Director, AI & Research

JAAQ; London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a pioneering mental health platform as the Director of AI & Research to lead the integration of AI solutions in mental health care. With a focus on clinical impact and ethical AI use, you'll collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop innovative products aimed at better mental health access and support.

Benefits

Private Medical Healthcare

Gym Membership

Professional Development Budget

Breather Days

Equity Options

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of experience in AI, ML, or Health Tech R&D.
• Experience with conversational AI, LLMs, and applied machine learning.
• Understanding of mental health clinical pathways and triage models.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy and development of LLM-powered conversational AI systems.
• Define clinical guardrails and ethical standards for AI use.
• Recruit, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of AI researchers.

Skills

Artificial Intelligence

Machine Learning

Conversational AI

Natural Language Processing

Clinical Research

Education

MSc or PhD in Computer Science

Psychology

Biomedical Engineering

Health Informatics

Job description

About JAAQ

JAAQ (Just Ask A Question) is a pioneering mental health platform that leverages interactive video technology and AI to provide users with access to insights from world-leading experts and individuals with lived experiences. Our mission is to help the mental health of one billion people and democratise mental health support, making it accessible, engaging and stigma-free for everyone.

We are B2B2C with a growing consumer facing platform with goals to reach millions of MAU every month, currently in over 90 markets with the UK and US as our primary focusses. We also have a growing range of B2B propositions ranging from JAAQ Studio to JAAQ At work with more propositions launching through 2025. Our ambitions are big and unmatched in the mental health and wellness space. Our platforms have answered over 2 million questions and we work with over 350 (growing every week) doctors and clinicians, celebrities and people with lived experience. Want to help a billion minds? Read on…

And want to get a real feel for JAAQ? Look no further…

Role Overview

As Director of AI & Research, you will lead JAAQ’s AI vision—developing clinically grounded, scalable and safe models for mental health triage, intelligent care, and personalized support. You’ll be the driving force behind the responsible integration of LLMs and conversational AI into our products.

You’ll collaborate across clinical, product, engineering, and regulatory teams to create meaningful AI solutions while establishing research validation frameworks and preparing for future medical device certification.

This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who combines deep technical expertise with a passion for ethical, clinical AI and a desire to redefine how people access mental health care.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end strategy and development of LLM-powered conversational AI systems and intelligent triage models

• Build clinically aligned AI experiences that are safe, empathetic, and measurable in real-world mental health settings

• Drive the AI and research agenda for flagship initiatives like JAAQ x Bupa and upcoming consumer product launches

• Define and uphold robust clinical guardrails and ethical standards for AI use, including explainability, fairness, and governance

• Work toward regulatory preparedness, exploring pathways to medical device certification (e.g. MHRA, DTAC, FDA, NICE)

• Oversee the development of internal research frameworks to evaluate efficacy and drive clinical outcomes

• Recruit, lead and mentor a high-performing team of AI researchers, engineers, and collaborators

• Build partnerships with external experts, institutions, and regulators to help shape the future of clinical AI in mental health
  

What We’re Looking For

• 7–10+ years of experience in AI, ML, or Health Tech R&D, with a strong focus on clinical impact and product delivery

• Direct experience with conversational AI, LLMs, NLP, and applied machine learning in health-related contexts

• Understanding of mental health clinical pathways, triage models, and digital therapeutics

• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements and risk management in digital health (e.g. SaMD, MHRA, FDA, ISO)

• Track record of building and leading cross-functional AI or research teams

• MSc or PhD in a relevant field (e.g. Computer Science, Psychology, Biomedical Engineering, Health Informatics)

• Passionate about scaling safe and accessible mental health support through responsible AI

Why Join JAAQ?

• Be part of a mission-driven organisation making a tangible difference in mental health accessibility.

• Collaborate with a passionate, innovative, and supportive team.

• Opportunity to shape the content landscape of a rapidly growing platform.

• Competitive compensation, outstanding benefits package and equity options - a chance to own the future of JAAQ.

• Private Medical Healthcare / Gym Membership / Professional Development Budget

• Breather Days (for when you need to take time out at short notice to rest and recoup)

JAAQ is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.