Head of AI & Data – Chief Data Office

London – Hybrid | £140,000 - £150,000 + up to 45% bonus + 15% car allowance

VIQU is recruiting a Head of AI & Data to build and lead the UK AI capability from the ground up. This is a hands-on, strategic leadership role within the Chief Data Office, reporting into the Director and working closely with both UK and global stakeholders. The role offers the opportunity to define AI strategy, build a Centre of Excellence, and deliver impactful data-driven initiatives across the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the UK AI strategy, aligned with business and global priorities.

• Build and scale an AI team and Centre of Excellence, mentoring and growing talent.

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models into production.

• Establish AI governance, standards, and ethical frameworks to ensure responsible AI adoption.

• Enable innovation through sandbox environments, tooling guidance, and accelerators.

• Influence and collaborate with senior stakeholders to translate AI into measurable business value.

• Drive data-centric AI initiatives, ensuring compliance and alignment with enterprise architecture.

• Collaborate with global AI teams to align strategy, frameworks, and best practices.

Key Requirements

• Current Head of AI, Head of Data Science, or Senior AI Lead ready to step up.

• Proven experience building and scaling AI/ML teams (0–10 / 0–15).

• Insurance experience

• Strong technical credibility in ML, AI, and enterprise platforms.

• Hands-on experience with Azure, Databricks, and ML tools (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn).

• Knowledge of Responsible AI, ethical frameworks, and compliance standards.

• Experience in insurance or regulated financial services preferred.

• Comfortable presenting to and influencing executives.

• Collaborative, adaptable, and able to navigate complex stakeholder environments.

To apply: Please reach out via LinkedIn to Phoebe Rees or apply via the VIQU website. Know someone suitable? You could earn up to £1,000 if your referral is successful (T&Cs apply).

Contact information

Phoebe Rees