Head of AI

A glance at the role:

Shape how AI is introduced, governed and scaled across one of the UK’s leading pension administration organisations. As Head of AI, you will build the strategy, capability and operating model that turns emerging technology into measurable improvements for colleagues, clients and members.

Working with the Chief Technology Officer, Executive team and stakeholders, you will identify, prioritise and deliver AI opportunities that support LPPA’s strategy, operational efficiency, service improvement and member and client outcomes.

You will establish the governance, standards and processes required for responsible AI adoption, while building organisational capability and confidence across internal and third-party solutions.

You will develop the AI team and work with suppliers, partners and the wider pensions industry to advance the use of AI.

A bit about us:

Local Pensions Partnership Administration (LPPA) is a multi-award-winning organisation and one of the UK’s leading pension administration companies. We support more than 1,500 employers and 700,000 members of Local Government, Police and Firefighter pension schemes, keeping members informed and providing employers with ongoing education and support.

What we can offer you:

- Competitive salary £90,000-£100,000 DOE + inclusion in annual bonus scheme
- 30 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays and 2 additional concessionary days and 1 day for your birthday, with the option to ‘buy and sell’ leave.
- Access to an excellent pension scheme (Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contributions.
- Access to a Health or Dental Plan and an Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme
- Free Car Parking in Preston City Centre

What you’ll be doing:

Strategic Leadership & AI Direction

- Develop LPPA’s AI strategy, roadmap and implementation plans, aligned with business, technology and transformation priorities.
- Advise Executive and senior leaders on AI opportunities, risks, trends, ethics and investment priorities.
- Shape LPPA’s AI operating model, with clear ownership, governance and accountability.
- Identify AI, automation and analytics opportunities that improve efficiency, colleague experience and member and client outcomes.
- Monitor AI developments, regulation and industry expectations, translating them into practical recommendations.
- Partner with business and technology teams to embed AI-enabled working and realise benefits.

AI Governance, Risk & Assurance

- Maintain AI governance, risk, assurance and controls, ensuring responsible, secure and ethical implementation.
- Chair AI governance forums, supporting effective prioritisation, oversight and escalation.
Embed standards for responsible AI, human oversight, data protection, cyber security and transparency.
- Assess AI initiatives for value, risk, complexity, security, compliance and readiness.
- Ensure AI adoption aligns with LPPA’s risk appetite, legal obligations, information governance and policies.
- Establish processes for the assessment and assurance of third-party AI capabilities, products and services.
- Monitor regulation and best practice to maintain proportionate AI governance.

Leadership & People Management

- Establish and grow LPPA’s AI function, recruiting and developing the specialist capability required to deliver our ambitions, creating a high-performing, inclusive and collaborative culture.
- Set clear objectives, priorities and performance expectations, ensuring alignment with LPPA’s strategic goals.
- Coach and support team members, developing AI, technical, professional and leadership capabilities.
- Lead workforce and capability planning for the AI function, identifying future skills and development needs.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, resilience, innovation and service excellence.
- Communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels, ensuring clarity, alignment and shared understanding of priorities.

Delivery, Adoption & Benefits

- Lead the evaluation, prioritisation and delivery of AI initiatives, ensuring resources are focused on the highest-value opportunities.
- Work closely with technology, change and project delivery teams to ensure AI initiatives are well governed, appropriately resourced and effectively delivered.
- Establish and manage a clear AI implementation pipeline, assessing potential value, feasibility, risk and resource requirements.
- Drive AI adoption, training and awareness across LPPA, supporting colleagues to use AI tools confidently, safely and effectively.
- Oversee AI capability within existing and future software solutions, including Microsoft Copilot, Civica UPM, UiPath, 8x8 and the LPPA data warehouse.
- Define measures of success for AI initiatives, tracking benefits, adoption, risks and lessons learned.

Stakeholder, Supplier & Industry Engagement

- Build strong relationships with stakeholders across LPPA to understand business challenges and identify appropriate AI-enabled solutions.
- Act as a trusted advisor on AI opportunities, risks and implementation approaches.
- Work with external partners, suppliers and the wider pensions industry to understand best practice and emerging use cases for AI in pensions administration.
- Manage supplier and third-party relationships relating to AI capability, ensuring solutions are aligned to LPPA’s strategic, commercial, technical and governance requirements.
- Communicate complex AI concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences, supporting informed decision-making at all levels.
- Promote organisation-wide AI literacy and awareness, helping colleagues understand the opportunities, risks and responsible use of AI.

You’ll need:

- Significant leadership experience within AI, technology, digital transformation, automation, innovation or a related field.
- Proven experience of developing and delivering AI, data, automation or technology strategies in a complex organisation.
- Experience of establishing governance, risk, assurance or control frameworks for emerging technologies.
- Strong understanding of responsible AI, ethical AI use, human oversight, data protection, cyber security and organisational risk.
- Strong practical understanding of AI technologies, their organisational applications and the conditions required for their safe and successful adoption.
- Experience of leading, developing and managing technical or specialist teams.
- Strong people leadership skills, including coaching, performance management, prioritisation and capability development.
- Experience of working with senior stakeholders and cross-functional delivery teams to drive technology-enabled change and improvements.
- Experience of managing suppliers, third-party technology partners and external relationships.
- Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain complex technical issues clearly.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Ability to balance innovation with robust governance, security, ethics and operational delivery.
- Experience of identifying, prioritising and delivering technology, AI or automation use cases that deliver measurable business outcomes.

Nice to have:

- Experience of using or implementing automation tools such as UiPath or similar platforms.
- Experience of Microsoft AI tools and the wider Microsoft technology stack.
- Experience of developing AI literacy, training programmes or organisational adoption initiatives.
- Experience working in pensions, financial services, public sector, regulated environments or member-focused service organisations.
- Understanding of data warehousing, analytics, predictive modelling or AI-enabled decision support.