Chief AI & Automation Officer (CAIO) (London)

Join to apply for the Chief AI & Automation Officer (CAIO) role at Global University Systems

Join to apply for the Chief AI & Automation Officer (CAIO) role at Global University Systems

Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.

Global University Systems is an international education group that empowers students to transform their lives through education. We believe education drives careers, lives, and society forward, enabling a brighter future for all. Our network of 30 institutions offers the broadest range of industry-relevant skills through inclusive, accessible, and digital-first learning. We currently educate around 122,000 students on campuses worldwide and have 20M+ unique subscribers to our courses. Our global ecosystem powers accessible digital learning and academic achievement.

Role Overview

We are seeking an entrepreneurial, product-minded Chief AI & Automation Officer (CAIO) to architect and lead a full-stack AI and automation transformation across GUS institutions.

This is a greenfield opportunity for a builder: someone who has launched, scaled, and perhaps exited their own tech business. You’re a founder at heart with proven product instincts & execution.

If you've thrived in fast-moving, ambiguous environments and know how to go from zero and scale significantly, this is your platform for global, purpose-led impact.

Your Mission

As CAIO, you will:

• Design and lead GUS’s global AI & automation strategy
• Build and lead a high-performing AI, Automation & Data Science team from the ground up
• Develop intelligent, AI-driven products that personalise education and scale operations
• Automate internal processes across HR, finance, admissions, and more
• Create a central AI & Automation Innovation Hub to power transformation across the Group
• Embed ethical, data-driven thinking into all layers of GUS — from the classroom to the boardroom
• Collaborate across tech, product, academic, and commercial teams globally

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Vision & Leadership

• Define and communicate a bold, commercially viable AI & automation vision for the Group
• Build a scalable roadmap for implementation across diverse geographies and institutions
• Report directly to the CEO and board on AI/automation priorities, performance, and ROI
• Launch AI-powered educational products (e.g. adaptive platforms, virtual tutors, automated assessment tools)
• Introduce intelligent automation to enhance operational efficiency at scale
• Partner with global AI/EdTech firms, open-source projects, and research labs

Team Building

• Assemble and lead a world-class team including ML engineers, automation experts, product leaders, and AI ethicists
• Build a culture of experimentation, iteration, and speed — shipping early, learning fast

AI & Automation Infrastructure

• Work closely with the CTO/CIO to implement AI and RPA (robotic process automation) across all business functions
• Set group-wide standards for data management, privacy, and ethical AI/automation use
• Oversee platform architecture, MLOps, and scalable deployment frameworks

About You

You're a doer, a builder, and a visionary who has created something from scratch and scaled it. It’s in your DNA to be agile, make bold moves, and use AI for more than just incremental gains.

You’ll thrive in this role if you have:

• Significant experience in AI/ML, automation, or product development, with proven executive leadership
• A track record of founding, scaling, or leading a high-growth tech business or startup
• Strong product instincts; you know how to identify user problems and turn them into scalable solutions
• Technical depth in GenAI, LLMs, automation platforms, ML infrastructure, and data systems
• Passion for education and a belief in technology as a force for inclusive learning
• Strong commercial acumen; you can build, monetize, and scale intelligent products
• A clear and responsible perspective on AI/automation ethics and data privacy
• Experience hiring and inspiring diverse, cross-functional, high-performance teams
• Degree in Computer Science, AI, Data Science or a related field preferred, but not required

Why Join GUS?

• Global Impact: Shape how hundreds of thousands of learners experience education
• Founder’s Playground: Build a new global function from scratch with C-level support and investment
• Purpose-Driven Mission: Use AI to improve lives, not just margins
• Live Anywhere: Work from wherever you perform best

Ready to build the future of education?

Apply now and lead one of the most ambitious AI & automation transformations in global edtech.

• Seniority level
  Executive

• Employment type
  Full-time

• Job function
  Business Development, Sales, and Strategy/Planning
• Industries
  Higher Education, Education Administration Programs, and Education

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Global University Systems by 2x

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 month ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 3 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 5 days ago

City Of London, England, United Kingdom 3 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 6 days ago

City Of London, England, United Kingdom 3 days ago

Paddington, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 3 days ago

Paddington, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 months ago

London, England, United Kingdom 4 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

London, England, United Kingdom 4 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 month ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 month ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 month ago

London, England, United Kingdom 6 months ago

London, England, United Kingdom 4 months ago

London, England, United Kingdom 4 months ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 months ago

London, England, United Kingdom 3 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 3 days ago

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.