AI & Technology Innovation Lead

Volkswagen Group; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus 10%

Pension 9%

Car ownership scheme

Company car BEV

Income protection

Life assurance

Retail discount vouchers

Care Concierge

LinkedIn Learning

Mentoring & development

Job summary

Volkswagen Financial Services UK is seeking an AI & Technology Innovation Lead to shape the AI strategy and drive innovation across the business. You will lead AI initiatives, partner with senior stakeholders, and translate ideas into scalable, secure solutions that enhance how we work and serve customers.

You will work with Architecture, Data and Technology teams to deliver impactful outcomes, balancing innovation with governance and compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience leading AI, innovation, technology strategy or digital transformation initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of AI, GenAI, cloud technologies and automation platforms.
• Experience developing technology roadmaps and delivering proofs of concepts into production.
• Understanding of software development lifecycles, agile delivery and technology architecture.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience balancing innovation with security, governance and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Shaping and evolving our AI and innovation strategy.
• Identifying opportunities to leverage AI, GenAI and automation to deliver business value.
• Leading proof of concepts, pilots and innovation initiatives from idea to implementation.
• Collaborating with Architecture, Data and Technology teams to deliver scalable, secure solutions.
• Influencing stakeholders and promoting AI adoption across the organisation.
• Ensuring innovation aligns with governance, risk and compliance requirements.

Skills

AI strategy

GenAI

Cloud tech

POCs

Stakeholder mgmt

Tech roadmaps

Agile delivery

Security & compliance

AWS

Azure

DevOps tools

Tools

AWS

Azure

DevOps tools

Job description

We're looking for an AI & Technology Innovation Lead to help shape the future of technology at Volkswagen Financial Services UK. You'll lead our AI strategy, identify emerging technologies and turn innovative ideas into practical solutions that improve how we work and serve our customers. This is a high-impact, important role where you'll drive AI, automation and digital innovation across the business, working with senior stakeholders, global teams and leading technology partners.

What you'll be doing

• Shaping and evolving our AI and innovation strategy.
• Identifying opportunities to leverage AI, GenAI and automation to deliver business value.
• Leading proof of concepts, pilots and innovation initiatives from idea to implementation.
• Collaborating with Architecture, Data and Technology teams to deliver scalable, secure solutions.
• Influencing stakeholders and promoting AI adoption across the organisation.
• Ensuring innovation aligns with governance, risk and compliance requirements.

You’ll be an experienced technology leader who enjoys exploring what's next and translating innovation into meaningful outcomes.

You’ll have a passion for emerging technologies, strong stakeholder management skills and a track record of delivering change in complex environments.

Essential experience & skills

• Experience leading AI, innovation, technology strategy or digital transformation initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of AI, GenAI, cloud technologies and automation platforms.
• Experience developing technology roadmaps and delivering proof of concepts into production.
• Understanding of software development lifecycles, agile delivery and technology architecture.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience balancing innovation with security, governance and compliance requirements.

Why join VWFS UK?

You’ll have the opportunity to make a difference by helping us to achieve our mission. Our mission is straight forward; we want to be 'The Key to Mobility'. That means we make getting from A-to-B as easy and simple for as many people as possible. To truly meet the mobility needs of people in a changing world, our offering goes beyond traditional vehicle financing. We do this by providing a range of finance and aftersales products on Volkswagen Group vehicles, as well as developing innovative mobility products designed to solve real problems and support our customers.

VWFS is proud to be an inclusive employer and encourages applications from a diverse range of candidates. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion isn't just a statement for us, we encourage and aspire for all our colleagues to be their 100% self. If you need any reasonable adjustments to assist you with the application and/or recruitment processes, please contact our Resourcing Team.

This role does not meet the UKVI's criteria for the skilled worker sponsorship route, therefore we are unable to accept candidates requiring sponsorship for this role.

What's in it for you?

Bonus: Discretionary 10% on-target bonus (based on personal and Group company performance). Pension: Employer pension contribution of 9% (based on employee contribution of 3%). VWFS will pay 6% if employee chooses a 2% employee contribution.

• Choice of Employee Car Ownership (ECO) scheme for petrol/diesel and hybrid vehicles plus car insurance and fuel card
• Company Car scheme for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) plus car insurance cover for you and a partner/eligible family member.

Other benefits: From day 1 we provide income protection, life assurance (4x salary), retail discount vouchers, access to Care Concierge (a service to support carers of adults), along with other salary sacrifice options including a will writing service and cycle to work (subject to scheme restrictions). Following successful completion of probation, you will have access to private medical insurance for you (with the option to buy additional family cover), access to our loan car scheme for up to 2 cars for your partner or eligible family members (subject to scheme restrictions) and during our annual benefit window you can purchase critical illness cover and dental cover, so you can select the benefits that matter to you. We invest in our people and are passionate about driving development. You'll have access to LinkedIn Learning via our Degreed platform as well as a host of professional development programmes and opportunities to build your technical and soft skills so you can further develop your career. We also offer mentoring schemes and reciprocal partnerships recognising that we can all learn from each other in the flow of work.