Senior Lead Open API and Open Banking

About the role

First Abu Dhabi Bank is looking for a Senior Lead to define and lead the strategic vision for Open API and Open Banking services across the enterprise. The role focuses on breaking down legacy systems into modular, reusable APIs, fostering third-party collaboration and ensuring compliance with Open Banking regulations, while driving platform modernization, developer enablement and cross-functional alignment.

Key responsibilities

• Align API initiatives with enterprise architecture, data strategy and reusable adoption goals, and set metrics and KPIs for API performance, adoption and business impact.
• Lead the development and lifecycle management of Open APIs in compliance with Open Banking standards such as PSD2 and UAE Central Bank guidelines.
• Work with product, compliance and architecture teams to define API strategies that support business capabilities and customer journeys.
• Champion API-first design, making APIs reusable, secure and developer-friendly, and drive third-party integrations and fintech partnerships.
• Maintain API documentation, sandbox environments and developer portals, and ensure APIs are discoverable, version-controlled and aligned with enterprise architecture.
• Provide technical leadership to API engineering teams, maintain delivery roadmaps, capacity planning and resource forecasting, and track KPIs and risk metrics.
• Ensure compliance with IT governance, security and regulatory frameworks, and promote DevSecOps, CI/CD and test automation.

Required profile

• Overall 12+ years of experience, with 8+ years in banking.
• Deep understanding of Open Banking frameworks, API security (OAuth2, OpenID Connect) and regulatory compliance.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex stakeholder environments.
• Strong communication, leadership and mentoring skills.

Required skills

• API management platforms such as Apigee, Kong and WSO2.
• RESTful API design, JSON, Swagger/OpenAPI specifications.
• Familiarity with domain-driven design and microservices architecture.
• Experience with API management, Kong, Cloud Native Services and Kubernetes.