Head of AI-Driven Ops Innovation

Adyen; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 210,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Adyen is seeking a Head of Forward Deployed Engineering - Operations to shape how AI and automation transform Operations. You will set the AI and innovation direction, identify high-value use cases with domains, and lead a small team of AI specialists to turn ideas into scalable solutions.

You will work closely with central engineering and enablement groups to connect new capabilities to Ops needs, ensuring practical, measurable improvements in customer experience and efficiency at scale.

Qualifications

• Strong operational judgement; understands how real work happens and how to redesign workflows.
• Credibility with engineers and technical partners; understands architectures, trade-offs, risks.
• Deep curiosity in AI and adjacent technology; keeps up with market trends.
• Ability to turn ideas into outcomes; move from concept to prioritisation to implementation.
• Strong executive presence; can engage with senior stakeholders.
• Practical, creative, solution-oriented mindset.
• Long-term thinking to shape foundations for Ops.
• Cross-functional instincts across operations, engineering, data, product, enablement, and capability teams.

Responsibilities

• Set the AI and innovation direction for Operations, with a clear view of what will create the most meaningful step change in customer experience, productivity, quality, and scalability.
• Work with the domains to identify and prioritise the use cases that matter most, based on business value, feasibility, and readiness.
• Lead the central Ops innovation model, including the structure, ways of working, and foundations needed for domain-led re-engineering to succeed.
• Lead a small team of Forward Deployed AI specialists to turn ideas into real, scalable solutions.
• Build credibility for AI across Ops through clear thinking, practical examples, and a strong view of where the real value is and where the risks are.
• Stay current on the AI landscape, emerging patterns, and market developments, and translate that into practical implications for how Ops should evolve.
• Work with central business enablement and capability teams so that new capabilities landing across the company are connected to Ops needs, and the right upskilling happens as use cases scale.
• Represent Operations in central engineering, making sure that Ops priorities are well understood, well framed, and well supported.
• Track progress and value delivered, and keep the focus on outcomes rather than activity.

Skills

Operational judgement

Technical depth

Curiosity in AI

Turning ideas into outcomes

Executive presence

Solution-oriented mindset

Long-term thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Adyen is seeking a Head of Forward Deployed Engineering - Operations to shape how AI and automation transform Operations. You will set the AI and innovation direction, identify high-value use cases with domains, and lead a small team of AI specialists to turn ideas into scalable solutions.

You will work closely with central engineering and enablement groups to connect new capabilities to Ops needs, ensuring practical, measurable improvements in customer experience and efficiency at scale.