COO AI COE Program Initiative Leader - Business Execution Director

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About this role :

Wells Fargo is seeking an AI Program Initiative Leader - Business Execution Director to join the Chief Operating Office (COO) Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence . This senior leadership role will drive the program governance of Generative and Agentic AI (GenAI) initiatives across the COO, partnering closely with 12 business units, technology, control, independent risk management, compliance, and audit stakeholders.

As artificial intelligence capabilities rapidly evolve and the regulatory landscape continues to shift, Wells Fargo is focused on accelerating AI adoption in a responsible, well-controlled, and value-driven manner. This role will mature the program operating model, execution discipline, and oversight required to scale GenAI safely and effectively across the COO organization.

In this role, you will :

Manage and develop multiple business functional areas with focus on implementing and delivering long-term strategies, policies, and process advancements for cross-functional stakeholders, and internal and external partners associated with the area of Business Execution or who are affected by its outcomes.

Identify Business Execution opportunities and strategies for process improvement and risk control development over the long-term to ensure operational excellence and process efficiency.

Lead Business Execution team for assigned initiatives ensuring solutions are designed, integrated, and controlled to improve effectiveness, limit risk exposure, and create efficiencies as appropriate.

Interpret and develop a range of policies and procedures for long-range and fundamental retooling of perspective, approach, culture, quality, relationships, operations, and capabilities.

Collaborate and influence functional management to obtain resources, influence outcomes, address conflict, and ensure alignment with Wells Fargo strategies or policies and business line objectives.

Manage allocation of people and financial resources for Business Execution

Develop and guide a culture of talent development to meet business objectives and strategy.

Partner with the Enterprise Gen AI program and IRM to implement oversight requirements, dimension risk profiles for fit for purpose oversight processes, and develop responsible guardrails for "citizen development" of AI.

Refine the target operating model across COO and its partners responsible for implementing and maintaining AI Solutions.

Build and implement fit-for-purpose procedures to monitor, change, and decommission AI Solutions post implementation.

Ensure changes to the AI Risk Management Policy, Model Risk Management Policy, and other related policies (e.g., SDLC, Data Management) are properly adopted into COO methodologies, procedures, and management routines.

Ensure proper change communication and awareness exists to AI Product Executives for changes to enterprise or COO expectations.

Required Qualifications :

8+ years of Business Execution, Implementation, or Strategic Planning experience, including Management or leadership experience, or equivalent experience demonstrated through one or a combination of the following : work experience, training, military experience, education

4+ years of management or leadership experience

Desired Qualifications :

8+ years of experience in Strategy, Program Leadership and / or Program Governance focused on developing new or emerging capabilities / functions / business models that are Enterprise in nature or Divisional in nature.

Senior leadership experience operating and implementing at scale against the Software Development Lifecycle, Data Management best practices, Model Risk Management , and / or with Artificial Intelligence / Intelligent Automation Solutions .

Strong expertise in AI and model governance , including model lifecycle oversight, risk tiering, approval authorities, ongoing monitoring, and model decommissioning.

Experience developing, deploying, and continuously evolving common operating practices across a large organization.

Experience assessing and mitigating AI - specific risks , including model bias and fairness, explainability, data quality and lineage, privacy, cybersecurity, and third-party risk.

Demonstrated success operationalizing Responsible AI principles -such as transparency, accountability, fairness, robustness, and appropriate human oversight-within regulated banking environments.

Familiarity with policy and regulatory change management and quality control frameworks.

Strong understanding of the bank regulatory landscape as it relates to models, data, and emerging technologies , including expectations from U.S. and global regulators.

Experience developing and maintaining AI- and model-related policies, standards, control requirements, and documentation designed to meet regulatory and audit scrutiny.

Familiarity integrating AI governance controls into SDLC, MLOps, Data Governance , and Technology Risk Management processes.

Ability to succinctly and simply communicate complex subjects to senior executives and external parties, where appropriate.

Job Expectations :

This position is NOT eligible for Visa sponsorship.

Ability to work on site per Wells Fargo's standard operating model in the listed location (hybrid schedule - 3 days on-site & 2 days remote).

The ability to travel up to 10% of the time.

Posting Location : Charlotte, NC

Chandler, AZ

Iselin, NJ

Minneapolis, MN

San Francisco, CA

The Global Operations functions adhere to a location strategy; therefore, your candidacy may be determined based on your current location. Remote work locations are not available for these roles, so if you are not in a location listed on the posting, you must commit to self-relocation within an agreed upon timeframe.

Pay Range

Reflected is the base pay range offered for this position. Pay may vary depending on factors including but not limited to achievements, skills, experience, or work location. The range listed is just one component of the compensation package offered to candidates.

$185,000.00 - $300,000.00

Benefits

Wells Fargo provides eligible employees with a comprehensive set of benefits, many of which are listed below. Visit Benefits - Wells Fargo Jobs (https : / / www.wellsfargojobs.com / en / life-at-wells-fargo / benefits) for an overview of the following benefit plans and programs offered to employees.

Health benefits

401(k) Plan

Paid time off

Disability benefits

Life insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance

Parental leave

Critical caregiving leave

Discounts and savings

Commuter benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Scholarships for dependent children

Adoption reimbursement

Posting End Date : 12 Jan 2026

• Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

We Value Equal Opportunity

Wells Fargo is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Employees support our focus on building strong customer relationships balanced with a strong risk mitigating and compliance-driven culture which firmly establishes those disciplines as critical to the success of our customers and company. They are accountable for execution of all applicable risk programs (Credit, Market, Financial Crimes, Operational, Regulatory Compliance), which includes effectively following and adhering to applicable Wells Fargo policies and procedures, appropriately fulfilling risk and compliance obligations, timely and effective escalation and remediation of issues, and making sound risk decisions. There is emphasis on proactive monitoring, governance, risk identification and escalation, as well as making sound risk decisions commensurate with the business unit's risk appetite and all risk and compliance program requirements.

Applicants with Disabilities

To request a medical accommodation during the application or interview process, visit Disability Inclusion at Wells Fargo (https : / / www.wellsfargojobs.com / en / diversity / disability-inclusion / ) .

Drug and Alcohol Policy

Wells Fargo maintains a drug free workplace. Please see our Drug and Alcohol Policy (https : / / www.wellsfargojobs.com / en / wells-fargo-drug-and-alcohol-policy) to learn more.

Wells Fargo Recruitment and Hiring Requirements :

a. Third-Party recordings are prohibited unless authorized by Wells Fargo.

b. Wells Fargo requires you to directly represent your own experiences during the recruiting and hiring process.

Req Number : R-510878