Principal Lead, Business Banking

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY / INTRODUCTION

The Principal Lead – Commercial Banking Technology is responsible for leading the strategy, delivery, and support of Commercial Banking and related business services. The role oversees end-to-end technology initiatives, including requirements planning, solution design, implementation, operational support, budget management, and stakeholder engagement. Working closely with business leaders and technology teams, the incumbent drives digital transformation, fosters business-technology alignment, and ensures the delivery of innovative, scalable, and secure banking solutions that support the bank’s strategic growth objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own and manage the Commercial Banking technology strategy, product roadmap, and end-to-end delivery lifecycle.
• Lead the planning, design, implementation, support, and continuous improvement of Commercial Banking technology solutions.
• Ensure projects and initiatives are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with agreed business objectives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with business stakeholders, vendors, and technology partners.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight across multiple technology teams and service lines.
• Drive digital transformation initiatives and identify opportunities to automate and enhance business processes.
• Establish and monitor technology, operational, and business KPIs to ensure performance objectives are achieved.
• Manage technology budgets, including Capex and operational expenditure planning and governance.
• Guide, coach, and develop high-performing teams while fostering an agile and collaborative culture.
• Represent Technology in business forums, leadership discussions, and vendor engagements.
• Oversee demand management, release planning, and service delivery governance.
• Ensure solutions comply with security, audit, risk, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead Agile and DevOps adoption while driving continuous improvement and delivery excellence.
• Evaluate vendor proposals, Statements of Work (SOWs), and third-party technology solutions.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define business requirements, prioritize initiatives, and deliver customer-focused outcomes.
• Align technology programs and projects with strategic objectives and business priorities. Identify, manage, and mitigate delivery risks while ensuring successful execution of technology initiatives.

REQUIREMENTS/ QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in Commercial Banking, Business Banking, Digital Banking, or related technology domains.
• Extensive experience leading large-scale technology delivery, transformation, and support functions within the banking sector.
• Strong knowledge of Commercial Banking products, services, processes, and technology platforms.
• Proven experience in application development, solution architecture, cloud technologies, and enterprise technology delivery.
• Experience managing technology budgets, vendor relationships, and cross-functional delivery teams.
• Strong understanding of Agile, Scrum, DevOps, and Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive strategic initiatives.
• Excellent leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills. Strong understanding of information security, compliance, governance, and audit requirements.

Preferred / Beneficial

• Professional certifications in Agile, Scrum, SAFe, or related delivery frameworks.
• ITIL certification or equivalent service management accreditation.
• Advanced certifications in cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure or AWS.
• Experience leading digital transformation and modernization initiatives in international banking environments.
• Expert-level industry, technology, or vendor certifications.
• Experience with microservices architecture, CI/CD pipelines, identity and access management, and cloud-native technologies.
• Strong background in data-driven decision-making and business process optimization.
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Responsibilities

Qualifications

About Us About Us:

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is the largest bank in the UAE and one of the world's largest and safest financial institutions. We offer a comprehensive range of personal and private banking services, including credit cards, Islamic banking, investments, loans, and mortgages. Our commitment to excellence and innovation drives us to provide top-tier financial solutions to our clients.

Life at FAB:

Working at FAB means being part of a team of talented and passionate individuals with a shared vision to support the ambitions of our stakeholders to "Grow Stronger." We embrace the needs of our customers across the globe with a sense of responsibility and confidence driven by extensive expertise that can only be delivered by an ambitious world-class organization

Career Development:

FAB offers unique career choices, a chance to innovate, craft solutions for the future, and express yourself in a performance-based culture that will unleash the best in you. Whether you are an experienced professional or just starting your career, FAB provides a range of learning and development initiatives to support all employees through training and skill development.

Our Values:

At FAB, we place our customers at the core of our activities, live our values each day in every way, celebrate achievements, and empower each other to deliver leading solutions. We have structured plans for the recruitment and career progression of Emirati talent to enable them to make a mark in the financial and banking sector both regionally and globaly that rewards your hard work and dedication.

Join our team and be part of a journey to shape the future of banking.