Head of AI Architecture in Leicester

Hastings Direct is an agile, data and digitally focused general insurance provider to the UK market, offering a full range of car, van, bike and home insurance products. It’s a dynamic, flexible, fun and constantly changing environment, so it takes a certain kind of individual to thrive here.

As a member of the Group Architecture Leadership Team, the role contributes to enterprise-wide architecture strategy, governance, technology investment decisions, talent development and the evolution of architecture practice across Hastings Direct. The Head of AI Architecture is accountable for turning AI ambition into safe, scalable and value-led technology choices that support CIO priorities and deliver measurable value for customers, colleagues and the business. The role provides architecture leadership across CIO, business functions and technology partners, ensuring AI capabilities and solutions are aligned to business priorities and the target architecture, including effective use of Azure, Snowflake, third-party AI and SaaS-based AI capabilities.

About you

• Strong AI architecture expertise, senior technology leadership and the ability to turn business strategy into practical architecture direction.
• Strong track record of defining current state, target state, transition roadmaps, standards, patterns and architecture guardrails that guide AI delivery at scale using Azure, Snowflake, third-party AI and SaaS-based AI capabilities.
• Strong understanding of how AI solutions are designed, integrated, monitored and operated across enterprise platforms, including Azure, Snowflake, APIs, data pipelines, orchestration, observability, model lifecycle management and production support.
• Experience shaping architectures for generative AI, automation, agentic AI and AI-assisted capabilities, including retrieval augmented generation, tool use, orchestration, knowledge grounding, guardrails and secure use of third-party AI services.
• Ability to build strong partnerships across business, technology, delivery, data, risk, compliance and supplier teams, creating shared accountability and integrated problem-solving.
• Proven ability to lead architecture in a large, complex, fast-moving organisation, balancing business ambition with risk, resilience, cost and long-term technology health.
• Strong awareness of AI trends, supplier capability, architecture practices and innovation opportunities that can improve business, customer and colleague outcomes.
• Experience building, leading, coaching and improving architecture teams, creating clear standards, strong collaboration and a high-performance culture.
• Strong understanding of AI governance, model risk, privacy, explainability, auditability, human oversight, resilience, security and ethical delivery, with the judgement to apply controls pragmatically.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and £6k car allowance.
• Flexible working – we champion a flexible hybrid working approach.
• Competitive bonus scheme - all colleagues are eligible for our annual 4Cs performance bonus.
• Physical wellbeing – Hastings pay for you to receive private medical Insurance (PMI).
• Financial wellbeing – providing you with 4x your salary with our life assurance cover, income protection at no extra cost, and matched pension contributions up to 10%.
• Mental wellbeing programme – including the thrive mental health app, colleague assistance programme available 24/7, and support groups.
• 27 days annual leave + bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell one of your weeks.
• Access to health care cash back plans, dental plans, discounted health assessments, Cycle to work and tech schemes, and social events throughout the year.

Hastings Group is an equal opportunities employer which means we treat people fairly. We welcome applications from all suitably skilled persons regardless of their gender, age, race, disability, ethnic background, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or marital/family status. We have a thorough referencing process, which includes credit and criminal record checks. At Hastings Direct, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, we encourage you to be open with us.