Enterprise AI Lead

Shape the future of AI at one of the UK's leading software businesses. AI is transforming how organisations work, and at IRIS, we're looking for someone to lead that journey. This is a rare opportunity to become the driving force behind enterprise AI adoption across a complex, fast-growing software organisation.

You'll be responsible for ensuring platforms such as Microsoft Copilot, Claude, Agent Studios, and enterprise AI integrations are deployed safely, governed effectively, and embraced across the business.

This is more than a governance role. You'll be a visible champion for AI, helping colleagues unlock new ways of working, building confidence in emerging technologies, and balancing innovation with security, compliance, and measurable business value.

The Role

As the Enterprise AI Lead, you will be the business-facing owner for enterprise AI enablement across IRIS, ensuring tools such as Claude and Microsoft Copilot are deployed, governed, and adopted in a safe, measurable, and value-led way.

Working within Group IT, you will review new enterprise AI technologies and features, manage controlled deployment across the organisation, and translate capability into practical education, engagement, and business adoption.

You will own central configuration and governance for enterprise AI platforms, including Claude, Copilot, Agent Studios, department-created agents, standards, MCPs, and approved connectors. Working closely with Data Protection, Security, ITAM, Architecture, and business stakeholders, you will ensure AI usage is secure, compliant, cost-controlled, and aligned to IRIS standards.

A key success factor will be being a visible, positive force for AI across the workforce by driving the AI Champions network, building confidence, increasing engagement, and helping colleagues understand how to use AI safely and effectively in their day-to-day work.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the enterprise AI toolset from a Group IT perspective, including Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Agent Studios, MCPs, approved connectors, and associated configuration standards.
• Review new enterprise AI technologies, platform features, and releases, assessing suitability, risk, value, and readiness for controlled deployment across IRIS.
• Define, maintain, and govern central configuration standards for enterprise AI platforms, ensuring settings are consistent, supportable, and aligned to IRIS policy.
• Create and operate standards for department-created agents, including ownership, data boundaries, approval requirements, testing, documentation, monitoring, and lifecycle management.
• Own the governance framework for MCPs, connectors, and integrations, ensuring use cases are approved, secure, documented, and reviewed.
• Work closely with Security and Data Protection to ensure AI controls, data handling, permissions, and risk decisions are properly owned, tracked, and challenged where required.
• Partner with ITAM, Finance, and Procurement to govern FinOps activity for enterprise AI, including licensing, budget controls, usage reviews, renewals, and cost optimisation.
• Drive business enablement through education, guidance, playbooks, showcases, office hours, and accessible material that helps colleagues use AI safely and effectively.
• Lead and energise the AI Champions network, turning champions into practical advocates who can support adoption, feedback, and local engagement across departments.
• Translate business requirements into safe and supportable AI solutions, working with Architecture, Engineering, Service Desk, Security, and business stakeholders.
• Maintain clear documentation, knowledge articles, governance artefacts, decision logs, and communication material for AI platforms and standards.
• Measure and communicate adoption, engagement, usage patterns, cost, risks, issues, and realised value to IT leadership and business stakeholders.
• Act as a positive, credible, and pragmatic voice for enterprise AI, balancing excitement and innovation with control, security, and data protection.

What We're Looking For

Qualifications

• Qualified to A level standard or equivalent, or able to demonstrate relevant industry experience in enterprise technology, digital workplace, AI enablement, or governance.
• Strong understanding of Microsoft 365, Microsoft Copilot and enterprise productivity tooling is highly desirable.
• Experience with Claude, AI platforms, agent tooling, connectors, integration governance, or similar enterprise AI capabilities would be beneficial.
• ITIL, project delivery, product ownership, security, data protection, or governance qualifications would be advantageous, but practical experience is equally valued.

Knowledge & Experience

• Experience deploying or governing enterprise technology platforms across a complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of AI adoption, enablement, change management, and safe experimentation within a business environment.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Copilot, Claude, AI agents, Agent Studios, MCPs, connectors, or integration-led productivity tooling.
• Experience defining standards, controls, documentation, and operational processes for technology platforms.
• Understanding of data protection, security, access control, and risk considerations linked to AI usage and enterprise integrations.
• Ability to work with ITAM, Finance, and Procurement to manage licensing, renewals, budgets, cost control, and usage governance.
• Experience building stakeholder confidence through education, guidance, communications, workshops, and community networks.
• Ability to influence technical and non-technical stakeholders, holding accountable teams to their ownership areas while maintaining positive working relationships.
• Experience measuring adoption, engagement, risks, costs, and value using clear reporting and practical management information.

Key Competencies

• Clear, confident communicator who can make AI practical, safe, and exciting for colleagues at all levels.
• Strong governance mindset with the judgement to balance innovation, risk, data protection, security, and operational control.
• Positive change agent who can build momentum, remove blockers, and create confidence in new ways of working.
• Excellent stakeholder management, with the ability to challenge constructively and hold accountable teams to their responsibilities.
• Commercially aware, with a strong focus on adoption, value, FinOps discipline, and cost control.
• Structured and detail-oriented, able to create standards, documentation, decision records, and repeatable operating models.
• Curious and pragmatic, able to assess emerging AI capabilities without losing sight of business value and user experience.
• Collaborative, energetic, and credible, with the ability to lead networks and influence without always relying on formal authority.