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Chief Data Officer

New York, NY · Hybrid

Financial ServicesData Engineering, Data Science & Analytics
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Axial Search builds long-term talent networks for AI, data, and transformation leaders across the United States, and applying for this role indicates your interest in positions like this one as your next move. This particular position isn't tied to a specific client today, but we actively place people with your background — apply and we'll be in touch when a matching role opens with one of our clients. In the meantime, please make use of our free tools to help with your job search, including our live job market dashboard with salary, skills, and hiring-trend data from thousands of AI transformation roles.

Job market data

Chief Data Officer is the more established cousin of the Chief AI Officer role, with financial services, healthcare, and regulated industries accounting for the majority of CDO hiring activity we track. In New York specifically, the CDO mandate tends to span data architecture, governance, quality, access, and — increasingly — AI governance as a natural extension. Total compensation is usually packaged on a confidential basis; the strongest CDO candidates we place have typically led 50+ person organizations through material change, with real regulator and board exposure.

Key responsibilities

  • Own the firm's data strategy — architecture, governance, quality, access, and monetization

  • Lead the data organization spanning engineering, governance, analytics, and increasingly AI

  • Partner closely with the CTO, CIO, CRO, and business-line heads on priorities and investment

  • Represent the firm externally with regulators on data-related matters

  • Drive the evolution of data governance into AI governance where appropriate

  • Own the long-term technology, talent, and vendor strategy for data and analytics

  • Serve as the senior voice for data-driven decision-making across the enterprise

  • Navigate the complex regulatory environment facing data in financial services

Candidate requirements

  • 15+ years in senior data, analytics, or technology leadership roles

  • Prior CDO, CAO, or equivalent executive experience strongly preferred

  • Deep financial services context — regulatory, risk, and commercial

  • Proven ability to lead organizations of 50+ people through material change

  • Excellent executive and board-level communication

  • Strong technical literacy across modern data, cloud, and AI stacks