Chief Data Science & AI Strategy

Xero Limited; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 250,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Xero Limited is seeking a strategic leader to own data science, ML, and AI strategy across multiple product domains. You will partner with C-suite and senior leadership to scale analytics, governance, and enterprise AI initiatives in a modern, AI-native environment.

The role combines vision with platform thinking across the metrics stack, governance, and data quality, delivering enterprise impact across product teams while operating in a flexible hybrid model between Melbourne and Sydney.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in data science, ML, or analytics at scale.
• Proven ability to shape strategy with C-suite and SLT.
• Experience with AI workflows and multi-location teams.

Responsibilities

• Translate objectives into sub-objectives across analytics, ML, AI products and experimentation.
• Lead and grow a team of data scientists, ML engineers, and managers.
• Design scalable team structures across locations and time zones.
• Drive AI-native leadership and value across Xero.
• Advise executive leadership on data utilization and AI investments.
• Represent data science in executive forums and govern data quality and privacy.
• Own AI governance and model risk across the portfolio.

Skills

AI leadership

Data strategy

People leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

SaaS experience

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field

Tools

Anthropic

OpenAI

Google AI

Job description

Xero Limited is seeking a strategic leader to own data science, ML, and AI strategy across multiple product domains. You will partner with C-suite and senior leadership to scale analytics, governance, and enterprise AI initiatives in a modern, AI-native environment.

The role combines vision with platform thinking across the metrics stack, governance, and data quality, delivering enterprise impact across product teams while operating in a flexible hybrid model between Melbourne and Sydney.