Associate Director of AI Implementation

Job summary

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking an exceptional leader to drive the safe, scaled adoption of artificial intelligence across our clinical and corporate services. As Associate Director of AI Implementation, you will build and lead the Trust's AI programme -- establishing our AI centre of excellence, owning the delivery pipeline, and ensuring AI is adopted responsibly, governed rigorously, and delivers measurable benefit to patients and staff.

This is a rare opportunity to shape one of the most ambitious AI programmes in the NHS, working at board level, across the Thames Valley system, and in direct partnership with national and industry leaders.

Main duties of the job

• Lead BHT's AI implementation programme, building a managed centre of excellence that governs how AI is adopted safely across clinical and corporate services
• Own the AI pipeline from ideation to benefits realisation, ensuring every initiative has measurable outcomes and a clear delivery owner
• Establish and lead a formal AI PMO, setting delivery standards and coaching project managers across the wider digital portfolio
• Manage the enterprise AI tool portfolio -- including large language model, productivity and meeting-governance platforms -- ensuring coordinated, coherent deployment at scale
• Contribute to the capital business case for AI investment and represent the programme at board and Capital Management Group level
• Shape BHT's contribution to the Thames Valley APC pathway orchestration layer, positioning the Trust as a lead voice in regional AI infrastructure
• Build and lead the AI Implementation team, scaling the function as the programme matures
• Drive a transformation-first culture -- working with clinical and operational leaders to reimagine workflows before deploying technology
• Lead BHT's MHRA regulatory engagement, working towards a framework-level approach to AI clinical safety assurance
• Deliver regular assurance reporting to the Finance and Business Performance Committee, Non-Executive Directors and board-level governance forums

About us

Why colleagues think we are "a great place to work!"

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?

As part of our BHT family, you'll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.

Alongside NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme, you'll have access to NHS discount schemes.

We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

What do we stand for?

Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.

Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.

We are working hard to increase diversity at all levels within the trust. We believe a diverse workforce can have a positive effect on both staff wellbeing and patient outcomes.

We welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, candidates with disabilities and care-experienced candidates.

We are proud to achieve the Gold award for the Armed Forces Covenant and support applications from the Armed Forces Community. Please contact Pam.Daley@nhs.net (our Armed Forces Covenant Lead) if you would like guidance or assistance with your application.

We make employment decisions by matching our service needs with the skills and experience of candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.