AI Programme Manager

Overview

As AI Programme Manager you will shape Wates’ AI agenda and translate business aims into an investable roadmap. You will engage senior stakeholders to drive measurable enterprise value from AI initiatives, balancing innovation with risk and governance. You’ll oversee AI capabilities—from assistants to core platforms—ensuring secure, responsible adoption that delivers lasting impact. This role offers strategic influence, cross-functional collaboration and a clear path to scale AI across the business.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the AI strategy and roadmap
• Lead senior forums, advise on AI value, risk, and governance
• Identify high-value opportunities, build credible business cases, track benefits
• Manage the AI portfolio and prioritised delivery
• Establish delivery, governance, and operating rhythm to scale AI safely
• Oversee M365 Copilot adoption, training, and benefits realisation
• Create a sustainable AI agent capability with governance and production readiness
• Collaborate with Security, Legal, Architecture and business teams to ensure secure, compliant adoption

Key requirements

• Significant senior-level experience in IT, Digital, Technology, Transformation or enterprise change delivery
• Ability to shape strategy and lead enterprise-level AI-enabled change
• Strong governance, risk management and delivery capabilities in complex organisations
• Commercially minded with a track record of turning opportunity into investable propositions
• Confident with senior leadership, simplifying complexity and driving buy-in

• stakeholder management
• storytelling and executive communication
• influencing and relationship-building
• AI strategy and governance
• enterprise change delivery
• risk management in AI projects

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