Director AI

Global University Systems (GUS) is looking for an experienced Director of Artificial Intelligence to lead the design, delivery and governance of AI initiatives across our global network of universities. This senior leadership role will shape the long-term AI strategy and bring practical solutions to life that enhance the way we deliver education, support students and manage operations through responsible and innovative use of AI technology.

Role Overview

The Director of AI will be responsible for building and running the GUS AI platform, managing projects from concept to deployment. You will drive the development of proofs of concept (PoCs) and minimum viable products (MVPs), then scale validated solutions into production. Working closely with academic leaders and administrative teams, you will ensure every AI initiative creates measurable impact while adhering to the highest standards of ethics, accessibility and transparency.

Key Responsibilities

AI Strategy and Governance

Develop and maintain a clear enterprise AI strategy and roadmap. Manage the intake and prioritization of new AI use cases, define key success measures and ensure each initiative aligns with business value and compliance requirements. Build and oversee governance frameworks that ensure privacy, accessibility and responsible use in accordance with global AI regulations.

AI Delivery and Platform Development

Lead the design and delivery of agile PoCs and MVPs to test value quickly and efficiently. Form and guide cross-functional teams that combine data science, engineering and subject matter expertise. Once validated, transition solutions into stable production environments with strong architecture, integration, monitoring and operational processes. Build a reusable AI platform that supports functions such as admissions, student records, timetabling, learning support, student wellbeing, research administration and institutional operations.

Responsible AI and Compliance

Embed responsible AI practices into every project, including fairness assessments, explainability, and ethical review processes. Implement rigorous data governance, security and compliance measures across platforms. Ensure sensitive data is handled appropriately and that generative AI tools follow organizational standards for safety and moderation.

Leadership and Change Management

Partner effectively with Deans, faculty, student services and IT leaders to identify opportunities, coordinate delivery, and drive adoption. Communicate progress clearly through dashboards and regular updates. Promote awareness of responsible AI within the organization by supporting training, guidelines and engagement activities that build digital confidence among staff and students.

Vendor and Budget Management

Oversee relationships with AI technology vendors and service providers. Manage budgets related to cloud infrastructure and AI operations, ensuring cost efficiency and strategic value are maintained across all initiatives.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Business Analytics or a related field.
• At least six years of experience in IT product, program or delivery roles, including three years leading AI or advanced analytics initiatives.
• Proven experience moving AI solutions from development through to production in large or complex organizations.
• Strong understanding of AI and machine learning technologies including natural language processing, generative AI, retrieval augmented generation and MLOps.
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms, with a preference for Microsoft Azure.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills with a proven ability to drive cross-functional collaboration and cultural adoption of new technologies.

Desirable

• Familiarity with higher education systems including student information systems, learning management systems, customer relationship management platforms and ERP solutions.
• Certifications such as Azure AI Engineer, Agile or Scrum Master.
• Experience with observability tools and retrieval pipelines used in AI application monitoring and performance optimization.

This is an outstanding opportunity to join a forward-thinking global education organization that is reimagining the future of learning through the power of artificial intelligence.