AI Governance Lead - Hybrid

Imperial Tobacco Group; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Imperial Brands in Bristol is seeking an AI Governance Lead to shape the enterprise AI governance framework and steer responsible AI adoption across our global FMCG organisation.

You will collaborate with Legal, Security and Data teams to embed risk controls, drive governance across the AI lifecycle, and provide executive oversight for high-risk use cases. This strategic role sits at the intersection of technology, risk and business transformation.

Qualifications

• Experience in governance, risk, compliance, data governance, AI, analytics or technology leadership roles.
• Deep understanding of AI governance, responsible AI, model risk management and regulatory compliance; experience developing governance frameworks and policies.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML concepts, model lifecycle management and associated risks.
• Experience working with legal, compliance, security and enterprise risk functions.
• Experience within large, multinational organisations and managing multiple stakeholders.
• Knowledge of emerging AI regulations, responsible AI frameworks and industry best practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead and evolve the enterprise AI governance framework within agreed policies and control requirements.
• Establish responsible AI guardrails and risk management processes to balance innovation with compliance.
• Drive governance across the AI lifecycle from experimentation to retirement.
• Partner with Legal, Security, Compliance and Data Governance teams to embed regulatory requirements into AI solutions.
• Provide oversight on AI adoption, including risk classifications, escalations and governance decisions for high-risk use cases.
• Build and lead a high-performing AI governance capability with executive reporting and insights.

Skills

Governance & risk

Regulatory compliance

AI governance

Model risk management

Stakeholder management

Regulatory frameworks

Job description

Ready to define how AI is governed across a global organisation and shape the future of responsible AI? Come and join Imperial Brands as our AI Governance Lead, where you will be joining an inclusive, innovative global FMCG business powered by 25,000 talented employees worldwide, where your expertise will help shape our future. As our AI Governance Lead, you will play a pivotal role in enabling the safe, responsible and scalable adoption of Artificial Intelligence across the organisation. Reporting into the Data and AI Hub, you will own and evolve the enterprise AI governance framework, ensuring AI use cases, models, platforms and AI-enabled products operate within approved policies, controls and risk guardrails. This is a strategic position sitting at the intersection of technology, risk, compliance and business transformation. You will help shape how AI is adopted across the organisation, balancing innovation with governance while providing clear accountability, oversight and assurance. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and lead AI governance at enterprise scale, ensuring innovation is delivered responsibly, securely and in line with emerging regulatory expectations. This role is based at our Bristol HQ, where we work on a 50% hybrid working model.

Principle Accountabilities

• Lead and evolve the enterprise AI governance framework, ensuring AI initiatives operate within agreed policies, standards and control requirements.
• Establish responsible AI guardrails and risk management processes that enable innovation while maintaining compliance, transparency and accountability.
• Drive governance across the AI lifecycle, from experimentation and approval through to monitoring, change control and retirement.
• Partner with Legal, Security, Compliance and Data Governance teams to embed regulatory and governance requirements into AI solutions and products
• Provide oversight and challenge on AI adoption, managing risk classification, escalations, policy exceptions and governance decisions for high-risk use cases.
• Build and lead a high-performing AI governance capability, providing executive reporting, governance insights and thought leadership across the organisation
  Experience in governance, risk, compliance, data governance, AI, analytics or technology leadership roles
• Deep understanding of AI governance, responsible AI, model risk management and regulatory compliance; alongside experience of developing and implementing governance frameworks and policies
• Strong understanding of AI/ML concepts, model lifecycle management and associated risks
• Experience working with legal, compliance, security and enterprise risk functions
• Experience within large, complex, multinational organisations and managing multiple stakeholders
• Knowledge of emerging AI regulations, responsible AI frameworks and industry best practices
  We're a truly international company, fourth largest in our industry and operating across 120 markets. An inclusive, innovative global FMCG business supported by 25,000 employees. As we embrace a new era of growth, we are transforming. Our ways of working and culture are driven by a challenger mindset, constantly questioning the status quo where people can bring their best selves to work. Our agility and collaboration are driving our ambitions, innovation and success all supported by our award-winning development programmes that creates exciting and rewarding career opportunities for all. Encouraging inclusion at local levels and supporting a developing and robust diversity agenda globally, we're fully committed to creating and maintaining an environment that celebrates and respects difference.

As a matter of policy, Imperial Tobacco or its subsidiaries never requests or requires payment as part of any recruitment process.

In return for playing your part in building our future, you will receive a comprehensive compensation package with salary, bonus scheme and further benefits as well inspiring places to work and collaborate with purpose. Here at Imperial we will give you the opportunity to grow and learn, innovate at pace and be a part of our purpose to forge a path to a healthier future for moments of relaxation and pleasure for our consumers.