.
- Ability to lead complex, cross-functional portfolios.
- Strong executive communication and reporting skills.
- Ability to drive delivery stability and operational excellence at scale.
- Understanding of model risk management, governance, and compliance within financial services.
- Experience supporting senior executives, business leaders, or technology leaders.
- Ability to represent leadership priorities across large organizations.
- Ability to influence without direct authority.
- Experience preparing executive-level presentations and communications.
- Ability to engage confidently with senior stakeholders.
- Serve as a trusted partner and extension of artificial intelligence engineering leadership, helping drive strategic priorities across the organization.
- Translate leadership direction into actionable plans and measurable outcomes with a high degree of autonomy.
- Represent leadership in meetings and stakeholder forums when needed.
- Develop executive communications, business reviews, and leadership presentations.
- Identify risks, dependencies, and opportunities and proactively drive resolution.
- Lead a portfolio of artificial intelligence, generative artificial intelligence, and agentic artificial intelligence initiatives from ideation through production and optimization.
- Provide executive-level reporting on delivery status, risks, dependencies, and business outcomes.
- Establish and maintain governance practices supporting artificial intelligence lifecycle management, risk controls, and regulatory requirements.
- Ensure programs align with enterprise standards and achieve target adoption, performance, and stability outcomes.
- Manage portfolio budgets, forecasts, funding allocations, and financial reporting.
- Oversee vendor relationships, including statements of work, contract governance, invoicing, and performance management.
- Develop workforce strategies including capacity planning, staffing optimization, resiliency, and critical skill development.
- Partner with leadership to build scalable operating models supporting growing artificial intelligence engineering demand.
- Provide oversight of strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment between business objectives, engineering delivery, and investment priorities.
- Apply Agile and modern software delivery practices to improve execution and time to market.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders across artificial intelligence engineering, Finance, Risk, Compliance, Sourcing, and business teams.
- Drive alignment, decision-making, and accountability across complex cross-functional initiatives.
- Banking experience.
- Chief of Staff, business operations, strategic initiatives, portfolio operations, or executive program management experience.
- Experience serving as a strategic advisor or operational extension to senior technology leaders.
- Experience supporting board, executive committee, or senior leadership reviews.
Citizens M&A Advisory helps middle-market firms, private equity sponsors, and private owners with buy-side and sell-side mergers and acquisitions, plus other strategic deals. It uses sector expertise in technology, healthcare, and digital infrastructure, supported by Citizens Bank’s resources and by strategic hires like DH Capital. The team guides clients through a structured process—from goal setting to identifying targets or buyers, negotiating terms, and closing with bank support. Its approach combines client relationships, sector intelligence, and coordinated advisory across deals to align with clients’ strategic and financial objectives.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Providence, Rhode Island
Founded
1828
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Q2 2026 EPS hit $1.30, and fee revenue reached a record.
- Management said middle-market deal activity is improving in July 2026.
- Citizens repurchased $300 million of stock in Q1 2026, signaling capital confidence.
What critics are saying
- Citizens still faces third-party data-incident scrutiny from April 2026.
- Matrix and DH Capital integration can distract bankers during client pitch cycles.
- A downturn in middle-market M&A quickly exposes Citizens' advisory growth story.
What makes Citizens Financial Group unique
- DH Capital gave Citizens digital infrastructure expertise in 2022.
- Matrix Capital Markets added downstream energy and convenience retail coverage in March 2026.
- Citizens Capital Markets & Advisory won mandates on Till Financial and Ondas deals in 2026.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Parental Leave
Flexible Work Hours
Tuition Reimbursement
Wellness Program
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave
Company News
Citizens Financial Group reported second quarter 2026 net income of $587 million, up 35% year-over-year, with earnings per share of $1.30, up 41% year-over-year and 15% quarter-over-quarter. The Providence, Rhode Island-based bank, which has $233.8 billion in assets, attributed the results to strong revenue growth and favourable credit performance. Chairman and CEO Bruce Van Saun highlighted progress on strategic initiatives, including growth in the Private Bank, record wealth fees, and record second quarter fees in capital markets. The company also announced successful launch of a new consumer mobile platform and progress on its "Reimagine the Bank" initiative. Citizens' board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.46 per share, payable on 13 August 2026 to shareholders of record on 30 July 2026.
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Safety Insurance Group has doubled its revolving credit facility with Citizens Bank to $100 million from $50 million, extending maturity to June 2031. The additional capacity remains undrawn, providing enhanced liquidity flexibility rather than immediate leverage. The expansion supports the property and casualty insurer's capital management programme, including dividends and share buybacks, though recent performance has been uneven with a Q1 2026 net loss. The company's investment case centres on disciplined underwriting and balance sheet conservatism rather than rapid profit growth. Analysts note profitability risks and relatively high valuation multiples compared to insurance peers. The Simply Wall St Community estimates fair value at $60.83 per share, suggesting current prices may be extended by 14%. The credit facility amendment provides a prudent backstop amid ongoing earnings volatility.
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