Director, Enterprise Architecture & Technology Strategy (Gulfport)
JOB FUNCTION / SUMMARY: The Director, Enterprise Architecture & Technology Strategy is responsible for defining, governing, and executing the Bank's enterprise-wide technology strategy and architectural transformation roadmap. This role establishes the long-term vision for technology platforms, applications, data, artificial intelligence, and operating models to ensure alignment with business objectives, regulatory expectations, and emerging technology trends. Serving as a strategic bridge between business and technology leadership, this position drives platform modernization, application portfolio optimization, enterprise data capabilities, and technology investment decisions that support scalability, resiliency, innovation, and operational efficiency across the organization. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Lead the development and execution of the Bank's enterprise technology strategy and target-state architecture, ensuring alignment with business objectives, regulatory requirements, risk frameworks, and long-term growth priorities. Define and maintain enterprise architecture standards, principles, roadmaps, and governance processes across business capabilities, applications, data, infrastructure, integration, and emerging technology domains. Drive application portfolio strategy and rationalization efforts, including application assessment, modernization, consolidation, retirement planning, and technical debt reduction to improve efficiency and technology effectiveness. Lead platform modernization initiatives across cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments, establishing scalable, resilient, and secure technology foundations that support current and future business needs. Establish and guide enterprise data architecture and AI enablement strategies, including data integration, governance, analytics, machine learning, and responsible adoption of emerging technologies. Partner with executive leadership, business stakeholders, and technology teams to translate strategic priorities into technology roadmaps, investment recommendations, and measurable business outcomes. Drive the evolution of technology operating models, enabling product- and platform-based delivery approaches through reusable services, platform ownership structures, engineering standards, and cross-functional collaboration. Provide enterprise-wide architecture oversight for major technology initiatives and investments, ensuring strategic alignment, risk management, operational sustainability, and value realization. Collaborate with cybersecurity, risk, compliance, audit, and vendor management functions to ensure technology architectures meet regulatory expectations, control requirements, and operational resilience standards. Lead and develop a high-performing Enterprise Architecture organization, fostering innovation, architectural excellence, talent development, and continuous improvement across business, application, data, and infrastructure architecture disciplines. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies, procedures and applicable laws; Provides guidance and oversight to and is responsible for the coordination and evaluation of the assigned team. Responsibilities may include interviewing, hiring and training associates; planning, assigning and directing work; performance management; associate compensation; approving expense reports; addressing concerns and resolving problems. MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Business Administration, or related field required. Master's degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Computer Science, or related discipline preferred. 12 years of progressive technology leadership experience, including enterprise architecture, technology strategy, or large-scale transformation initiatives. 6 years of enterprise architecture leadership experience with responsibility for enterprise-wide technology roadmaps and governance. Proven experience leading application portfolio rationalization, platform modernization, and enterprise technology transformation programs. Experience developing and implementing enterprise architecture frameworks, standards, governance models, and operating models. Strong understanding of cloud, hybrid, and on-premises technology environments, distributed systems, integration architectures, and enterprise platforms. Experience with enterprise data architecture, data governance, analytics platforms, and AI/ML enablement strategies. Financial services or other highly regulated industry experience preferred, including familiarity with risk, compliance, audit, and regulatory requirements. Demonstrated ability to influence executive leadership, drive strategic decision-making, and lead high-performing technology organizations. ESSENTIAL MENTAL & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to travel if required to perform the essential job functions. Ability to work under stress and meet deadlines. Ability to operate related equipment to perform the essential job functions. Ability to read and interpret a document if required to perform the essential job functions. Ability to lift/move/carry approximately 10 pounds if required to perform the essential job functions. If the employee is unable to lift/move/carry this weight and can be accommodated without causing the department/division an “undue hardship” then the employee must be accommodated; hence omitting lifting/moving/carrying as a physical requirement. Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, physical or mental disability or history of disability, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, disabled veteran, or other protected characteristics as required by federal, state and local laws. When you choose a career with Hancock Whitney (Nasdaq: HWC), we pledge a heartfelt promise: You can grow. You have a voice. You are important. You also share in a rich regional heritage and embrace core values—timeless ideals vital to our culture since the 1800s—that inspire how we serve clients, communities, and each other: Honor & Integrity, Strength & Stability, Commitment to Service, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility. A fast-growing organization consistently rated among America’s strongest, safest financial services institutions, our company is based in Gulfport, Mississippi. Our bank and subsidiaries provide contemporary, comprehensive consumer, commercial, and wealth financial products and services at regional headquarters and 200-plus financial centers across a vibrant Southeast corridor including Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. Each day, our nearly 4,000 associates carry on a mission to help people achieve their financial goals and dreams. We come to work to create opportunities for the people we serve in the communities we call home. Together, we continue building a company solidly focused on being better, going beyond, and doing more to secure success for the people and businesses depending on us. Let our legacy lead to your future. J-18808-Ljbffr
