Head Of Ai Strategy

Arup; Manchester; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit share

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Income protection

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Arup is seeking a Head of AI Strategy to guide enterprise-wide AI adoption across planning, design, engineering and operations. You will align with technical experts, project teams and executive leadership to identify high-impact AI opportunities and translate them into scalable, responsible programs.

The role requires deep knowledge of AEC workflows, strategic vision, and strong influencing capability to drive digital delivery and governance across a global operation.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or contributing to digital strategy development and roadmaps on a global scale.
• Understanding of ML Ops concepts, AI governance, and responsible AI requirements.
• High emotional intelligence with the ability to influence and align stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with understanding of AEC business models, design/engineering workflows and digital delivery.
• Strong knowledge of AI/ML principles and familiarity with AI frameworks and ecosystems.

Responsibilities

• Shape how the organisation leverages AI to transform planning, design, engineering and business operations.
• Partner with technical experts, project delivery teams and business leadership to identify high-value AI applications.
• Ensure AI deployments are responsible, ethical, and effectively integrated across business units.

Skills

AI strategy leadership

Stakeholder influence

AEC workflow understanding

Cross-functional leadership

Designing AI governance

Strategic thinking

Job description

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

Data Services is a core enabling function that helps the organisation make better, faster, and more confident decisions through data and AI. The team designs, builds, and operates data and AI platforms, analytics, and governance capabilities that support business priorities across the enterprise. Working closely with stakeholders, Data Services turns complex data into trusted insights, scalable solutions, and reusable foundations that drive value, innovation, and performance.

Watch this short clip to discover how Arup are shaping a better world and how you could be a part of it!

The Opportunity

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas. You will have the opportunity do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

The Head of AI Strategy plays a pivotal role in shaping how the organisation leverages artificial intelligence to transform planning, design, engineering and business operations. This leader partners with technical experts, project delivery teams, and business leadership to identify high-value AI applications—ranging from design automation and predictive analytics to project risk management and digital twins—and ensures they are deployed responsibly and effectively. The role requires strong domain understanding of AEC workflows combined with strategic vision, technical fluency, and cross-functional leadership.

Did you know: Our Digital Technology team are proud prior winners of the at the Chartered Institute of IT’s UK IT Industry Awards.

Is this role right for you?

• Experience leading or contributing to digital strategy development, roadmaps and multi-year transformation programs on a global scale.
• Understanding of ML Ops concepts, AI governance, and responsible AI requirements.
• High emotional intelligence and skilled at influencing, building trust and alignment
• Strategic thinker with strong understanding of AEC business models, design/engineering workflows, construction operations, and digital delivery.
• Strong foundational understanding of AI/ML principles and familiarity with common AI/ML frameworks and ecosystems
• Ability to translate complex technology trends into a clear and actionable enterprise strategy across technical, operational and executive stakeholders.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We care about you and want you to perform at your best, which is why we offer one of the most competitive benefits packages in our sector.

As a member organisation, everyone shares in our success through a global profit share scheme (payments are dependent on the firm’s financial performance).

We also provide private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.