At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the AI Factory, steering investment and ensuring safe delivery of AI products.
- Company: Join a leading British airline at the forefront of AI innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive contract, travel covered, and access to senior leadership.
- Other info: Opportunity for impactful work in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI in aviation with a high-calibre team.
- Qualifications: Experience in portfolio management and AI product delivery.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ per year.
Our client, a leading British airline, is building an AI Factory to scale AI safely and profitably across its brands. They are looking for an AI Factory Lead to own the portfolio, the products, and the guardrails in one accountable role.
Location: Heathrow, London / Barcelona / Madrid (Some travel, flights and hotel covered) | Type: Contract
The role
You'll be the single senior leader accountable for how the AI Factory delivers value. That means steering the investment portfolio, owning the products and platform end to end, and making sure everything reaches production safely, with clear accountability and defensible evidence. You'll provide the executive view across initiatives without becoming the delivery owner for every product, and you'll build a capability rather than a collection of disconnected proofs of concept.
What you'll do
- Portfolio and programme
- Establish and run portfolio governance across the operating companies, functions, and delivery teams
- Prioritise investment on business value, strategic alignment, feasibility, risk, and reusability
- Maintain the integrated roadmap, dependencies, funding position, and executive reporting
- Resolve cross-brand conflicts and prevent fragmented or duplicated AI initiatives
- Track benefits, delivery confidence, risks, and adoption across the portfolio
- Product
- Define the product vision, strategy, roadmap, and measurable outcomes for the AI Factory's platform, products, and services
- Translate business problems into prioritised product opportunities, and own discovery, validation, and lifecycle decisions
- Balance user value, business benefit, technical feasibility, and responsible-AI constraints
- Set product metrics covering adoption, quality, productivity, cost, and realised value
- Decide when to scale, evolve, pause, or retire a product
- Governance, risk, and assurance
- Define the policies, risk tiers, controls, and approval pathways for AI products, services, and agents
- Translate legal, regulatory, cyber, data, and responsible-AI requirements into practical engineering controls
- Set requirements for human oversight, evaluation, traceability, and incident management
- Embed automated controls and evidence collection into delivery pipelines wherever possible
- Provide clear escalation and stop mechanisms for unsafe or underperforming systems
- Coordinate senior stakeholders across technology, business, data, cyber, legal, privacy, audit, and procurement
About you
A senior portfolio, product, or transformation leader with experience in complex, federated organisations. Enough understanding of AI and software delivery to challenge plans credibly, including AI's capabilities and limitations and the realities of taking products from experiment to production. Experience turning governance principles into proportionate, risk-based controls that enable speed rather than create late-stage bottlenecks. Confidence influencing senior stakeholders through structured thinking and clear narrative. A track record of driving initiatives end to end with minimal oversight.
Ideal candidates from strategy consulting backgrounds
If you've worked at McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or a comparable firm, particularly in QuantumBlack, BCG X, or Bain's digital and AI practices, and have since led AI or transformation programmes, this role is a natural next step. You'll bring structured problem-solving, comfort in the boardroom, and the ability to turn ambiguity into a clear prioritised plan. You'll also need real ownership instincts: this is a role where you run the portfolio and live with the outcomes, rather than advise on them.
What success looks like
- A transparent, outcome-led portfolio with clear ownership, controlled investment, and demonstrable benefits across multiple brands
- AI products that solve meaningful problems and achieve sustained adoption
- AI systems reaching production with defensible evidence, while low-risk initiatives move quickly through standardised controls
Why this role
- Own a capability at the centre of the airline's AI strategy, with direct access to senior leadership
- Complex, visible work at one of the UK's most recognised brands
- A high-calibre team across product, engineering, architecture, and governance
AI Factory Lead employer: Carbon 60
Join a leading defence organisation that prioritises innovation and employee development in the Cyber Security field. With a hybrid work model, you will benefit from a collaborative culture that encourages continuous learning and growth, while working on cutting-edge technologies that protect national security. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects in a supportive environment, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a rewarding career in Cyber Security.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land AI Factory Lead
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like AI Factory Lead at Carbon 60!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Carbon 60 or be willing to refer you for that AI Factory Lead position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Carbon 60 who’s on the lookout for their next AI Factory Lead star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time AI Factory Lead role at Carbon 60!
We think you need these skills to ace AI Factory Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Carbon 60. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Carbon 60
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Carbon 60. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
