AI Lab Manager

Cpl; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Pension provision

Benefits package

Hybrid/Dublin work model

Job summary

Cpl Recruitment is partnering with a leading international banking group to hire an AI Lab Manager, a VP-level role based in Dublin. You will run the bank's AI Lab alongside an external vendor in a governed, secure space to test ideas and move the best into delivery.

You will own a visible capability from the ground up, shaping its operation, users and value. Travel to the UK may be required; base within a commutable distance to Dublin.

Qualifications

• Experience running an innovation lab, technology platform or cross-functional programme in a large organisation.
• Track record of managing business sponsors, vendors and technical teams from idea to handover.
• Experience building demand for a platform or service and developing a pipeline of use cases.
• Proven success managing multiple external technology partners.
• Enough technical grounding in cloud, APIs, source control and software delivery to engage credibly with engineers and challenge vendors.
• Working understanding of AI, including generative AI, and the controls that go with it.
• Experience delivering in a controlled enterprise setting with security, data, change and audit requirements.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills to build consensus across business and tech audiences.
• Desirable: banking or regulated industry background; familiarity with Azure and Microsoft 365.

Responsibilities

• Run the AI Lab day to day with the vendor, owning its roadmap, budget, service health and reporting.
• Set guardrails for experimentation while meeting security, data, AI governance and third‑party risk standards.
• Build and manage a pipeline of use cases from intake to go/pivot/stop decision.
• Package successful experiments for production delivery.
• Promote the Lab across the business through workshops, demos and success stories to generate demand.
• Manage relationships with technology vendors, fintechs and partners ensuring alignment with architecture, risk and legal requirements.
• Track adoption, outcomes and cost to continuously improve the Lab.
• Champion responsible AI practices including transparency, access control and human oversight.

Skills

Innovation lab management

Vendor management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication & facilitation

Cloud & API awareness

AI understanding (generative AI)

Tools

Azure

Microsoft 365

Job description

Cpl Recruitment is partnering with a leading international banking group to hire an AI Lab Manager, a Vice President-level role based in Dublin. You will run the bank's AI Lab alongside an external vendor: a governed, secure space where business and technology teams can test ideas, trial new tools and move the best of them into delivery. This is a chance to own a visible, high-profile capability from the ground up, shaping how it operates, who uses it and the value it proves.

Responsibilities

• Run the AI Lab day to day with the vendor, owning its roadmap, budget, service health and reporting
• Set the guardrails that let teams experiment quickly while meeting security, data, AI governance and third-party risk standards
• Build and manage a clear pipeline of use cases, from intake through experiment, evaluation and a go, pivot or stop decision
• Package successful experiments so delivery teams can take them into production
• Promote the Lab across the business through workshops, demos and success stories, and build a steady flow of demand
• Manage relationships with technology vendors, fintechs and partners, keeping their work aligned to internal architecture, risk and legal requirements
• Track adoption, outcomes and cost, and use the evidence to keep improving the Lab
• Champion responsible AI practices, including transparency, access control and human oversight

Requirements

• Substantial experience running an innovation lab, technology platform or cross-functional programme in a large, complex organisation
• A track record of managing business sponsors, vendors and technical teams from first idea through to decision and handover
• Experience building demand for a platform or service and developing a pipeline of use cases
• Proven success managing multiple external technology partners
• Enough technical grounding in cloud, APIs, source control and software delivery to engage credibly with engineers and challenge vendors
• A working understanding of AI, including generative AI, and the controls that go with it
• Experience delivering in a controlled enterprise setting, with sound knowledge of security, data, change and audit requirements
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to build consensus across business and technology audiences
• Desirable: a background in banking or another regulated industry, and familiarity with Azure and Microsoft 365
• May be some travel to the UK so you will need a minimum stamp 1G Spousal/Stamp 4 and be based within a commutable distance to Dublin.

On offer

• €70- €110K - Negotiable dependent on experience + bonus + benefits package, including core benefits such as pension provision.
• Hybrid/Dublin

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