Head of AI

Data Idols; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK brand is seeking a Head of AI to define and drive a comprehensive AI strategy. This pivotal role involves leading a new AI function, engaging with senior stakeholders, and ensuring the successful adoption of AI technologies to transform business operations. The ideal candidate has strong leadership experience in enterprise AI, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to build and uplift teams.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in defining and delivering enterprise AI strategy, including GenAI.
• Strong understanding of AI platforms and modern AI tooling (without hands-on duties).
• Experience translating AI opportunities into impactful use cases at scale.

Responsibilities

• Set the enterprise AI strategy aligned with business goals.
• Build and lead a new AI organisation.
• Drive adoption of generative and advanced operational AI.
• Influence senior stakeholders on AI value creation.

Skills

Leadership in AI strategy

Understanding of AI platforms

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Team building

Job description

Head of AI

Salary: 100,000 - 150,000 + bonus

Location: London/Hybrid

Data Idols are partnering with a major UK brand undergoing a significant enterprise-wide transformation, placing AI at the centre of its long-term business and technology strategy. This is a pivotal, newly created leadership role with the remit to define, influence, and drive the organisation's entire AI agenda.

The Opportunity

As Head of AI, you will shape the strategic direction for how AI, including generative, agentic, and operational AI, is adopted, governed, and scaled across the organisation. You'll create and lead a high-impact AI function that brings together existing ML, AI Ops, and emerging AI capabilities under a clear, unified strategy.

This role is about vision, influence, and enterprise-wide impact. You'll work closely with executive stakeholders to identify where AI can deliver meaningful commercial value, create competitive advantage, and transform customer and operational experiences. You will champion the responsible and strategic adoption of AI, ensuring cutting-edge technologies translate into measurable outcomes.

While you'll have a strong technical grounding, this is not a hands‑on research or engineering position. Instead, you will provide strategic leadership, ensuring the right capabilities, standards, and governance structures are in place to successfully deliver AI at scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Set the enterprise AI strategy, aligning AI capabilities with long‑term business goals
• Build, lead, and inspire a new AI organisation, consolidating and uplifting existing teams
• Drive adoption of generative, agentic, and advanced operational AI across diverse business areas
• Influence senior stakeholders and guide the organisation on where and how AI can create real commercial leverage

Skills and Experience

• Proven leadership in defining and delivering enterprise AI strategy, including GenAI
• Strong understanding of AI platforms, MLOps, and modern AI tooling (without needing to be hands‑on)
• Experience translating AI opportunities into commercially impactful use cases at scale
• Exceptional communication, influence, and stakeholder engagement skills, able to operate confidently at senior levels
• Demonstrated ability to build new teams and uplift organisational capability

If you are motivated by shaping the future of AI within a major organisation and leading an agenda with significant executive visibility and impact, please submit your CV for initial screening.

Head of AI