Chief of Staff, AI & Data Operations

Mastercard is hiring a Chief of Staff, AI & Data Operations in Arlington, United States. Level rates it ; you can apply on Level.

Level's read on this job

On Level's scale, this role is Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
The posting mentions AI agents and AI safety among its tools and skills.
Level classes it as an executive role.
Mastercard has 1,100+ other open roles on Level.
This posting went up in the last few days.

AI in this role

ai-agentsai-safety

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Chief of Staff, AI & Data Operations

Overview
Mastercard has some of the most valuable data assets and innovative AI capabilities in the world. We have been highly successful in using artificial intelligence to create technology and services that deliver meaningful value to the payments ecosystem and our clients.

Our enterprise AI & Data function sets the vision for AI and data at Mastercard, accelerates the responsible adoption of AI technologies across the company, supports the development of industry-leading data and AI applications, and strengthens Mastercard’s position as a visible leader in responsible AI and data.

The AI & Data Operations team is seeking a highly strategic, analytical and execution-oriented Chief of Staff to serve as a trusted partner to the EVP, AI & Data Operations. The Chief of Staff will translate strategic priorities into action, strengthen alignment across complex initiatives, and help the organization operate with continued speed, focus and discipline. This role must be based in Arlington, Virginia, and requires regular onsite presence in accordance with Mastercard’s hybrid working model.

The successful candidate will move seamlessly between strategy and execution, exercise sound judgment in a dynamic environment, and influence senior stakeholders across the organization. This role requires strong executive presence, exceptional attention to detail, and practical experience applying AI to improve strategies, workflows and operating processes.

Role
In this role, you will report directly to the EVP, AI & Data Operations and work closely with senior leadership to drive high-impact initiatives, strengthen execution and enable effective decision-making.

Strategic Initiatives and Project Management
• Support the execution of strategic priorities by collaborating closely with the EVP, AI & Data Operations and leaders across the team.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear plans, actions and measurable outcomes.
• Lead high-priority initiatives that require coordination across teams and functions, including emerging opportunities related to AI agents, copilots and enterprise AI adoption.
• Manage cross-functional projects from initial definition through execution, scaling oversight as needed.
• Anticipate emerging needs, identify opportunities and maintain momentum across key priorities.
• Develop clear recommendations and decision frameworks for complex business and organizational matters.
• Apply practical AI knowledge to identify opportunities to improve strategies, workflows and operating processes.

Team Operations and Leadership
• Manage the team’s core operating cadence, including monthly team calls, recurring leadership meetings, strategic reviews and executive updates.
• Set agendas, clarify decisions and ensure actions and commitments are tracked through completion.
• Establish and manage a KPI and reporting cadence across AI & Data Operations, consolidating trends and sharing key updates with stakeholders.
• Oversee executive-level reporting, including priorities tracking, progress updates and preparation for strategic reviews.
• Lead the development of thought leadership and support the creation of strategic presentations.
• Strengthen operating practices that enable coordinated execution across the team.
• Maintain a high standard of accuracy, responsiveness and follow-through across executive-level deliverables.

Executive Partnership and External Engagement
• Serve as a trusted thought partner to the EVP, AI & Data Operations.
• Support engagement with internal and external partners by participating in and leading key meetings, establishing agendas and priorities, and ensuring effective follow-through.
• Represent the EVP in selected meetings, maintaining continuity and alignment across discussions and decisions.
• Prepare executive briefings, talking points and supporting materials for key engagements.
• Develop executive presentations and messaging for internal and external audiences.
• Shape clear, evidence-based narratives supported by strong analytical thinking and AI and data domain knowledge.
• Build productive relationships and influence stakeholders across functions and levels without relying on direct authority.

All About You
• Strong knowledge of and experience working in a technology-driven environment across initiatives such as AI adoption, cloud, automation, data strategy and technology governance.
• Direct experience working with AI and data in an enterprise environment.
• Practical experience building, implementing or automating AI-enabled workflows, tools or processes.
• Experience partnering with senior executives and supporting complex, high-visibility initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to move fluidly between strategic thinking and hands-on execution.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop clear recommendations from complex information.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Sound judgment and comfort operating in a dynamic environment with evolving priorities.
• Strong executive presence and the ability to communicate succinctly and credibly with senior stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships and influence individuals across functions and levels.
• Intellectually curious, resourceful and results-oriented, with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Flexible and creative, with the ability to adapt and thrive as priorities and business needs evolve.
• Excellent written communication, storytelling and presentation-development skills.
• Management consulting, chief of staff, strategic operations or similar experience is strongly preferred.
• Academic or professional experience in data science, statistics, AI, data management, technology, strategy or a related discipline.

This role is not eligible for Mastercard-sponsored work authorization. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States now and in the future without employer sponsorship.

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact reasonable_accommodation@mastercard.com and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;
Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations. THIS POSTING RELECTS ONE OR MORE CURRENT VACANCIES ON OUR TEAM, AND MASTERCARD INTENDS TO FILL THIS POSITION BY 01/17/2027. If the fill date has passed, Mastercard intends to fill this position as soon as possible.

Pay Ranges

Arlington, Virginia: $164,000 - $271,000 USD

How we rate this

Chief of Staff, AI & Data Operations at Mastercard rates 28 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Little AI. AI is not part of the work.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Open the description and count.

Key facts

Chief of Staff, AI & Data Operations is an open job at Mastercard.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The role is based in Arlington, Virginia.
The job was posted on October 19, 2026.
Seniority: executive.
Applications are handled by Mastercard. Apply on Mastercard

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

AI agentsAI Safety

Questions you could be asked

How do you decide when an AI agent can act on its own versus asking for approval first?
How do you think about the risk of an AI system in this kind of role failing silently?

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List these exact terms on your resume: AI agents and AI Safety. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.

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