Lead, Vertical AI Products

IFS; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

IFS in the United Kingdom is seeking experienced Vertical Product Leads who act as domain specialists for specific industrial sectors. You will bridge customer challenges and AI solutions, defining high-value use cases and guiding cross-functional teams to market-ready products.

You will become the voice of the customer, translating industry problems into well-defined use cases for AI engineers to implement, requiring strong relationship-building and a consultative approach.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in a specific industry verticals with demonstrated expertise in operations, strategy, or transformation
• Strong understanding of business processes, operational challenges, and strategic priorities in your industry
• Experience working directly with enterprise clients in a consultative or advisory capacity
• Demonstrated ability to identify business problems and conceptualize effective solutions
• Track record of successfully leading cross-functional teams to deliver products or projects
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate between technical and business stakeholders
• Demonstrated commercial acumen and ability to build compelling business cases
• Ability to develop trusted relationships with C-suite and senior executives
• Comfort with ambiguity and ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, evolving environments

Responsibilities

• Develop deep expertise in a specific vertical industry and become the internal authority on that sector's challenges, workflows, and opportunities
• Build and maintain relationships with key customers and industry stakeholders to identify high-value problems that can be solved with AI
• Collaborate with customers to define use cases, validate solutions, and drive adoption
• Lead small, agile squads comprising AI engineers and designers to develop targeted solutions for industry-specific challenges
• Translate industry requirements into clear product specifications that technical teams can implement
• Develop GTM and pricing strategies for applications in your industry vertical
• Guide the product development process from initial concept through to commercial launch
• Create go-to-market strategies for industry-specific AI solutions and support sales teams in customer acquisition
• Represent the company at industry events and build thought leadership in your domain
• Stay current on industry trends, competitive offerings, and emerging challenges to identify new opportunities

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking experienced Vertical Product Leads who are the domain specialists for specific industrial sectors or horizontal use cases. These pivotal roles will bridge the gap between customer challenges and AI solutions, working directly with clients to identify high-value use cases and collaborating with our technical teams to transform these opportunities into market-ready products. You will serve as the industry authority, bringing deep sector knowledge and business acumen to guide the development of tailored AI solutions.

You will be responsible for becoming the voice of the customer within our organization, translating complex industry problems into well-defined use cases that our AI engineers will implement. This role requires exceptional relationship-building skills, a consultative approach to solution development, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams of technical specialists without necessarily having technical expertise yourself.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop deep expertise in a specific vertical industry (e.g., aerospace, energy, manufacturing) and become the internal authority on that sector's challenges, workflows, and opportunities
• Build and maintain relationships with key customers and industry stakeholders to identify high-value problems that can be solved with AI
• Collaborate with customers to define use cases, validate solutions, and drive adoption
• Lead small, agile squads comprising AI engineers and designers to develop targeted solutions for industry-specific challenges
• Translate industry requirements into clear product specifications that technical teams can implement
• Develop GTM and pricing strategies for applications in your industry vertical
• Guide the product development process from initial concept through to commercial launch
• Create go-to-market strategies for industry-specific AI solutions and support sales teams in customer acquisition
• Represent the company at industry events and build thought leadership in your domain
• Stay current on industry trends, competitive offerings, and emerging challenges to identify new opportunities

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in a specific industry verticals with demonstrated expertise in operations, strategy, or transformation
• Strong understanding of business processes, operational challenges, and strategic priorities in your industry
• Experience working directly with enterprise clients in a consultative or advisory capacity
• Demonstrated ability to identify business problems and conceptualize effective solutions
• Track record of successfully leading cross-functional teams to deliver products or projects
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate between technical and business stakeholders
• Demonstrated commercial acumen and ability to build compelling business cases
• Ability to develop trusted relationships with C-suite and senior executives
• Comfort with ambiguity and ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, evolving environments

Additional Information

We embrace flexibility and hybrid work opportunities to support diverse needs and lifestyles, while also valuing inclusive workplace experiences. By fostering a sense of community, we drive innovation, strengthen connections, and nurture belonging. Our commitment ensures you can work in a way that suits you best, while also engaging with colleagues to share ideas and build meaningful relationships.