Head of AI & Automation

The Head of Automation and AI provides strategic and functional management for enterprise automation, artificial intelligence and intelligent operational capability across the organisation. The role is responsible for defining and executing the automation and AI strategy, establishing governance and assurance, identifying and prioritising high-value opportunities, and ensuring successful solutions are transitioned into secure, supportable and sustainable business services. The role guide the Automation and AI function within Digital, Data & AI and is accountable for creating an enterprise approach to AI adoption that balances innovation, value delivery, risk management and regulatory confidence. The postholder works across business and technology teams to ensure automation and AI capabilities deliver measurable operational, customer, workforce and regulatory benefits while aligning with enterprise architecture, security, privacy and data governance requirements. The role provides management across AI governance, AI incubation, Workplace AI, Operational Response AI (ORAI), enterprise automation services, change adoption and benefits realisation. It also acts as the senior organisational authority for automation and AI strategy, operating model development and capability growth.

Accountable For

•    Enterprise automation and AI long term plan.
•    Automation and AI roadmap and portfolio management.
•    AI governance, assurance and responsible adoption.
•    AI incubation and value validation.
•    ORAI, Workplace AI and associated enterprise AI capabilities.
•    Identification, prioritisation and benefits realisation of automation and AI opportunities.
•    Transition of successful automation and AI initiatives into supportable operational services.
•    Management of specialist automation and AI teams.
•    Supplier, partner and commercial management associated with automation and AI services.

Key Responsibilities 

• Define and Execute Enterprise Automation and AI Long Term Plan:


• Develop and maintain an enterprise automation and AI long term plan aligned to business priorities, Digital strategy and the Data & AI Plan, ensuring a clear roadmap for capability development, adoption and value delivery.


• Own the Automation and AI Portfolio:


• Establish and govern a prioritised portfolio of automation and AI initiatives. Evaluate opportunities based on business value, strategic alignment, feasibility, risk and organisational readiness, ensuring resources are directed to the highest-value opportunities.


• Guide AI Incubation and Innovation:


• Create and operate a structured AI Incubator capability that identifies, validates and prioritises new automation and AI opportunities through experimentation, evidence gathering and value assessment before wider investment decisions are made.


• Establish and Maintain AI Governance:


• Guide the development and operation of AI governance, assurance, policy and control frameworks. Ensure automation and AI services are deployed responsibly, ethically and in accordance with organisational requirements relating to security, privacy, compliance and risk management.


• Guide Enterprise AI Platforms and Reusable Capabilities:


• Provide strategic ownership for AI capabilities including ORAI, Workplace AI and related reusable AI services and patterns, ensuring they deliver measurable value and can be scaled safely across the organisation.


• Scale Successful Solutions into Operational Services:


• Ensure successful automation and AI initiatives are transitioned into controlled, supportable and sustainable operational services with clear ownership, support arrangements, performance measures and service-management processes.


• Drive Business Engagement and Organisational Adoption:


• Build strong relationships across operational, customer, corporate and regulatory functions. Promote understanding of automation and AI opportunities, support organisational adoption and ensure solutions are embedded into business processes and ways of working.


• Deliver Measurable Benefits and Value Realisation:


• Establish clear benefit frameworks, baselines and success measures for automation and AI investments. Ensure value is tracked, evidenced and reported, and that lessons learned are incorporated into future investment decisions.


• Guide and Develop High-Performing Teams:


• Provide management, coaching and capability development for automation and AI professionals. Build an environment that encourages collaboration, innovation, accountability and continuous improvement.


• Manage Strategic Suppliers and Partners:


• Develop and maintain effective relationships with software vendors, system integrators, technology suppliers and specialist partners. Ensure commercial arrangements support organisational objectives and deliver value for money.


• Collaborate Across Digital and Business Functions:


• Work closely with Data Product Management, Data Engineering, Architecture, Applications, Cyber Security, Privacy, Risk, Legal, Service Management and business management to ensure automation and AI capabilities align with enterprise standards and operating models.


• Build AI management Capability:


• Guide executive and senior management AI awareness and maturity activities, enabling informed strategic decision-making and appropriate organisational ambition for AI adoption.

About you 

•    Degree-level qualification in Computer Science, Data, Information Technology, Business, Engineering or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
•    Professional management or management qualification, or demonstrable equivalent experience.

Experience

•    Guiding enterprise automation, digital transformation or AI programmes in a complex organisation. 
•    Managing multidisciplinary teams and senior specialists. 
•    Creating and executing technology-enabled long term business plans. 
•    Delivering measurable business outcomes through automation, analytics or AI-enabled change. 
•    Establishing governance and assurance processes for emerging technologies. 
•    Managing third-party suppliers and commercial relationships. 
•    Influencing senior executive stakeholders and operating across organisational boundaries. 
•    Experience within a regulated environment, ideally utilities.
•    Experience with Microsoft AI, Copilot, Power Platform and Azure AI capabilities. 
•    Experience establishing AI operating models. 
•    Experience transitioning innovation into operational services. 
•    Experience guiding enterprise change and adoption programmes.

Knowledge and Skills

•    Strong understanding of automation, AI, agentic systems and digital operating models.
•    Strong understanding of responsible AI, governance, risk management and assurance.
•    Portfolio management and prioritisation expertise.
•    Benefits realisation and value-management capability.
•    Strategic planning and organisational transformation skills.
•    Commercial and supplier-management expertise.
•    Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing capability.
•    Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
•    Understanding of enterprise data, architecture, security and privacy principles.
•    Ability to balance innovation with operational control and regulatory confidence.

Good to know

There will be a requirement to participate in standby rota

If you would like further information on this role, please contact [email protected]

Benefits

As well as a market competitive salary, 36 days annual leave (pro rata, including public holidays), we offer a range of employee benefits and rewards including:

Variable pay schemes (your salary band will remain the same, but performance depending, you could receive an incremental within-band increase and a yearly incentive)
Option to buy additional annual leave up to 5 days per year
Enhanced employer pension contributions – Up to 11% employer contributions
Free Mortgage Brokering Services 
Enhanced family friendly policies
Progression opportunities, including the ability to apply for funded training and coaching and mentoring programmes
Gym and fitness discounts as well as high street shopping
Cycle to work scheme
Discount off all Welsh Water visitor attraction centres and gift shops
Car-leasing scheme and free on-site parking at all sites
Health CashBack scheme and access to an online GP service
An employee assistance programme for employees and their immediate family

Private Health Insurance  
Many more can be found on our website. 

Due to the nature of the industry, we require satisfactory references, post offer medical clearance, and a criminal records Basic Disclosure check on all new employees joining the business.

For some roles there may be additional checks and security clearance required, and this offer is subject to all checks being satisfied. You will receive further information on how to complete these checks via email once you have accepted this offer.

Who we are

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water keep 3 million people healthy each day with safe, reliable water, and take away wastewater to clean, before returning it safely to our beautiful rivers and seas.

 
To be able to deliver high quality, essential services which help to protect the health of our customers, colleagues and our environment, we need the right people to deliver on our vision.  This is achieved by living our core values and demonstrating the core behaviours that underpin them.  The security of our people, assets and information is key to us, so we are looking for people who understand and comply with the company’s required security objectives.

We know that the most successful teams are the most diverse teams. Equality, diversity and inclusion provide the very foundation to our culture at Welsh Water. We want every individual to feel confident, proud and able to bring their whole selves to work. To ensure an improved representation in our workforce, applications are particularly welcome from minority groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people, Females, LGBT+, Non-binary and people with disabilities. Together we continue to build a workplace that not only celebrates the diverse voices of our colleagues but also represents each customer we serve. In essence, ours is a company based on trust, openness, respect, commitment and honesty. A company that our colleagues are proud to work for.

Dŵr Cymru Cyf, a limited company registered in Wales No. 2366777. Registered office: Linea, Fortran Road, St. Mellons, Cardiff CF3 0LT

© Dŵr Cymru Cyf 2019.