Description

Salesforce, the world's #1 AI CRM, is seeking an exceptional Senior Director of Solution Engineering UKI to lead our Banking Solution Engineering team. In this strategic role reporting to the VP of Regulated Industries Solution Engineering UKI, you will be instrumental in driving transformational growth across our Banking portfolio, establishing Salesforce as the preferred platform for AI, Data, and CRM solutions for banks of all sizes. We are seeking a visionary leader who embodies Salesforce's core values: Trust, Customer Success, Innovation, and Equality.

As a Senior Director, you will lead a team of solution engineers, partnering with Sales leadership to orchestrate complex, multi-cloud deals with C-suite executives at our most strategic Banking customers. You will redefine how Salesforce demonstrates value in the Banking sector, driving the adoption of Agentforce and Data Cloud while building a culture of technical excellence and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Business Impact

Partner with Banking Sales RVPs/AVPs to develop and execute account strategies that drive significant ACV across the Banking vertical
Lead C-suite engagements with Tier 1 and Tier 2 banks, positioning Salesforce as a strategic transformation partner
Orchestrate complex, multi-cloud transformational deals ($5m+ ACV) involving Data Cloud, Agentforce, FSC, and Integration solutions
Develop and execute the Banking SE GTM strategy in alignment with Product Marketing, ensuring market leadership in retail banking, commercial banking, and lending

Team Leadership & Development

Build, lead, and scale a high-performing team of Banking SEs across multiple specialisations (Core, Agentforce, Strategic)
Attract and retain premier talent, with proven ability to develop Principal and Distinguished SEs into future leaders
Foster a culture of technical excellence, continuous learning, and innovation while maintaining team engagement scores of 85%+
Establish clear career pathways and succession planning for critical roles within your organisation

Banking Industry Expertise & Thought Leadership

Act as the go-to expert for Banking-specific solutions, including front-office (CRM, sales, service), middle-office (operations, compliance), and back-office (core systems integration) use cases
Develop Banking-specific value propositions, demos, and solution architectures that address regulatory requirements (AML, KYC, data privacy, Open Banking)
Lead Banking industry councils and advisory boards, establishing Salesforce as a thought leader in Banking digital transformation
Partner with Product Management to shape the Banking roadmap based on field insights and customer needs

Agentforce & AI Innovation

Drive Agentforce adoption across the Banking portfolio through strategic PoCs, workshops, and executive positioning
Build Banking-specific Agentforce use cases (e.g., intelligent servicing, loan processing automation, fraud detection) and create reusable assets
Lead the "Voice of the Field" for Banking AI requirements, influencing the Agentforce and Data Cloud product roadmap

Operational Excellence & Enablement

Drive data-driven decision making through pipeline analysis, win/loss reviews, and resource optimisation
Champion adoption of new tools, methodologies, and programs to enhance team productivity and effectiveness
Create and scale Banking enablement programs, reusable demo assets, and best practices across the global SE organisation
Oversee capacity planning and strategic resource allocation across your team to maximise business impact

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with Systems Integrators (e.g., Deloitte, Accenture, Cap Gemini) on Banking implementations and co-selling initiatives
Collaborate with Product, Marketing, and Professional Services to deliver integrated customer success outcomes
Participate in and influence the broader FSI SE Leadership Team, driving organizational initiatives and best practices

Required Qualifications

Leadership Experience

8+ years in enterprise software with 5+ years leading pre-sales or solution engineering teams
Demonstrated track record of building and scaling high-performing teams with measurable business outcomes
Experience leading teams with joint accountability for $50m+ annual revenue targets

Banking Domain Expertise

Deep understanding of Banking business models, operations, and regulatory landscape (Basel III, Dodd-Frank, GDPR, Open Banking)
Knowledge of Banking technology architecture including core banking systems, payment platforms, and digital channels
Experience with Banking-specific use cases across retail, commercial, corporate, and investment banking
Understanding of Banking AI/ML applications and emerging technologies

Technical & Business Acumen

Strong technical foundation in cloud technologies, CRM platforms, data architecture, and integration patterns
Proven ability to engage with C-suite executives (CIOs, CDOs, Chief Data Officers) and articulate business value
Experience orchestrating complex, multi-product solutions involving CRM, Data, AI, and Integration platforms
Financial acumen with ability to build business cases and ROI models for transformation initiatives

Strategic & Communication Skills

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with ability to influence at all organizational levels
Strategic thinking with proven execution capabilities and focus on measurable outcomes
Track record of driving organisational change and championing innovation
Executive presence with ability to represent Salesforce at industry events and customer executive briefings

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in Banking or Financial Services industry (client-side or vendor-side)
Salesforce certifications (e.g., FSC Consultant, Data Cloud Consultant, AI Specialist)
Prior experience with Salesforce platform or ecosystem
MBA or advanced technical degree
Experience leading global or geographically distributed teams
Proven track record of developing direct reports into leadership roles

Preferred Banking Domain Expertise

Strong understanding of Banking business models, operations, and regulatory landscape (Basel III, Dodd-Frank, GDPR, Open Banking)
Knowledge of Banking technology architecture including core banking systems, payment platforms, and digital channels
Experience with Banking-specific use cases across retail, commercial, corporate, and investment banking
Understanding of Banking AI/ML applications and emerging technologies

Success Metrics (First 12 Months)

Achieve/exceed the ACV and Consumption targets across Banking portfolio
Build and stabilise team structure with <10% voluntary attrition
Establish 3+ strategic executive relationships at Tier 1 banks
Drive 5+ Agentforce production deployments across Banking customers
Develop and deploy 3 reusable Banking solution assets adopted across EMEA/Global
Achieve 85%+ team engagement score and 90%+ goal completion rate
Deliver 3 Banking thought leadership sessions at industry events or Dreamforce

Location & Travel

Based in London with flexibility for hybrid working
Regular travel across the UK to meet with customers and team (40-50%)
Occasional international travel for company events, strategic customer meetings, and team off-sites (10-15%)

Senior Director, Solution Engineering - Banking