AI Portfolio and Performance Lead

Entity:

Technology

Job Family Group:

IT&S Group

Job Description:

The AI Portfolio and Performance Lead will create and maintain a single trusted view of AI delivery, covering progress, investment, value, risk, resources and delivery health. You will combine portfolio leadership, performance management, business intelligence and operating model design to turn fragmented data into clear management insight and better decisions.

You will own and mature the AI delivery lifecycle, including intake and prioritisation, and establish consistent reporting and performance rhythms that improve delivery visibility, velocity and accountability. This is a leadership role requiring strong judgement, financial acumen and the ability to align senior partners around a shared fact base, without duplicating the accountabilities of delivery teams, DASH, VP reporting or AI risk governance.

You will join AI Enablement & Programme Management, a new central function that connects bp's AI strategy with delivery. The team provides the management system needed to make AI delivery visible, consistent and adoptable across bp, while keeping delivery, governance and specialist accountabilities with the relevant teams.

You will lead the AI Portfolio & Performance team and work closely with Digital Delivery Teams, Digital Core and Security, Finance and Strategic Portfolio Management, DASH, Technology, Architecture & Innovation, AI Governance and AI delivery teams. The team is small, collaborative and outcomes-focused, with a strong emphasis on simple processes, trusted data and influence across organisational boundaries.

What you will deliver

• Portfolio leadership and visibility: Own and maintain a live, trusted view of AI delivery activity, including status, investment, value, benefits, risk, resources, dependencies and delivery health. Establish clear data ownership and controls so leaders can rely on the portfolio as the shared fact base for decision-making.
• Performance management and reporting: Define the portfolio scorecard, metrics and reporting cadence. Produce concise, consistent views of performance, highlight material variance and emerging issues, and ensure decisions and actions are followed through.
• Strategic planning and prioritisation: Support enterprise and Digital leadership to make evidence-based choices on which AI initiatives to start, stop, sequence or accelerate. Connect strategic priorities, capacity, investment and expected value to inform resource allocation and roadmap decisions.
• AI delivery lifecycle and intake: Own and mature the end-to-end AI delivery lifecycle process, including demand intake, triage, stage gates, standards, hand-offs and closure. Make the route from idea to delivery simple, transparent and proportionate.
• Operating model and governance interfaces: Define and continuously improve the interfaces between AI strategy, portfolio management, delivery, finance, governance and reporting. Clarify roles, decision rights, information flows and escalation paths while respecting accountabilities held elsewhere.
• Insight and decision support: Analyse portfolio data to identify trends, delivery constraints, value opportunities, systemic risks and resource pressures. Translate analysis into practical recommendations and decision-ready materials for senior leaders.
• Financial and value alignment: Partner with Finance and Strategic Portfolio Management to connect AI investment, forecasts and actuals with delivery progress and outcomes. Strengthen value tracking and support a consistent view of cost, benefit and return across the portfolio.
• Stakeholder leadership: Build trusted relationships across Digital Delivery, Core and Security, Finance, DASH, Technology, Architecture & Innovation, AI Governance and delivery teams. Resolve gaps and inconsistencies through influence, constructive challenge and shared ownership.
• Team and capability leadership: Lead, coach and develop a small portfolio and performance team. Establish fit-for-purpose tools, standards and ways of working, and build a culture of data quality, transparency, continuous improvement and service to decision-makers.

What you will need to be successful (required experience and qualifications)

• Portfolio and performance leadership experience, with the ability to establish a trusted portfolio view across a complex organisation.
• Strong analytical and business intelligence capability, able to turn incomplete or inconsistent data into clear insight, choices and recommendations.
• Excellent strategic thinking and judgement, with proven ability to prioritise competing demands and connect investment, resources, risk and value.
• Strong financial acumen and experience working with finance and portfolio planning teams on budgets, forecasts, investment and benefits.
• Demonstrated process and operating model design capability, including intake, governance interfaces, decision rights, standards and continuous improvement.
• Executive-level communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to simplify complexity and present decision-ready information.
• Excellent stakeholder leadership and influencing skills, with confidence to challenge constructively and align senior, cross-functional partners.
• People leadership experience, with the ability to coach and grow a high-performing small team.
• Experience in AI, digital, data or technology portfolios combined with strong enterprise portfolio leadership.

At this level, the AI Portfolio and Performance Lead operates across organisational boundaries and shapes how bp understands and manages its AI delivery portfolio. They lead the design and adoption of portfolio processes at scale, provide authoritative insight to senior decision-makers and influence investment and resource choices across multiple initiatives. The role balances strategic leadership with hands-on establishment of the management system, develops team capability and drives sustained improvement in data quality, delivery visibility, performance and decision-making.

Preferred experience:

• Significant experience leading portfolio management, enterprise PMO, performance management or a closely related function in a complex, matrixed organisation.
• Proven track record of establishing portfolio governance, reporting cadences, scorecards and management information for senior leaders.
• Experience designing and improving end-to-end delivery processes, operating models and governance interfaces across business and technology teams.
• Experience connecting financial, delivery and value information to support prioritisation, investment and resource allocation decisions.
• Experience with data visualisation, portfolio tooling and management information products; familiarity with Azure DevOps or comparable delivery platforms is advantageous.

Why Join Us? 
We’re committed to supporting leaders who want to make an impact. You’ll have the chance to shape and influence outcomes across businesses. You’ll be part of an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and where your contribution to performance and integration matters. 

We invest in the growth and wellbeing of our people, providing the resources, networks, and development opportunities needed to thrive. Our total rewards package includes competitive pay, bonuses, share options, and a range of flexible benefits designed to meet your needs. We recognise that people have multifaceted lives, and we strive to offer a career experience that reflects that.  

Application Expiry

Please note: applications close at 11:59 p.m. on the day before the listed closing date. For example, if the role closes on 2nd of the month, the posting will be removed at 11:59 p.m. on 1st of the month.

Travel Requirement

Up to 25% travel should be expected with this role

Relocation Assistance:

This role is not eligible for relocation

Remote Type:

This position is a hybrid of office/remote working

Skills:

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Future Location Notice:  This role will start in St James' Square, London. bp has announced a planned office move to Timber Square, London, with all positions currently advertised in St James' Square, including this one, expected to relocate around Q4 2027-Q1 2028. This presents an exciting opportunity for all employees and leaders to come together in one London location. The specific date of the move will be confirmed closer to the time.

Legal Disclaimer:

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics like race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us.

If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre-placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.