Chief AI & Automation Officer (Reposted exclusively on AIJobs.com & Escape the City)

Global University Systems; London; Remote; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A forward-thinking education group in London is seeking a Chief AI & Automation Officer (CAIO) to spearhead their AI and automation initiatives. The role involves designing strategies, building a team, and launching innovative educational products. Candidates should have significant experience in AI/ML and proven leadership skills. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of education globally while working remotely.

Benefits

Global Impact

C-level support and investment

Work from anywhere

Qualifications

• Significant experience in AI/ML, automation, or product development.
• Proven executive leadership capabilities.
• Passion for education and inclusive technology.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead AI & automation strategy.
• Build and lead a high-performing team.
• Launch AI-powered educational products.

Skills

AI/ML

Automation

Product Development

Leadership

Technical Depth in GenAI

Education

Degree in Computer Science, AI, Data Science or related field

Tools

MLOps

Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Data Management Systems

Job description

Company Description

Global University Systems is an international education group that empowers students to transform their lives through education. We believe education drives careers, lives, and society forward, enabling a brighter future for all. Our network of 30 institutions offers the broadest range of industry-relevant skills through inclusive, accessible, and digital-first learning. We currently educate around 122,000 students on campuses worldwide and have 20M+ unique subscribers to our courses. Our global ecosystem powers accessible digital learning and academic achievement.

Position

We are seeking an entrepreneurial, product-minded Chief AI & Automation Officer (CAIO) to architect and lead a full-stack AI and automation transformation across GUS institutions.

This is a greenfield opportunity for a builder: someone who has launched, scaled, and perhaps exited their own tech business. You're a founder at heart with proven product instincts & execution.

If you've thrived in fast-moving, ambiguous environments and know how to go from zero and scale significantly, this is your platform for global, purpose-led impact.

As CAIO, you will:

• Design and lead GUS's global AI & automation strategy
• Build and lead a high-performing AI, Automation & Data Science team from the ground up
• Develop intelligent, AI-driven products that personalise education and scale operations
• Automate internal processes across HR, finance, admissions, and more
• Create a central AI & Automation Innovation Hub to power transformation across the Group
• Embed ethical, data-driven thinking into all layers of GUS - from the classroom to the boardroom
• Collaborate across tech, product, academic, and commercial teams globally

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Vision & Leadership

• Define and communicate a bold, commercially viable AI & automation vision for the Group
• Build a scalable roadmap for implementation across diverse geographies and institutions
• Report directly to the CEO and board on AI/automation priorities, performance, and ROI

Product & Innovation

• Launch AI-powered educational products (e.g. adaptive platforms, virtual tutors, automated assessment tools)
• Introduce intelligent automation to enhance operational efficiency at scale
• Partner with global AI/EdTech firms, open-source projects, and research labs

Team Building

• Assemble and lead a world-class team including ML engineers, automation experts, product leaders, and AI ethicists
• Build a culture of experimentation, iteration, and speed - shipping early, learning fast

AI & Automation Infrastructure

• Work closely with the CTO/CIO to implement AI and RPA (robotic process automation) across all business functions
• Set group-wide standards for data management, privacy, and ethical AI/automation use
• Oversee platform architecture, MLOps, and scalable deployment frameworks

Requirements

You're a doer, a builder, and a visionary who has created something from scratch and scaled it. It's in your DNA to be agile, make bold moves, and use AI for more than just incremental gains.

You'll thrive in this role if you have:

• Significant experience in AI/ML, automation, or product development, with proven executive leadership
• A track record of founding, scaling, or leading a high-growth tech business or startup
• Strong product instincts; you know how to identify user problems and turn them into scalable solutions
• Technical depth in GenAI, LLMs, automation platforms, ML infrastructure, and data systems
• Passion for education and a belief in technology as a force for inclusive learning
• Strong commercial acumen; you can build, monetize, and scale intelligent products
• A clear and responsible perspective on AI/automation ethics and data privacy
• Experience hiring and inspiring diverse, cross-functional, high-performance teams
• Degree in Computer Science, AI, Data Science or a related field preferred, but not required

Why Join GUS?

• Global Impact: Shape how hundreds of thousands of learners experience education
• Founder's Playground: Build a new global function from scratch with C-level support and investment
• Purpose-Driven Mission: Use AI to improve lives, not just margins
• Live Anywhere: Work from wherever you perform best

Ready to build the future of education?

Apply now and lead one of the most ambitious AI & automation transformations in global edtech.

Other information

We acknowledge receipt of your resume for a position at Global University Systems and sincerely appreciate your interest in our company.

We will screen all applicant CVs and select the candidates whose qualifications and experience meet our requirements. Please note due to the high volume of applications we will only contact you if you are selected to continue for the next stage of the recruitment process. We wish you every success.

GUS is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religion or belief.