At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead AI initiatives from concept to production, shaping the AI strategy and architecture.
- Company: PE backed financial services firm with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, hybrid working, and potential for long-term role.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence senior leadership and drive real value creation.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI development in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in deploying AI solutions and navigating early-stage environments.
Dartmouth Partners are supporting a PE backed financial services business on a search for an AI Director / Head of AI to help shape and build their AI capability from the ground up. Reporting directly to the CAIO, this hire will play a critical role in defining how AI is deployed across the organisation, moving beyond experimentation into real, production‑grade use cases tied to value creation. This is a hybrid strategy + build role, requiring both technical depth and commercial judgement. It will suit someone comfortable operating without structure, where both the roadmap and operating model are still being defined.
You must have:
- Experience taking AI use cases from POC into production (not purely advisory)
- Strong understanding of modern AI stacks (LLMs, agents, orchestration, data layers)
- Ability to make build vs buy decisions across AI tooling and platforms
- Experience operating in ambiguous, early-stage environments where capability is being built from scratch
What you'll be doing:
- Define and shape the AI stack and architecture
- Identify where business processes can be genuinely automated or agentified, vs where human oversight remains critical
- Move early AI initiatives from proof of concept into scalable production deployments
- Contribute to a 3–5 year AI and data roadmap, aligned to PE value creation objectives
- Act as a thought partner to senior leadership, while remaining close enough to execution to ensure delivery is real, not theoretical
Start: ASAP
Location: London (hybrid, flexible)
Duration: 6 months initially, with a view to extend/go permanent
Director Project Development in City of London employer: Dartmouth Partners
Join a forward-thinking financial services business in London that prioritises innovation and employee growth. As a Director of Project Development, you will thrive in a dynamic work culture that encourages creativity and collaboration, while enjoying the flexibility of a hybrid working model. With competitive daily rates and the opportunity to shape AI capabilities from the ground up, this role offers a unique chance to make a significant impact in a rapidly evolving industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director Project Development in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend relevant meetups. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by practising your pitch. We recommend highlighting your experience with AI use cases and how you've taken them from POC to production. Show them you’re the one who can turn ideas into reality!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t shy away from showcasing your technical depth! When discussing your past projects, make sure to mention your understanding of modern AI stacks and how you’ve made build vs buy decisions. This will set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities that might just be the perfect fit for you. Plus, it’s a great way to get noticed by hiring managers who are looking for talent like yours.
We think you need these skills to ace Director Project Development in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your AI Expertise:Make sure to highlight your experience with AI use cases, especially how you've taken them from proof of concept to production. We want to see your technical depth and commercial judgement shine through!
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. We love seeing candidates who take the time to connect their background to what we’re looking for.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that get straight to the heart of your qualifications and how they align with our needs.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dartmouth Partners
✨Know Your AI Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of modern AI stacks, especially LLMs and orchestration. Be ready to discuss specific use cases where you've taken AI from proof of concept to production, as this will show you can deliver real value.
✨Show Your Strategic Thinking
This role is all about shaping the AI capability from the ground up. Prepare to talk about how you would define the AI stack and architecture, and be ready to share your thoughts on build vs buy decisions for AI tooling.
✨Embrace Ambiguity
Since the environment is early-stage and somewhat undefined, demonstrate your comfort with ambiguity. Share examples of how you've successfully navigated similar situations in the past, highlighting your ability to operate without a clear roadmap.
✨Engage with Leadership
As you'll be acting as a thought partner to senior leadership, practice articulating your ideas clearly and confidently. Think about how you can align your AI initiatives with the company's value creation objectives and be prepared to discuss how you’ll ensure delivery is practical and actionable.
