Data & AI Lead in London

Data and AI Lead Permanent Location: London Hours: Full time, 5 days a week, Monday - Friday Pay: Up to £75,000 per annum

Driving AI‑Enabled Culture Change Across Wilson James

Are you one of the rare leaders who has actually delivered AI into production - not just talked about it? Have you built AI‑ready data platforms, shifted organisational mindsets, and embedded AI into real workflows at scale? If you're looking for a role where your experience isn't just valued but essential, this is the challenge you've been waiting for. WJ is searching for a Data & AI Lead to own the data and AI backbone of our organisation. This is a delivery‑first, impact‑led role for someone who has already navigated the realities of AI adoption, culture change, and enterprise‑grade data engineering.

About the Role:

• Design and own WJ's AI‑ready data architecture, ensuring scalable, secure ingestion pipelines for RAG, real‑time and batch AI use cases, and access to structured and unstructured data.
• Build and maintain the AI enablement platform, defining patterns, guardrails, and integration approaches that allow rapid, safe deployment of AI across all departments.
• Embed AI directly into operational workflows, partnering with Product and Automation teams to deliver knowledge retrieval, summarisation, decision support, forecasting, and planning solutions.
• Lead the engineering of robust, monitored data pipelines, eliminating data quality blockers and ensuring lineage, explainability, and auditability for all AI‑consumed data.
• Establish and enforce AI‑appropriate governance, covering access control, data sensitivity, model inputs/outputs, and human‑in‑the‑loop controls to ensure ethical, compliant deployments.
• Act as a senior advisor to Exec and departmental leaders, shaping AI readiness, prioritisation, and organisational adoption strategies.
• Develop and lead a high‑performing data and AI enablement team, coaching teams across the business to understand, trust, and effectively use AI outputs.
• Drive measurable AI impact, ensuring solutions move into production, deliver productivity and cost benefits, and shift WJ from AI‑curious to AI‑enabled.

Why Join Us?

• Annual leave entitlement of 25 days
• Lifestyle Benefits – Mortgage and financial advice, vouchers for various shopping outlets and food stores, employee referral scheme.
• Learning & Development – we actively encourage progression and offer various eLearning courses, progression, training whilst on site, apprenticeships, and in‑house training courses.
• Health and Wellbeing – Life assurance scheme, access to mental health support specialists Access to an Online GP for you and your dependents.
• Financial support Discounts on hundreds of retail sites
• Progression opportunities – many of our team go on to senior and site management roles
• A welcoming, respectful team culture
• Cycle to Work scheme

What we are looking for:

You must have proven, lived experience delivering AI into production and driving cultural adoption. We're looking for someone who has:

• Built data platforms specifically for AI and automation
• Strong hands‑on data engineering and architecture expertise
• Implemented RAG, semantic layers, or AI‑centric data access patterns
• Deep experience with cloud data stacks (Azure preferred)
• Governed AI in real operating environments
• Delivery‑led, pragmatic, and fast‑moving
• Credible with engineers and Exec alike
• Calm under pressure, decisive when needed
• Values outcomes over elegance

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Wilson James is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. A criminal conviction will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining a position, however each case will be assessed on an individual basis. For information about Wilson James' commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, visit their website.