Director of Enterprise & Corporate Functions AI

At M&G our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. As an international savings and investments business with roots stretching back more than 170 years, we offer a range of financial products and services through Asset Management, Life and Wealth. All three operating segments work together to deliver attractive financial outcomes for our clients, and superior shareholder returns.

Through our behaviours of telling it like it is, owning it now, and moving it forward together with care and integrity; we are creating an exceptional place to work for exceptional talent.

We will consider flexible working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer work place accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role.

Director of Enterprise & Corporate Functions AI

Job Summary

This role bridges the gap between organisational strategy and actionable technology initiatives, with a dual focus:

Enterprise Wide AI Strategy, Governance & Reporting: This role leads the development and execution of AI strategy across the enterprise, bridging organisational strategy with actionable technology initiatives. The Director of AI is responsible for driving business exploitation of AI, ensuring alignment between business priorities, technology capabilities, including the Tech tooling, governance and leading the AI Culture across the organisation. The role sets and delivers the enterprise-wide AI strategy, governance, and reporting, whilst also shaping and delivering AI use cases specifically for the Corporate Functions.
Corporate Functions AI Strategy & Adoption: As a disruptive thinker, you will deliver the AI strategy and use cases across the Corporate Functions, partnering with the Head of Strategy and the business to identify and develop strategic initiatives that drive value to the corporate functions, ensuring they remain at the forefront of innovation. This includes leveraging technologies such as robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI), and continuous process refinement.
Key Responsibilities:

Deliver AI Strategy : You will demonstrate deep technical expertise in AI and automation, setting the strategic direction for AI adoption across the Enterprise. Using this expertise, you will define, and co-ordinate the execution of the implementation of the organisation’s Enterprise AI Strategy (including guiding on the appropriate tooling, governance and culture) ensuring Senior Leadership are fully bought in and actively champion the adoption of new technologies. Through your expertise and influence, you will inspire confidence, foster a culture of innovation and secure ongoing commitment from senior stakeholders to drive forward the enterprise wide AI agenda.

Define Operating Model for AI Delivery : Establish a scalable operating model for AI delivery, including roles, responsibilities, and engagement models across business and technology teams. Ensure clarity on ownership, accountability so that we maximise our return on investment.

Governance  - Define and run robust AI governance frameworks, overseeing strategic alignment, prioritisation, risk management, and regulatory compliance (including the EU AI Act and any other relevant regulations).

Education & Enablement -  Drive education and awareness around responsible AI practices, including training programmes and stakeholder engagement.

Measurement & Reporting – Define, drive and ensure KPIs and reporting mechanisms are in place to track AI adoption, value creation, and compliance across the enterprise. Provide regular updates to senior leadership and governance bodies on progress, risks, and opportunities.

Corporate Functions Focus: Responsible for delivering the AI Strategy for the Corporate Functions in line with the Head of Strategy & the Portfolio Lead. This includes:

Strategic Partnership & Alignment: Acting as the primary AI partner to Corporate Functions leaders; guiding them and developing tailored AI strategies that align with enterprise-wide objectives, ensuring these are embedded into functional transformational plans.

Use Case Identification & Business Case Development: Lead the identification of high- impact AI and Analytics use cases specifically for the Corporate Functions, exploiting opportunities for innovation and process optimisation. Translating these into compelling, fundable business cases with clear ROI metrics, securing executive buy-in and budget commitment.

Delivery & Value Realisation: Oversee the end-to -end delivery of Corporate functions AI initiatives, from AI roadmap creation to delivery execution plans. Ensure each use case is tracked against defined KPIs and value metrics, contributing to the overall AI strategy. Collaborate with delivery squads and technology teams to ensure scalable, production-grade solutions.

Stakeholder Engagement & Enablement: Serve as a trusted advisor to non-technical stakeholders,  articulating AI opportunities in accessible language which is understandable to non-technical stakeholders, fostering a culture of innovation.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

Strategic Leadership & Innovation

• Excellent strategic planning and leadership skills, with a track record of driving innovation and efficiency through AI and Analytics initiatives.
• Demonstrable background in introducing LLMs/Generative AI to an organisation with compelling ROI-based outcomes.
• Experience in identifying innovation opportunities across Corporate Functions Technologies (Finance, HR, Corp Affairs, Risk & Compliance, Audit, Legal & CoSec & Legal) through market analysis and awareness of emerging technologies.

Technical Expertise

• Strong understanding of AI and Analytics, associated governance, and ethical AI practices, with demonstrable experience of scaling intelligent automation initiatives within financial services.
• Experience in use case development: identifying opportunities for automation and AI adoption within Corporate Functions. Shaping compelling business cases, overseeing solution designs and implementation, and continuously refining approaches to maximise impact.
• Experience in creating metrics to measure automation benefits (including automated FTE & risk benefits).
• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field is preferred but not essential.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders at all levels up to Exco.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex AI and Analytics concepts and solutions to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to build relationships with senior stakeholders, helping to educate them in the area of AI and Analytics, and promote how we can use Data and AI to drive value from Data.
• Experience creating and presenting business cases to senior stakeholders, up to Exco level.

• Governance & Compliance
  • Experience of embedding enterprise-wide governance structures and operating models ensuring alignment with regulatory standards, ethical principles, and organisational strategy.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills
  • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically and strategically.

We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G plc, underpinned by our policies and our employee-led networks who provide networking opportunities, advice and support for the diverse communities our colleagues represent. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability or long term condition, we are looking to attract, promote and retain exceptional people. We also welcome those who take part in military service and those returning from career breaks.

M&G is also proud to be a Disability Confident Leader, and we welcome applications from candidates with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or neuro-divergent conditions.  Being a Disability Confident Leader means that candidates who meet the minimum criteria of a job, will be offered an interview if they 'opt in' to the scheme when applying. 

If you need assistance or an alternative means of applying for a role due to a disability or additional need, please let us know by contacting us at: [email protected]