Director of AI

Location{{:}} Hybrid - HQ in Shoreham-by-Sea

Apply promptly! A high volume of applicants is expected for the role as detailed below, do not wait to send your CV.
Reports to{{:}} Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer
The Opportunity

Focus Group is a £300m-revenue, 1,300-person technology services company backed by Hg Capital. Following our $1bn valuation in 2024, we're scaling rapidly and investing in AI to transform how we operate and how we serve our 30,000 SME customers.

We're seeking a Director of AI to lead the development and delivery of Focus Group's AI strategy — shaping how artificial intelligence enhances our services, drives efficiency, and creates new customer-facing value propositions.

This is a pivotal role for someone with strong commercial and transformation experience who is passionate about the potential of AI and eager to turn that enthusiasm into measurable business impact.

The Role

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• Lead Focus Group's AI strategy and roadmap, aligning initiatives to our growth objectives
  
• Partner with business and technology leaders to embed AI and automation across service delivery, customer experience, and internal operations
  
• Build and lead a small, high-impact AI team
  
• Evaluate and implement AI-driven tools and partnerships that deliver clear commercial and operational benefits
  
• Help design and launch new customer-facing value propositions powered by AI
  
• Define success metrics, governance, and value tracking for all AI initiatives
  
• Report progress and outcomes directly to the CSTO and executive leadership team
  

What You'll Bring

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• Strategic and commercially minded problem-solver with a track record of turning ideas into delivered outcomes.
  
• Blend of consulting discipline and operational delivery - able to move seamlessly between boardroom strategy and frontline execution.
  
• Proven ability to drive cross-functional change and adoption, turning plans into measurable outcomes.
  
• Excellent commercial acumen, with a sharp understanding of how AI and automation create business value.
  
• High emotional intelligence and relationship-building skills - able to engage and influence both senior stakeholders and operational teams.
  
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; comfortable using data and insight to guide decisions. xkybehq
  
• Genuine interest in and working knowledge of AI - you stay curious, follow developments, and actively explore how emerging tools can be applied in real businesses.
  
• Experience working in B2B and technology-driven businesses
  
• Exposure to private-equity-backed or scaling organisations
  
• Prior experience in data, analytics, or automation programmes
  

What We Offer

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• Competitive base salary, equity participation, bonus, and benefits package
  
• Opportunity to shape and own the AI agenda within an Hg-backed growth business
  
• Access to Hg's AI thought leadership, ecosystem partnerships, and portfolio network, providing unique insight and support to accelerate impact
  
• Direct executive sponsorship and visibility across the organisation
  
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial culture focused on delivery and innovation
  
• Hybrid working - typically one or two days per week in our ShorehamHQ