At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead AI initiatives and shape delivery for one of the UK's top brands.
- Company: Join The AA, a leading motoring organisation with a rich history.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days leave, health perks, and discounts on AA products.
- Other info: Diverse learning opportunities and a commitment to inclusivity.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI innovation and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in tech programme delivery and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
The predicted salary is between 75600 - 92400 £ per year.
Location: London (hybrid working 3 office days per week)
Employment Type: Permanent, full time
Additional Benefits: Annual Bonus, Cash-Car Allowance & Private Medical Insurance
For over a century, we've been evolving and adapting. Today, as the nation's leading motoring organisation, we offer a wide range of products and services to millions of customers. From roadside assistance to home and motor insurance, and the latest driving technologies, we have it all. As we continue to expand, diversify, and modernise, joining us as an AI Technology Programme Lead means you'll play a crucial role in our success and be part of this exciting motoring journey.
This is a rare opportunity to help shape how AI is delivered at scale within one of the UK’s most recognised brands. As our AI Technology Programme Lead, you’ll play a key role in building the operating rhythm, governance and delivery discipline behind our AI Centre of Excellence, helping turn high potential ideas into prioritised, funded and measurable business outcomes.
This is not a hands-on AI engineering role, and it is not a traditional project/programme management position. We are looking for a technology programme leader who thrives in fast-moving, early-stage environments, someone who can bring clarity, pace and pragmatic structure to complex AI and data initiatives without slowing innovation down. You’ll work closely with senior stakeholders, technical teams and business leaders to shape delivery, manage priorities, unblock progress and move initiatives from concept and experimentation through to deployment, adoption and value realisation.
The right person will bring strong technology programme experience, excellent stakeholder engagement skills and the confidence to challenge, influence and drive momentum. You don’t need to be a deep AI expert, but you’ll need enough understanding of technology, data or AI-enabled delivery to build credibility, tell the story clearly and help the business make confident, value-led decisions.
What will I be doing?
- Supporting the effective operation of the AI Centre of Excellence, establishing the governance, rhythms, controls and delivery disciplines needed to scale AI adoption across the organisation.
- Managing a portfolio of AI and data initiatives, providing clear visibility of progress, priorities, risks, dependencies, funding, resource requirements and business value.
- Leading selected AI initiatives through the delivery lifecycle, from early use case assessment and experimentation through to deployment, adoption and benefits realisation.
- Working with senior stakeholders, technical teams and business areas to prioritise demand, unblock delivery challenges and ensure investment is focused on measurable outcomes.
- Producing clear, compelling portfolio reporting and governance materials that translate complex delivery activity into decisions, risks, progress and value.
- Helping shape and embed pragmatic delivery standards, frameworks and ways of working across the AI Centre of Excellence.
What do I need?
- Significant experience in technology programme delivery, ideally across AI, data, analytics, digital, automation, platforms or complex technology transformation.
- Proven experience operating in fast-paced, ambiguous or 0 to 1 environments, where you have helped create structure, pace and governance rather than simply working within an established framework.
- Strong programme-level capability, including governance, prioritisation, RAID, dependencies, resource planning, financial oversight, reporting and benefits tracking.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate technical complexity into clear priorities, decisions and outcomes.
- A confident and pragmatic influencing style, with the ability to challenge constructively, bring people with you and drive progress across cross-functional teams.
- A delivery-focused mindset, with strong judgement, commercial awareness and a track record of getting things done in complex technology environments.
Additional information
We’re always looking to recognise and reward our employees for the work they do. As a valued member of The AA team, you’ll have access to a range of benefits including:
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays + holiday buying scheme
- Worksave pension scheme with up to 7% employer contribution
- Free AA breakdown membership from Day 1 plus 50% discount for family and friends
- Discounts on AA products including car and home insurance
- Employee discount scheme that gives you access to a car salary sacrifice scheme plus great discounts on healthcare, shopping, holidays and more
- Company funded life assurance
- Diverse learning and development opportunities to support you to progress in your career
- Dedicated Employee Assistance Programme and a 24/7 remote GP service for you and your family
- Plus, so much more!
We’re an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from everyone. The AA values diversity and the difference this brings to our culture and our customers. We actively seek people from diverse backgrounds to join us and become part of an inclusive company where you can be yourself, be empowered to be your best and feel like you truly belong. We have five communities to bring together people with shared characteristics and backgrounds and drive positive change.
AI Technology Programme Lead employer: Automobile Association
The Automobile Association in Southampton is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity for Mobile Mechanics to work independently while receiving comprehensive training and support. With a strong focus on employee growth and inclusivity, the company provides guaranteed earnings and an attractive benefits package, making it a rewarding place to build your career in the automotive industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land AI Technology Programme Lead
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Automobile Association or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Automobile Association.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Automobile Association.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Automobile Association that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace AI Technology Programme Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Automobile Association.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Automobile Association and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Automobile Association
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Automobile Association uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
