Head of AI Innovation Lab

Equifax; Wexford; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A global technology company is seeking a Head of AI Innovation Lab in Wexford, Ireland. This role involves leading the AI Innovation Lab, managing a team, and ensuring the development of AI solutions aligned with company strategies. Candidates should have a strong background in AI, leadership experience, and knowledge of cloud-based AI platforms. This full-time position offers a chance to make significant impacts in AI-driven projects.

Qualifications

• 7-10+ years of related experience in AI and data science.
• Experience leading AI projects and managing teams.
• Strong understanding of cloud-based AI platforms.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and administer the AI Innovation Lab.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop AI-driven solutions.
• Ensure compliance with AI governance and risk mitigation policies.

Skills

Leadership capabilities

Cloud computing

AI and machine learning

SQL

Python

Data science

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a numerical subject

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Google Cloud's Vertex AI

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the leadership team at the AI Innovation Lab in Wexford, Ireland. The Head of AI Innovation Lab supervises and administers the center of excellence in Wexford, Ireland, driving the development and implementation of AI solutions that support the UK&I AI strategy. It involves translating the Equifax vision into concrete plans and actions, ensuring the lab’s projects align with overall strategy, overseeing day‑to‑day operations, managing and mentoring a team of AI professionals, driving development and delivery of AI projects, and collaborating across departments to identify AI opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and administer the AI Innovation Lab, aligning with the AI UK&I Director on strategy for Equifax UK&I.
• Promote the lab as a centre of excellence for generative and predictive AI, neural networks, and natural language processing.
• Oversee the development and implementation of AI models and proofs of concept using Vertex AI, Gemini Models, and BQML.
• Provide strategic oversight of the AI Innovation Lab’s resources, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and maintaining a detailed log of all AI ventures.
• Collaborate closely with the AI UK&I Director, product managers, analysts, and other stakeholders to identify and develop AI‑driven solutions.
• Ensure compliance with Equifax's AI governance and risk mitigation policies.
• Provide team mentorship and hands‑on project leadership within the AI Innovation Lab.
• Report to the AI UK&I Director and fulfil governance requirements.
• Utilise subject‑matter expertise in data structures, analytics, algorithms/models, and strong computer‑science fundamentals to lead data preparation, analytics, and development of deployable solutions across multiple projects.
• Collect, analyse and interpret large data assets to define and build multiple innovative solution components leveraging business and technical expertise.
• Evaluate new data sources, provide recommendations on the value of data sources, and design code to improve the productivity of Equifax, enhancing and updating code where needed while ensuring code quality.
• Manage teams that lead multiple programmes of solutions that generate significant Equifax revenue, facilitating stakeholder collaboration to support the development of predictive models, risk assessments, fraud detection, recommendation engines, etc.
• Conduct resource assignment and weigh multiple priorities to drive the right business decisions.
• Partner across multiple functional units to execute goals.
• Package, summarise, visualise and perform storytelling on analytical findings and results for management and senior business users.
• Communicate results to senior management and external stakeholders, able to communicate the strategic impact of the work.
• Architect multiple innovative solution components leveraging business and technical expertise.
• Perform as lead technical data scientist for multiple technical and business domains.
• Evaluate the technical work of experienced data scientists, guiding them on deliverable quality and accuracy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (2:1 or above) in a numerical subject such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or Engineering. Master’s degree preferred.
• 7‑10+ years of related experience with demonstrated leadership capabilities and/or functioning as a team lead/supervisor.
• Cloud certification strongly desired; additional role‑based certifications may be required depending on region/BU requirements.
• Experience with SQL and Python (commercial or academic).
• Extensive experience in AI, machine learning, and data science.
• Proven track record of leading and managing AI projects and teams.
• Strong understanding of cloud‑based AI platforms, such as Google Cloud’s Vertex AI.
• Experience with generative AI models and technologies.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
• Familiarity with regulatory and compliance requirements related to AI.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master’s or Ph.D. in computer science, artificial intelligence, or a related field.
• Experience in the financial services or credit reporting industry.
• Publications or presentations on AI‑related topics.
• Track record of implementing impactful AI projects.

Job Details

• Seniority Level: Mid‑Senior
• Employment Type: Full‑time
• Job Function: Engineering and Information Technology