Head of AI

Overview

London / Portsmouth / Glasgow | Personal Contract (dependent on skills and qualifications)

Salary £110‑123k+ bonus + benefits

Full‑Time | Hybrid

Joint‑contribution pension from 6% (12% total) – Enhanced maternity & family leave – Life assurance – HolidayPlus – Virtual GP & Employee Assistance Programme plus retail and leisure discounts & many more.

REQ 5674

Responsibilities

• Lead the organisation’s AI agenda from strategy through to delivery, shaping the AI roadmap in line with the wider digitalisation strategy and acting as the senior SME on AI across the business.
• Build AI capability largely from the ground up, establishing an effective operating model, governance frameworks, and an AI Centre of Excellence that enables safe adoption across corporate and field operations.
• Identify, shape, and prioritise AI use cases by working closely with business leaders, translating opportunities into robust business cases and helping determine which initiatives should progress.
• Ensure all AI solutions are designed and delivered in line with regulatory, safety, and ethical requirements, embedding governance, assurance, and compliance (including UK guidance and the EU AI Act) into day‑to‑day delivery.
• Lead enterprise adoption of Microsoft Copilot and the M365 AI ecosystem, while assessing and introducing additional AI or agentic tooling where it adds value and fits the regulatory environment.
• Act as a trusted partner to senior stakeholders, including directors and executives, clearly communicating AI progress, benefits, risks, and trade‑offs to build confidence and engagement.
• Work effectively with internal teams and external partners to deliver AI solutions pragmatically, balancing momentum with data maturity, organisational readiness, and financial constraints.
• Help establish a strong data and AI community of practice, fostering collaboration, shared standards, and capability growth across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Senior‑level experience leading AI or technology initiatives at enterprise scale, with a track record of turning AI concepts into practical, enterprise‑ready solutions that deliver real business value.
• Hands‑on experience deploying AI solutions, ideally including Microsoft Copilot.
• Experience working in highly regulated, complex environments (utilities, government, infrastructure, finance, or similar).
• Experience working in regulated or safety‑critical environments (e.g., utilities, infrastructure, government, financial services or similar), with a strong appreciation of governance, security, risk, and ethical AI. Familiarity with UK regulatory guidance and the implications of the EU AI Act is highly desirable.
• Comfortable operating where data maturity is still evolving and ability to balance innovation with realism and long‑term sustainability.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the credibility to engage executives, directors, and non‑technical stakeholders. Able to clearly explain AI opportunities, risks, and trade‑offs in a way that builds trust and momentum.
• A proactive, resilient mindset with the motivation to take ownership, work with ambiguity, and drive progress within clear regulatory and organisational boundaries.

Benefits

SGN leads pioneering research and development for a net‑zero energy system. Our innovative technologies transform the gas industry while ensuring safety and warmth for homes and businesses.

We are an award‑winning employer, including CCA Gold Awards for Great Places to Work and Inclusivity and Accessibility, and a proud Gold member of the Armed Forces Covenant.