AI Strategist

Role Purpose

The role is responsible for shaping and driving the organisation’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation strategy. The role combines strategic leadership with practical delivery oversight, managing a small specialist team focused on machine learning solutions and automation opportunities. The role focuses on identifying high-value AI opportunities, aligning AI initiatives with business priorities, and ensuring the organisation adopts AI in a responsible, scalable, and outcome-driven way, while enabling innovation and operational efficiency across the organisation. 

• Provide strategic direction and technical oversight to the ML and Automation engineers for AI model development, automation and intelligent workflows. 

• Define and maintain the AI and automation strategy aligned with business and technology goals. 

• Develop a prioritised pipeline of AI and automation initiatives, working closely with IT Portfolio Manager, that support productivity and decision-making improvement and innovation. 

• Provide thought leadership on emerging AI trends, technologies and industry best practice. 

• Shape the roadmap for AI adoption, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure and maintainable in collaboration with DevOps, data engineering and architecture teams. 

• Promote best practices in MLOps, automation lifecycle management, and continuous improvement.  

• Work with IT Business Partners and business stakeholders to identify opportunities for AI-driven insights, automation and optimisation.  

• Develop and implement an AI governance framework, policies and risk management practices. 

• Promote responsible, ethical, and transparent use of AI across the organisation 

• Drive AI literacy and awareness across the business, supporting training and enablement initiatives to embed AI into everyday workflows. 

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence or related discipline, including relevant certifications 

• Strong understanding of AI, machine learning, advanced analytics and automation technologies. 

• Proven experience leading AI initiatives in enterprise environments. 

• Demonstrated experience managing or leading technical teams delivering AI or data-driven solutions. 

• Familiarity with modern data architectures, cloud platforms, and DevOps/MLOps practices. 

• Ability to translate business challenges into AI-driven solutions and measurable outcomes. 

• Strategic thinker with a strong delivery mindset. 

• Collaborative leader comfortable working across multidisciplinary teams. 

• Innovative and forward-looking with a pragmatic approach to technology adoption. 

• Strong communicator able to bridge business and technical perspectives. 

• Outcome-driven with a focus on measurable value.