Senior Manager - AI and Machine Learning

Harnham; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 126,000 - 154,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Leadership role

Job summary

Harnham in Amsterdam is seeking a senior ML/AI leader to define and own the ML & AI strategy within a large-scale digital product environment. You will lead a team of Data Scientists and ML Engineers, driving experiments through to production and shaping AI-enabled product outcomes.

The role requires deep technical ML expertise, experience with Generative AI/LLMs, and strong stakeholder influence to align AI initiatives with business goals.

Qualifications

• Strong commercial experience delivering machine learning solutions in production environments.
• Deep technical expertise across machine learning, AI, and modern MLOps practices.
• Experience working with Generative AI, LLMs, RAG architectures, fine-tuning, or AI agent frameworks.
• Ability to balance technical excellence with commercial and product outcomes.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing technical data science or machine learning teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior audiences.
• Track record of driving innovation and translating emerging AI trends into practical business applications.
• Ability to make informed decisions in complex and evolving environments.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the ML & AI strategy, aligning initiatives with business and product objectives.
• Champion an AI-first approach across product and technology teams.
• Lead and develop a team of Data Scientists and ML Engineers, fostering technical growth and high performance.
• Drive the end-to-end lifecycle of machine learning and AI products from experimentation through to production.
• Evaluate emerging AI technologies, including Generative AI and LLM applications, identifying opportunities for competitive advantage.
• Establish best practices across model evaluation, MLOps, governance, and delivery.
• Guide build-versus-buy decisions for AI products, platforms, and vendor solutions.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to translate business challenges into impactful AI solutions.
• Represent the ML & AI function at leadership level, influencing strategic decision-making.

Skills

Production ML

ML/AI expertise

Generative AI & LLMs

MLOps

Stakeholder management

Leadership & mentoring

Communication

Innovation

Decision making

Job description

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future direction of AI within a large-scale digital product environment. Combining technical leadership, strategic influence, and team development, this role offers the chance to drive meaningful business impact through machine learning, generative AI, and AI-first product thinking.

The Company

They are a well-established technology-led organisation with a strong focus on innovation, data-driven decision-making, and customer experience. AI and machine learning are at the core of their long-term strategy, with significant investment in both talent and technology. The business operates at scale, providing a complex and rewarding environment where cutting-edge AI solutions can deliver measurable value. You will join a collaborative leadership team that encourages new ideas and supports technical excellence.

The Role

• Define and own the ML & AI strategy, aligning initiatives with business and product objectives.
• Champion an AI-first approach across product and technology teams.
• Lead and develop a team of Data Scientists and ML Engineers, fostering technical growth and high performance.
• Drive the end-to-end lifecycle of machine learning and AI products from experimentation through to production.
• Evaluate emerging AI technologies, including Generative AI and LLM applications, identifying opportunities for competitive advantage.
• Establish best practices across model evaluation, MLOps, governance, and delivery.
• Guide build-versus-buy decisions for AI products, platforms, and vendor solutions.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to translate business challenges into impactful AI solutions.
• Represent the ML & AI function at leadership level, influencing strategic decision-making.

Your Skills & Experience

• Strong commercial experience delivering machine learning solutions in production environments.
• Deep technical expertise across machine learning, AI, and modern MLOps practices.
• Experience working with Generative AI, LLMs, RAG architectures, fine-tuning, or AI agent frameworks.
• Ability to balance technical excellence with commercial and product outcomes.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing technical data science or machine learning teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior audiences.
• Track record of driving innovation and translating emerging AI trends into practical business applications.
• Ability to make informed decisions in complex and evolving environments.

What They Offer

• Compensation up to 140k + bonus
• Annual bonus opportunity.
• The chance to define and lead AI strategy within a high-impact environment.
• Significant influence over product direction, technology choices, and organisational AI adoption.
• Exposure to complex machine learning and AI challenges at scale.
• Clear opportunities for leadership growth and long-term career progression.