Sr Director, Chief Technology Officer
PayPal
The Company
PayPal has been revolutionizing commerce globally for more than 25 years. Creating innovative experiences that make moving money, selling, and shopping simple, personalized, and secure, PayPal empowers consumers and businesses in approximately 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy.
We operate a global, two-sided network at scale that connects hundreds of millions of merchants and consumers. We help merchants and consumers connect, transact, and complete payments, whether they are online or in person. PayPal is more than a connection to third-party payment networks. We provide proprietary payment solutions accepted by merchants that enable the completion of payments on our platform on behalf of our customers.
We offer our customers the flexibility to use their accounts to purchase and receive payments for goods and services, as well as the ability to transfer and withdraw funds. We enable consumers to exchange funds more safely with merchants using a variety of funding sources, which may include a bank account, a PayPal or Venmo account balance, PayPal and Venmo branded credit products, a credit card, a debit card, certain cryptocurrencies, or other stored value products such as gift cards, and eligible credit card rewards. Our PayPal, Venmo, and Xoom products also make it safer and simpler for friends and family to transfer funds to each other. We offer merchants an end-to-end payments solution that provides authorization and settlement capabilities, as well as instant access to funds and payouts. We also help merchants connect with their customers, process exchanges and returns, and manage risk. We enable consumers to engage in cross-border shopping and merchants to extend their global reach while reducing the complexity and friction involved in enabling cross-border trade.
Our beliefs are the foundation for how we conduct business every day. We live each day guided by our core values of Inclusion, Innovation, Collaboration, and Wellness. Together, our values ensure that we work together as one global team with our customers at the center of everything we do – and they push us to ensure we take care of ourselves, each other, and our communities.
Job Summary:
This job involves developing and articulating a clear vision and strategy aligned with organizational operations. The individual inspires teams to achieve long-term success in system and cloud engineering, collaborates with industry leaders to influence best practices, and oversees the optimization of cloud systems while mentoring other leaders to build capabilities.Job Description:
Essential Responsibilities:
- Define and implement a long-term strategic vision for site operations, prioritizing customer satisfaction, operational excellence, and alignment with organizational goals.
- Oversee comprehensive data sets to identify performance gaps and implement data-driven strategies to optimize site operations and enhance efficiency.
- Establish clear, challenging objectives for the site and lead the team with motivation and effective delegation to meet and exceed those goals.
- Lead efforts to recruit, attract, and retain top talent, fostering a diverse, inclusive, and skilled workforce that aligns with the organization's values and mission.
- Cultivate and strengthen relationships with internal teams, external partners, and stakeholders to ensure alignment, collaboration, and mutual success.
- Serve as a role model by inspiring trust and followership among team members and stakeholders through consistent communication, accountability, and leadership.
- Navigate and manage organizational change and ambiguity effectively, driving continuous improvement and fostering resilience across teams and operations.
- Take calculated risks, demonstrating integrity, foresight, and a thoughtful approach to decision-making that balances short-term needs with long-term objectives.
- Uphold and enforce the highest standards of performance and quality, ensuring that all site operations align with organizational goals and customer expectations.
- Regularly engage in self-reflection, seek constructive feedback, and pursue opportunities for personal and professional development to model growth and adaptability for the organization.
Expected Qualifications:
- 12+ years relevant experience and a Bachelor’s degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 5 years of experience leading others
Additional Responsibilities & Preferred Qualifications:
PayPal is establishing a de novo industrial bank charter (ILC) and is seeking an experienced Chief Technology Officer (“CTO”) to be responsible for the overall technology vision, strategy, and execution across the ILC, ensuring that systems, infrastructure, and technology capabilities support regulatory expectations, operational excellence, and the ILC’s strategic objectives. The CTO will report to the ILC / Bank President.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain the Bank’s technology strategy and roadmap, ensuring alignment with the Bank’s overall strategic objectives and regulatory requirements.
- Oversee all aspects of information technology, including infrastructure, systems architecture, applications, cybersecurity, data governance, and vendor-managed technology services.
- Work closely with the Bank’s Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”) to ensure the Bank’s systems, networks, and data are adequately protected and aligned with Board-approved information security policies and standards.
- Establish and maintain policies, procedures, and controls to ensure compliance with applicable technology-related regulations and guidance (including FFIEC, GLBA, and UDFI/FDIC expectations).
- Oversee the Bank’s technology operations to ensure systems are secure, reliable, scalable, and resilient, and that they support efficient and compliant operations.
- Lead the evaluation, selection, and implementation of technology solutions that enhance operational efficiency, innovation, and customer experience.
- Ensure technology risk management processes are integrated into the Bank’s enterprise risk framework in collaboration with the CRO.
- Maintain effective vendor management oversight for technology service providers, including adherence to regulatory expectations for third-party risk management and affiliate services under Regulation W.
- Establish disaster recovery and business continuity capabilities consistent with regulatory standards and Bank policy.
- Ensure the Bank’s technology governance structure supports strong oversight, risk management, and Board visibility.
·Develop and mentor technology staff, promoting a culture of innovation, accountability, and operational excellence. - Provide timely and relevant technology updates to the CEO and Board, including emerging risks, system performance, and strategic initiatives.
- Effectively communicate and address regulatory inquiry or examination activities.
- Participate in and capably make presentations and address questions at various management and Board-level committee meetings.
De Novo Charter Formation & ILC Build‑Out:
- Serve as the technology lead for the de novo application and pre‑opening readiness: architecture narratives, third‑party due diligence, information security and resilience plans, outsourcing/affiliate service frameworks (Reg W), data governance, and technology program charters.
- Translate conditions of approval and supervisory feedback into funded roadmaps, control designs, and measurable milestones; prepare Board and regulator‑ready artifacts.
- Stand up a fit‑for‑purpose Technology Operating Model (TOM) aligned to the three lines of defense, covering demand intake, solution design, SDLC/DevSecOps, change management, release management, incident/problem management, and IT asset/configuration management.
- Establish integration patterns and standards (APIs, event streaming, batch) for core banking, digital channels, payments, lending, fraud/BSA platforms, data warehouse, and regulatory reporting.
Architecture & Platforms:
- Core banking selection and integration; digital banking/mobile platforms; payment rails (ACH/wires/card), issuer processor, card network connectivity; loan origination/servicing as applicable.
- Enterprise cloud (IaaS/PaaS/SaaS) and network architecture (segmentation, zero‑trust principles, SSO/MFA, identity and access management).
- Data platform (warehouse/lakehouse), metadata/catalog, lineage, data quality and retention, privacy controls, and reporting pipelines for management and regulatory reporting.
- Enterprise applications (CRM, servicing tools, case management, contact center), observability/telemetry (logging, metrics, tracing), and service desk tooling.
- Model and algorithm enablement in partnership with Risk (feature stores, monitoring, explainability, change control) where applicable.
Cybersecurity, Resilience & Privacy (in partnership with the CISO):
- Oversee the build‑out of information security aligned to Board‑approved policies and FFIEC/GLBA expectations; ensure effective vulnerability, patch, encryption, and endpoint management.
- Ensure robust incident response, disaster recovery, and business continuity (target RTO/RPO, tabletop exercises, supplier failovers) and integration with the enterprise crisis management plan.
- Ensure third‑party/affiliate technology services meet security and resilience standards (SOC reports, penetration testing, findings remediation, data localization/transfer controls, and right‑to‑audit provisions).
- Oversee privacy‑by‑design practices and alignment with GLBA safeguards, data minimization / retention, and customer consent/notice requirements.
Technology Risk, Compliance & Governance:
- Provide reporting to the Board Risk & Compliance Committee and the Bank’s Enterprise Risk Management Committee.
- Maintain a Technology Risk Assessment with clear KRIs/KPIs; integrate with the CRO’s Enterprise Risk Management framework and compliance testing/IA schedules.
- Operate a rigorous change management and access management program; ensure separation of duties, break‑glass controls, and comprehensive audit trails.
- Ensure Reg W governance for affiliate services (arm’s‑length terms, SLAs/OLAs, cost allocation, performance reporting).
- Prepare for and lead exams and supervisory reviews (e.g., FDIC/UDFI technology, information security, third‑party risk).
Vendor & Third‑Party Management:
- Own the technology vendor lifecycle: strategy, RFPs, due diligence, contract negotiation (SLAs, DPAs, security exhibits, exit/transition), performance management, and periodic control testing.
- Establish structured oversight for critical service providers and fintech/program partners; ensure ongoing monitoring and contingency plans.
- Implement a modern GRC/TPRM toolset to track obligations, risks, controls, testing, issues, and remediation.
People Leadership & Culture:
- Build and lead a high‑performing engineering/IT organization (architecture, platform engineering, cloud/network, data, delivery/PMO, ITSM, and vendor management).
- Set clear goals, coaching, and career paths; establish a culture of safety, operational excellence, documentation, and continuous improvement.
- Promote secure‑by‑default and compliant‑by‑design behaviors in product, engineering, and operations.
Governance & Reporting Lines:
- Manager: Bank President / President, ILC Entity
- Board access: Direct line to the Board via the Risk & Compliance Committee.
- Risk partners: Close collaboration with the CISO, CRO, CCO, General Counsel, Finance, Operations, and Internal Audit.
- Authority: Ability to pause or veto launches/changes that present unacceptable technology or operational risk.
Required Qualifications:
- 18+ years of progressive technology leadership in regulated financial services (banking preferred); recent tenure at Senior Director/VP or higher (many qualified candidates are current MD or SVP).
- Demonstrated success building or materially upgrading bank‑grade technology environments, preferably during a de novo or large‑scale transformation.
- Expertise across enterprise architecture, core/digital banking platforms, payments connectivity, data engineering, and IT operations/ITSM.
- Strong working knowledge of FFIEC IT handbooks, GLBA safeguards, third‑party risk expectations, and FDIC/UDFI supervisory practices.
- Proven partnership with CISO and CRO to integrate cyber and technology risks into ERM; track record handling regulatory exams and remediations.
- Deep experience leading cloud migrations/operations, modern SDLC/DevSecOps, and high‑availability architectures.
- Hands‑on vendor oversight including Reg W considerations for affiliate services.
- Executive communication skills; concise Board reporting and stakeholder management.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in ILC environments and the parent/affiliate dynamics unique to ILC ownership.
- Background with bank‑as‑a‑service/fintech partnerships, card issuance/processors, or real‑time payments.
- Familiarity with data privacy, model governance, and automated regulatory reporting.
Relevant certifications (e.g., CGEIT, CISM, CISSP, ITIL, AWS/Azure/GCP), or advanced degree in CS/Engineering/Information Systems
This role is currently remote. Upon the opening of a company office in the Salt Lake City metro area, the expectation will be to work from the office three (3) days per week.
Subsidiary:
PayPalTravel Percent:
0-
The base pay for this role will depend on where you work and the relevant experience and expertise you bring. The expected range of pay for this role by location is:Primary Location | Pay Range:
Utah - (Virtual) | ($209,000.00 - $310,200.00 Annually)Additional Location(s) | Pay Range:
No other locations are assigned to this requisition currently. Additional compensation for this role may include an annual performance bonus, equity, or other incentive compensation, as applicable. This role is also eligible for a range of benefits which may include, medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, parental and family leave, 401(k) savings plan, paid time off, and other benefits. For more information visit https://www.paypalbenefits.com.PayPal does not charge candidates any fees for courses, applications, resume reviews, interviews, background checks, or onboarding. Any such request is a red flag and likely part of a scam. To learn more about how to identify and avoid recruitment fraud please visit https://careers.pypl.com/contact-us.
For the majority of employees, PayPal's balanced hybrid work model offers 3 days in the office for effective in-person collaboration and 2 days at your choice of either the PayPal office or your home workspace, ensuring that you equally have the benefits and conveniences of both locations.
Our Benefits:
At PayPal, we’re committed to building an equitable and inclusive global economy. And we can’t do this without our most important asset—you. That’s why we offer benefits to help you thrive in every stage of life. We champion your financial, physical, and mental health by offering valuable benefits and resources to help you care for the whole you.
We have great benefits including a flexible work environment, employee shares options, health and life insurance and more. To learn more about our benefits please visit https://www.paypalbenefits.com.
Who We Are:
Click Here to learn more about our culture and community.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
PayPal provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. In addition, PayPal will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at paypalglobaltalentacquisition@paypal.com.
Belonging at PayPal:
Our employees are central to advancing our mission, and we strive to create an environment where everyone can do their best work with a sense of purpose and belonging. Belonging at PayPal means creating a workplace with a sense of acceptance and security where all employees feel included and valued. We are proud to have a diverse workforce reflective of the merchants, consumers, and communities that we serve, and we continue to take tangible actions to cultivate inclusivity and belonging at PayPal.
Any general requests for consideration of your skills, please Join our Talent Community.
We know the confidence gap and imposter syndrome can get in the way of meeting spectacular candidates. Please don’t hesitate to apply.