Lead AI Architect in Chatham

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Bradford, London, Chatham

Working Pattern: Hybrid (usually a couple of days a week in the office). We welcome part-time and flexible arrangements and will aim to match your current flexibility where possible.

What We Offer

• Holidays: 25 days (rising to 30) + buy/sell up to 5 days + swap up to 4 bank holidays.
• Pension: Up to 10% employer contribution.
• Enhanced Leave: Enhanced maternity (post-probation), 4 weeks’ paternity, and paid neonatal & carers leave.
• Workations: Work abroad for up to 20 days a year in approved countries.
• Birthday Leave: Your birthday off—paid.
• Volunteering: 2 paid volunteering days.
• Learning: Access to LinkedIn Learning for all colleagues.
• Financial Wellbeing: Free Snoop Premium subscription.
• Healthcare: Self-pay Denplan & optional Private Medical Insurance.

The Role

As Lead AI Architect, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping how AI is used across Vanquis to deliver better customer experiences, stronger operational efficiency, sustainable revenue growth, and effective risk management. You’ll sit at the intersection of business strategy and advanced AI technology, leading the architectural direction for AI across all products and functions. Working closely with Business Owners, senior stakeholders, and specialist teams across Tech & Change, you’ll help define how AI is governed, designed, and embedded responsibly across the organisation. You’ll collaborate with Data Architects, Data Scientists, Engineers, InfoSec, and key strategic partners—including Salesforce, Microsoft, AWS, and Snowflake—to ensure AI solutions are scalable, secure, compliant, and aligned to best practice. You’ll also help shape the wider operating model that supports safe and effective AI adoption across Vanquis.

As a Lead AI Architect, you will:

• Bring deep technical and architectural expertise, combined with a strong understanding of how AI can be applied pragmatically in a regulated financial services environment.

From a technical and architectural perspective, you’ll have:

• Strong knowledge of AI technologies, including machine learning, data engineering, and cloud-based architectures.
• Experience designing scalable, secure AI solutions, ideally at enterprise scale.
• Familiarity with SaaS-based architectures and integration with core platforms (e.g. CRM and data platforms).
• Experience with cloud environments such as Microsoft Azure and AWS.
• Exposure to process automation and modern data platforms.
• Experience working in agile or iterative delivery environments.
• An appreciation of architectural frameworks, patterns, and standards (e.g. TOGAF, ArchiMate, software design patterns).

From a regulatory and risk perspective, you’ll bring:

• An understanding of UK banking regulations, data privacy requirements (including GDPR), and model risk management.
• Experience embedding governance, security, and ethical AI principles into technology design.
• The ability to design and maintain AI guardrails, risks, and controls that enable innovation while protecting customers and the business.

What We’re Looking For

What will really set you apart is your ability to connect strategy, technology, and people. You’ll stand out if you:

• Think strategically about how AI can create real business value across the end-to-end customer lifecycle.
• Are curious, forward-looking, and actively stay up to date with emerging AI trends and regulatory changes.
• Are comfortable working with ambiguity and enjoy experimenting, learning, and iterating.
• Build strong relationships and communicate complex ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Can influence without authority, working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and partners.
• Are adaptable, proactive, and motivated to seek out new opportunities where AI can make a meaningful difference.

This is a role for someone who wants to shape the future of AI at Vanquis, balancing innovation with responsibility, and turning advanced technology into practical, customer-focused outcomes.

Offers are subject to standard background checks (credit, fraud and employment references).

Who we are

At Vanquis, our purpose is simple: to deliver caring banking that helps people make the most of life’s opportunities. Founded in 1880, we’re now a FTSE All Share specialist bank supporting over 1.7 million UK customers with responsible, tailored lending. We’re proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work and recognised by the Financial Times as one of the UK’s Best Employers 2025 — ranked top 50 nationwide and seventh in Banking & Financial Services. We’re also proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, actively supporting veterans, reservists and military families. Guided by our values — caring for people, pulling together, finding better ways and getting the right things done — we’re building a workplace where colleagues feel connected, valued and empowered. Alongside competitive pay, we offer meaningful benefits, salary reviews, a discretionary bonus scheme and continued recognition. We’re invested in your development too. With the right support and hands-on learning, you’ll grow your skills, shape your career and realise your ambitions.

How We Hire

We use AI to help organise applications and surface early matches, but all decisions are made by humans. Please apply authentically — especially during interviews.