Executive Director, Technology Strategy, Governance, and Optimization

This role provides senior leadership across Technology strategy, governance, and optimization initiatives, with accountability for shaping enterprise priorities, influencing executive decision-making, and driving measurable business outcomes. The position leads complex, cross-functional efforts spanning cost and investment optimization, tracking and transparency; portfolio, software and vendor governance; and executive reporting. The role sets broader strategic direction, sponsors enterprise-wide change translating ambiguity into actionable plans and serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on transformation, governance, and investment decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise-level strategy and governance initiatives across Technology, including cost allocation, software onboarding, vendor governance, modernization, and workforce strategy, with clear alignment to business and control objectives.

• Build/Product Ownership of AI Consumption Governance and Tech Analytics Platforms

• Shape senior executive narratives, business cases, governance updates, dashboards, and decision materials for leadership forums such as Tech COO, OpCo, and related steering committees.

• Drive transformation by identifying structural inefficiencies, clarifying ownership and decision rights, and designing target-state operating and governance models that improve transparency, accountability, and execution.

• Partner with senior Technology and Finance stakeholders to strengthen the rigor, traceability, and governance of technology costs, productivity measurement, and investment prioritization and transparency.

• Optimize software and vendor spend and governance practices by evaluating processes and identifying and executing opportunities to drive efficiencies.

• Enable SDLC optimization and AI/Automation initiatives by defining measurement frameworks, evaluating strategic benefits, and communicating implications to senior stakeholders.

• Translate complex qualitative and quantitative information into practical recommendations that inform executive action, prioritization, and resource deployment.

Required Capabilities

• Significant experience in technology strategy, COO, finance, risk, governance, or business management roles within a complex enterprise environment.

• Demonstrated ability to operate credibly with senior executives and influence decisions across complex, matrixed stakeholder groups.

• Strong understanding of technology practices, governance, financial management, workforce planning, software lifecycle processes, and enterprise operating models.

• Ability to synthesize large volumes of qualitative and quantitative information into structured recommendations, executive-ready communications, and strategic choices.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to frame messages for senior leadership, technical teams, and control functions.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including experience translating data into business insight and action.

• Proven ability to lead multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously while maintaining strategic perspective and execution discipline.

• Demonstrated ability to enterprise influence, strategic sponsorship of transformation agendas, and a track record of shaping direction, governance, and investment choices at scale.

Key Stakeholder Relationships
This role works closely with Technology COO leadership, Divisional Technology teams, Finance partners, risk and control functions, procurement and supplier management teams and HR stakeholders. Success in the role depends on the ability to build credibility across functions, connect strategic priorities to measurable outcomes, and drive alignment on complex, cross-organizational topics.

Ideal Profile
The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking, analytical rigor, and executive communication skills with a strong understanding of how technology, finance, governance, and organizational priorities intersect. Success requires the ability to shape strategic direction, independent leadership, strong judgment, and the ability to move complex initiatives from ambiguity to execution. 

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years.  Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.

To learn more about our offices across the globe, please copy and paste https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/global-offices​ into your browser.

Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $195,000 and $275,000 per year at the commencement of employment.  However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background.  Our recruiting efforts reflect our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion, where individuals are hired, developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents.

Our workforce reflects a broad cross-section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.

For more information, please visit: https://www.morganstanley.com/people-opportunities/eeo.