Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead AI strategies for investor-backed businesses, driving transformation and measurable outcomes.
- Company: Join a network of fractional Heads of AI in a dynamic, growth-focused environment.
- Benefits: Flexible work schedule, impactful projects, and the chance to shape the future of AI.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by guiding companies through AI adoption and unlocking their potential.
- Qualifications: 10-20+ years in AI, data, or digital transformation with proven leadership experience.
- Other info: Collaborative culture that values innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Head of AI is seeking exceptional leaders to join our network of fractional Heads of AI focused on supporting Private Equity and Investor-Backed businesses. Our mission is to help portfolio companies accelerate value creation through strategic AI adoption — embedding AI across operations, products, and decision-making to unlock growth, efficiency, and competitive advantage.
We work with organisations backed by Private Equity, Venture Capital, Family Offices, and Growth Equity investors, typically ranging from £20m–£500m+ in revenue. These companies are under pressure to deliver rapid transformation, scalable growth, and measurable returns. Our fractional Heads of AI partner with portfolio leadership teams and investors to design and execute AI strategies that directly impact EBITDA, operational leverage, and long-term enterprise value.
We are looking for individuals who combine deep technical fluency with board-level leadership, capable of guiding portfolio companies through the next era of generative and agentic AI. We recognise that few professionals have led a full AI transformation within an investor-backed environment. Therefore, we seek leaders with proven experience in digital, data, or operational transformation who are now applying that expertise to AI-led value creation within portfolio companies. You understand how to translate investor ambition into operational execution — guiding organisations through the cultural, operational, and governance shifts required to unlock AI-driven performance.
What We Are Looking For- AI-Driven Value Creation Leaders
- Proven experience delivering transformation programmes that improved business performance through technology, automation, and data.
- Able to apply that experience to the generative AI era — helping portfolio companies unlock operational efficiency, scalable growth, and new revenue opportunities.
- Understands how AI initiatives contribute directly to EBITDA expansion, operational leverage, and enterprise value creation.
- Able to translate investor strategy into execution plans across portfolio companies.
- Deep Technical Fluency
- Fluent in modern AI ecosystems including generative AI, agentic systems, AI copilots, and orchestration frameworks (e.g. LangChain, AutoGen, CrewAI).
- Understands how to combine traditional ML and analytics with emerging AI architectures to deliver measurable commercial outcomes.
- Evolved beyond a purely data science or analytics focus — capable of bridging data infrastructure, AI productisation, and operational transformation.
- Able to lead technical reviews and guide delivery teams even if not coding daily.
- Investor and C-Suite Communicators
- Able to simplify complex AI concepts for CEOs, Operating Partners, Investment Teams, and Boards.
- Confident aligning AI initiatives with investor priorities such as value creation plans, operational efficiency, and growth strategies.
- Comfortable presenting to portfolio company leadership and private equity stakeholders, translating AI investments into clear ROI, risk considerations, and strategic advantage.
- Transformation and Change Leaders
- Strong stakeholder engagement and ability to drive adoption across portfolio organisations.
- Skilled in mentoring internal teams, developing AI literacy, and building responsible AI practices.
- Understands how to introduce human-in-the-loop systems, governance frameworks, and operational processes that enable sustainable AI adoption within fast-moving investor-backed environments.
- Entrepreneurial Operators
- Thrives in ambiguity and high-performance environments.
- Comfortable operating across multiple portfolio companies and adapting quickly to different business models and industries.
- Curious about emerging AI tooling but pragmatic about implementation.
- Focused on delivering measurable outcomes through rapid experimentation, iteration, and operational execution.
- Legacy executives (e.g. ex-CTO/CDO/CIO) without hands-on AI or generative AI understanding.
- Academic or research-focused professionals without applied commercial outcomes.
- Technologists who lack leadership or transformation delivery experience.
- Consultants who only advise but have not led execution or implementation teams.
- Corporate-only leaders who struggle to operate in lean, fast-moving portfolio environments.
The ideal candidate will serve as a Fractional Head of AI / AI Value Creation Leader supporting Private Equity and Investor-Backed businesses. They will help portfolio companies design and execute AI strategies, transformation roadmaps, implementation plans, and governance frameworks that drive measurable business outcomes.
Candidates typically bring 10–20+ years of experience across AI, data, digital transformation, or product innovation, with a track record of translating technology into operational and financial impact. They may come from roles such as Head of Data Science, Chief AI Officer, AI Strategy Lead, Digital Transformation Leader, or Value Creation Partner, and have evolved beyond technical model development into organisational transformation and strategic leadership.
Successful candidates combine technical credibility, operational execution capability, and investor-aware thinking, enabling them to guide portfolio companies through AI adoption that accelerates growth and value creation. They embody an entrepreneurial, adaptable, outcome-oriented, and collaborative mindset, thriving in fractional engagements typically spanning 1–5 days per week across multiple portfolio companies.
We welcome applications from professionals passionate about helping investor-backed businesses harness AI responsibly and at scale to drive measurable value creation.
Fractional Chief AI Officer / Head of AI - Private Equity & Investor-Backed Businesses in Exeter employer: Head of AI
Contact Detail:
Head of AI Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Fractional Chief AI Officer / Head of AI - Private Equity & Investor-Backed Businesses in Exeter
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with industry leaders, especially those in private equity and AI. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Showcase Your Expertise
Create a portfolio or a personal website where you can highlight your past successes in AI transformation. Share case studies or insights that demonstrate your ability to drive value creation. We want to see how you’ve made an impact!
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of generative AI and its applications in business. Be ready to discuss how you can translate investor ambitions into actionable strategies. We’re looking for leaders who can communicate complex ideas simply and effectively.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our mission to help businesses harness AI.
We think you need these skills to ace Fractional Chief AI Officer / Head of AI - Private Equity & Investor-Backed Businesses in Exeter
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the role. Highlight your experience in AI transformation and how it aligns with our mission to support Private Equity and Investor-Backed businesses. We want to see how you can bring value to our network!
Showcase Your Technical Fluency: Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate your deep understanding of modern AI ecosystems. Mention specific tools or frameworks you've worked with, like generative AI or orchestration frameworks. We’re looking for leaders who can bridge the gap between tech and strategy!
Communicate Clearly: Remember, we need someone who can simplify complex AI concepts for various stakeholders. Use clear language in your application to show us you can communicate effectively with C-suite executives and investors alike. Make it easy for us to see your potential!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through! We value an entrepreneurial mindset and adaptability, so share your unique experiences and how they’ve shaped your approach to AI-led value creation. We want to know what makes you tick and how you can contribute to our mission!
How to prepare for a job interview at Head of AI
✨Know Your AI Stuff
Make sure you’re up to speed with the latest in AI, especially generative AI and agentic systems. Brush up on frameworks like LangChain and AutoGen, and be ready to discuss how these can drive operational efficiency and growth in investor-backed businesses.
✨Speak Their Language
When chatting with potential employers, simplify complex AI concepts. They want to hear how your strategies align with their goals for EBITDA expansion and operational leverage. Use examples from your past experiences to illustrate your points.
✨Showcase Your Transformation Experience
Be prepared to share specific examples of how you've led transformation programmes that improved business performance. Highlight your ability to translate investor ambitions into actionable plans and how you’ve guided teams through cultural and operational shifts.
✨Engage and Inspire
Demonstrate your stakeholder engagement skills by discussing how you’ve mentored teams and built AI literacy. Show that you can drive adoption across organisations and introduce governance frameworks that support sustainable AI practices.