Director of Artificial Intelligence at Version 1 · London

companyDescription Version 1 has celebrated 30 years in business and continues to be trusted by global brands to deliver technology and transformation solutions that drive customer success. Our deep expertise enables our customers to navigate the rapidly evolving technology landscape. We foster strong partnerships with global technology leaders including Microsoft, AWS, Oracle, Red Hat, OutSystems, Snowflake, ensuring that our customers are provided with the highest quality solutions and services. We’re an award-winning employer reflecting how our employees are at the very heart of  what we do: UK & Ireland's premier AWS, Microsoft & Oracle partner 3300+ strong, €350/£300m revenue business 10+ years as a Great Place to Work in Ireland & UK Best Workplace for Women in the UK & Ireland by GPTW Best Workplace for Wellbeing in the UK by GPTW We’re a core values driven company, we hire people who share our values, and we reward those who display and foster them, it’s deeply embedded within our DNA. Invest in us and we’ll invest in you!. jobDescription Version 1 has built one of the most credible internal AI transformation programmes in the UK and Ireland IT services market - with adoption, productivity, and business impact that rank among the best evidenced in the sector.  Commercial performance for AI, notably the AI solutions and Next Generation AI Accelerated Development and Delivery models have grown at pace, with analyst recognition and a deal portfolio that speaks for itself. We are now creating a new AI Director position to consolidate that momentum under a single leader and accelerate the next phase of AI growth.  The role reporting directly to the CTO. The Director of AI operates as an enterprise-wide leadership role across OCTO, Commercial, Delivery Practices and Group Operations.  The role is accountable for defining Version 1’s AI strategy, technical standards, delivery accelerators, commercial AI propositions, and internal AI transformation roadmap.  Delivery operationalisation, productivity governance, workforce deployment and scaled execution remain accountable within Group Operations and Delivery Practices.  The role works in close partnership with the Delivery Productivity Office, Practice MDs, Commercial leadership and the AI Incubator to ensure consistent execution and measurable business impact across Version 1. The role will require tight linkage with the AI Incubation team (which will operate solely with new, greenfield, fixed price and outcome based priced deals and clients) and will ensure that Version 1 remains relevant and competitive with Agent-based Delivery technology and frameworks, learning and adopting the lessons and technologies developed in the incubator and ensuring that these can be consumed and used to the benefit of the wider, at scale, delivery practices in Version 1. What You’ll Own AI Financial Target / KPI’s Own the attainment of AI Solution and Intelligent Application TCV and revenue target KPIs, which are measure AI both directly and indirectly across service lines, the AI incubator and AI solution specific client engagements alike.  You will be an executive sponsor on major AI pursuits across financial services, healthcare, retail, and both UK and Ireland public sector. Internal AI Transformation Own Version 1’s “Customer Zero” position - the internal transformation programme that gives our commercial proposition its credibility. Drive continued progress against the adoption roadmap, oversee the AI CoE, and ensure the efficiency savings, use case delivery, and adoption metrics that underpin the business case are measured rigorously and reported at Board level. This is the evidence base that enables credibility of our execution in the market. AI Technical Standards & Architecture Set the AI architecture and technology standards, tooling choices, delivery frameworks, and AI governance. Propositions are shaped in OCTO; they are enabled in commercial and capability scaled in Delivery. Your job is to keep this coherent, and to ensure Version 1’s approach to agentic AI, LLM deployment patterns, RAG architectures, and responsible AI is consistent and credible - particularly as the business deepens its work in regulated industries. Whilst the AI Incubator (responsible for innovation and experimentation in v3 agentic AI delivery approaches), will work to establish and prove agentic delivery in green-field new client engagements.  The accelerated AI delivery frameworks (v2 as has been known), accelerators and agents remain critical and the responsibility of the Director of AI, as does co-creation with existing clients and new prospects that do not fall into an agreed remit of the AI Incubator. This role, and associated teams, will own the shaping and definition of technical standards and direction working alongside delivery operations to measure the impacts, delivery effectiveness and the scaling of this into delivery practices through the Delivery Productivity Office will mandate this as the scaled standard delivery model of the future. Team Leadership & Capability Direct leadership of the AI CoE and genuine influence across the AI communities embedded across Commercial, OCTO and Delivery.  This role requires credibility on all sides of the organisation.  Indirectly and additionally, the role will need to support shared functions in strategic initiatives such as defining our future AI impacted workforce strategy and team structures needed to execute across an increasingly sophisticated and commercially consequential portfolio of work. External Presence Represent Version 1 as one of the primary AI voices externally - at industry events, in executive client conversations, and whilst partnerships will remain owned in Commercial, a key engagement point with strategic partners including Anthropic, Microsoft, AWS and Credo.AI. You will shape how Version 1 is positioned as the AI landscape evolves and be the face that keeps Version 1 in the right conversations at the right level in the market. qualifications What We’re Looking For You will have a strong technical foundation - likely an engineering or computer science degree, with real experience in solution architecture, software delivery, or AI/ML engineering - combined with genuine commercial instincts. This is not a research role or a pure strategy role; it requires someone who has built things, sold things, and led people and organisations through complex technology change. Specifically, you’ll bring: Proven track record in a senior AI or technology leadership role within an IT services, consultancy, or technology product environment, with accountability for commercial outcomes (revenue, TCV, or P&L). Deep technical knowledge of enterprise AI, including generative AI, LLM-based systems, agentic workflows, and the architecture decisions that make or break production deployments at scale. Experience leading AI adoption programmes inside large organisations - not just designing them, but driving measurable usage, building champions networks, and translating adoption into evidenced business value. Demonstrated ability to lead technical pre-sales engagements at enterprise level: scoping use cases, designing solution architectures, running proof-of-concept engagements, and presenting to C-suite stakeholders. Experience working with enterprise customers in regulated industries - financial services, healthcare, or public sector - with working knowledge of the governance, compliance, and responsible AI considerations these environments require. A track record of building and scaling high-performing technical teams, including experience establishing new practice areas or centres of excellence. Tight relationships with Commercial Directors in all sectors, Practice MD’s and the Incubation leader and a style that brings people together in a collegiate manner will be critical to ensuring overall success in the acceleration of AI both in Version 1 and the external market. Credibility in working alongside commercial sales leaders, instilling confidence in client engagements, deal making, commercial acumen, and being the magic dust to winning deals. Credibility as an external thought leader - conference speaking, industry publications, partner relationships, or recognition from independent analysts. Desirable: Familiarity with UK and EU AI regulatory frameworks, including the EU AI Act. Experience with outcome-based commercial models and enterprise AI ROI methodologies. Existing relationships with hyper scaler or AI vendor partner ecosystems. What Success Looks Like In the first 12 months, you will have established a unified AI operating model across OCTO, Commercial and Delivery, with clear accountability at every level. AI commercial performance will show sustained growth and achieving KPIs. The internal transformation programme will hit its productivity targets and generate the case studies and metrics that make Version 1’s Customer Zero story impossible for competitors to replicate. KPI’s that will measure success will include: AI-related TCV and revenue growth AI-enabled delivery productivity improvements Internal AI adoption and active usage rates Margin improvement attributable to AI-enabled delivery Growth in reusable AI accelerators and propositions Client references, analyst recognition and market positioning Longer term, Version 1 will be established as the defining AI transformation partner in the UK and Ireland mid-market - the firm that didn’t just advise on AI, but lived it, measured it, and built it. additionalInformation Why Version 1? At Version 1, we believe in providing our employees with a comprehensive benefits package that prioritises their wellbeing, professional growth, and financial stability. Share in our success with our Quarterly Performance-Related Profit Share Scheme, where employees collectively benefit from a share of our company's profits Strong Career Progression & mentorship coaching through our Strength in Balance & Leadership schemes with a dedicated quarterly Pathways Career Development programme Flexible/remote working, Version 1 is tremendously understanding of life events and people’s individual circumstances and offer flexibility to help achieve a healthy work life balance Financial Wellbeing initiatives including; Pension, Private Healthcare Cover, Life Assurance, Financial advice and an Employee Discount scheme Employee Wellbeing schemes including Gym Discounts, Bike to Work, Fitness classes, Mindfulness Workshops, Employee Assistance Programme and much more. Generous holiday allowance, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, marriage/civil partnership leave and special leave policies Educational assistance, incentivised certifications, and accreditations, including AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, and Red Hat Reward schemes including Version 1’s Annual Excellence Awards & ‘Call-Out’ platform. Environment, Social and Community First initiatives allow you to get involved in local fundraising and development opportunities as part of fostering our diversity, inclusion and belonging schemes. And many more exciting benefits… drop us a note to find out more. Version 1 is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone feels valued and able to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences, and we value the different perspectives people bring. We want every candidate to have a positive and accessible recruitment experience. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process, please contact [recruiter email address] at Version 1. We will consider all requests carefully, respectfully and confidentially. Version 1 is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone feels valued and able to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences, and we value the different perspectives people bring including those shaped by disability and neurodiversity. We want every candidate to have a positive and accessible recruitment experience. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process, please contact your recruiter at Version 1. We will consider all requests carefully, respectfully and confidentially. Video links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_d3ELTH5zo