AI Practice & Innovation Lead

AIPractice& InnovationLead

Reports to:Head of AI and Innovation

TheAIPractice& Innovation Leadplays a pivotal role in shaping the future of M&G Life. This role exists to turnbold ideas into real outcomes orchestrating the teams technology and thinking that will transform how we serve our customers strengthen our business and unlock the full potential of AI across the organisation. Acting as theoperational heartbeatof the AI & Innovation function this leader ensures that our strategy becomes reality our standards stay high and our people feel empowered to innovate with confidence and purpose.

The Role:The M&G Life business has an ambitious strategy for growth that encompasses the creation of a broader range of investment solutions enhances customer access to our products and expands our distribution capability while delivering value throughadvice.

The ability to achieve our strategic goals and build a future-ready business relies on a coherent integrated digital data & AI strategy bolstered by robust governance processes.

TheAIPractice& InnovationLeadisan important roleworking closely with and reporting directly into the Head of AI and Innovationacting as an operational deputy empowered to make day-to-day operational and design decisions.The rolewillbe responsiblefororchestrating cross-pod governanceworkintakeprioritisation and standards across the AI & Innovation function.Otherresponsibilitiesincludemanging the workflow leading engagement with stakeholders and technical resources andacts as the primary point of contact for day-to-day engagement with the technology community.

This role will also play a vital part insupporting the AI and Innovation strategy. This strategy will support the overall digital data & AIobjectives cover all aspects of the Life business and drive business transformation through innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Delivery

• Leadcrosspodgovernance work intake prioritisation and standards to ensure coherent and efficient operation of the AI & Innovation function.

• Overseedaytodayworkflow ensuringhighqualitydelivery and smooth coordination across all AI pods.

• Act as the primary escalation point and operational deputy to the Head of AI & Innovationmaintainingcontinuity of leadership.

• Develop andmaintaindelivery roadmaps driving continuous improvement and ensuring alignment with businessobjectives.

AI Architecture and Strategy

• Provide architectural leadership across AI initiativesestablishingand maintaining standards patterns and platforms.

• Guide solution design and technical decisions ensuring alignment to enterprisetechnologystrategy and value creation.

• Oversee strategic technology areas including LLMs agentic AIAIpowereddecision systems and responsible AI practices.

PeopleCommunity& PracticeLeadership

• Mentor and support Product Managers Product Owners and AI Leads to build ahighperforming consistent practice across teams.

• Champion capability development embedding best practices and fostering a strong professional community.

• Drive engagement adoption and cultural uplift across the organisation through communication and enablement.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the primary point of contact for the technology community building strong relationships with Group Technology business stakeholders and external partners.

• Facilitatecrossfunctionalcollaboration toidentifyopportunities shape solutions and ensure clear alignment on priorities.

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure robust governance of all AI initiatives upholding regulatory ethical risk management and quality assurance standards.

• Support the development of business cases and ensure alignment with digital data & AI strategies and Life business priorities.

Key Work Level Accountabilities(Manager/Expert)

• Act as the front door to the Life AI & Innovation team shaping engagement with stakeholders and managing the flow of work.

• Lead engagement with Technology and AI delivery teams providing technical oversight and driving effective execution.

• Support AI Leads in delivery embedding best practice assuring quality and contributing to roadmap development.

• Provide subject matter leadership across key AI domains including LLMs agentic AI decision intelligence systems and responsible AI.

• Ensure technology alignment robust business cases and clear value realisation across AI initiatives.

• Supportlongtermstrategy development driving adoption communication andcrossbusinessengagement.

• Build strong relationships across operational business units marketing sales distribution and Group Technology.

Key Skills Competencies & Experience

• Actionandimpactoriented able to move at pace and bring people along effectively.

• Strong leadership communication and collaboration skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.

• Proven ability to work acrosscrossfunctionalteams and manage multiple priorities.

• Strategic thinker with strongproblemsolving analytical anddatainterpretationskills.

• Excellent organisational and delivery skills with experience driving AI initiatives in complex environments.

• Experience in AI strategy innovation and deployment with a solid grounding in Data Science Machine Learning and data platforms.

• Knowledge of AI technologies and their application in business contexts (e.g. LLMs agentic AIdecisionintelligencesystems).

• Experience in data strategy governance and responsible AI.

• Familiarity with product and service design Agile/Scrum and digital transformation.

• Experience within Life or wider Financial Services andoperatingin regulated environments.

TheAI &PracticeInnovationLeadwill play a pivotal role in driving the future growth and transformation of M&G Life implementing our AI and innovation strategies to achieve our long-termobjectives.