Programme Lead AI and Machine Learning
Location: Hybrid, Oxford area
Duration: 18 month fixed term engagement
Start: ASAP
Salary: £110,000 to £130,000 depending on experience
Overview
We are supporting an advanced artificial intelligence research programme being delivered by a leading AI research lab based in Oxford. The programme is funded by an international organisation and involves collaboration across the UK, Japan and the United States.
The Programme Lead will be responsible for overseeing a portfolio of AI and machine learning research initiatives, ensuring that complex research programmes move from experimentation into structured delivery with clear outcomes.
This role requires a senior delivery leader who can operate comfortably in a highly technical environment, working closely with machine learning engineers, research teams and international stakeholders.
The Programme
The programme will involve multiple research workstreams focused on emerging areas of artificial intelligence including:
• AI privacy and responsible AI frameworks
• Development of open source AI platforms
• Data sovereignty and governance in AI systems
• Advanced machine learning infrastructure and experimentation
Each workstream will consist of specialist machine learning engineers and research teams working on different use cases.
The Programme Lead will provide the delivery structure around this research environment, ensuring that progress, outcomes and funding objectives are clearly defined and achieved.
Role Responsibilities
Programme Leadership
- Lead and coordinate a portfolio of AI and machine learning research workstreams, ensuring alignment across technical teams and stakeholders.
- Define delivery structure, priorities and sequencing across initiatives, ensuring research programmes progress into tangible outcomes.
- Act as the senior escalation point for programme risks, dependencies and delivery challenges.
- Drive momentum and ensure progress across multiple research teams operating in parallel.
- Governance and Programme Structure
- Establish appropriate governance, reporting and delivery frameworks across the programme.
- Provide clear and structured reporting to senior stakeholders and programme sponsors.
- Ensure programme milestones, deliverables and benefits are clearly tracked and communicated.
- Maintain oversight of programme performance, progress and resource alignment.
Stakeholder Management
- Work closely with international stakeholders across the UK, Japan and the United States.
- Build strong relationships with technical leaders, programme sponsors and delivery partners.
- Translate complex technical progress into clear updates for non technical stakeholders.
- Represent the programme in governance forums and stakeholder reviews.
Collaboration with Technical Teams
- Embed within a highly technical environment alongside machine learning engineers and research teams.
- Support collaboration across multiple AI research workstreams.
- Ensure technical teams are aligned with programme goals and delivery timelines.
- Create a structured delivery environment that allows research teams to move effectively from experimentation into implementation.
- Programme Structure
- The Programme Lead will operate as the senior delivery lead within the programme structure and will be supported by:
• Project Manager
• PMO support
Technical delivery will be carried out by multiple teams of machine learning engineers across the programme workstreams.
Essential Experience
- Proven experience leading complex programmes from mobilisation through delivery.
- Experience managing programmes in innovation, research or advanced technology environments.
- Strong track record of working with senior stakeholders and programme sponsors.
- Ability to operate effectively in environments with evolving priorities and ambiguity.
- Experience establishing governance, delivery frameworks and programme reporting.
- Strong ability to translate complex technical work into clear business communication.
Desirable Experience
- Exposure to artificial intelligence, machine learning or advanced data programmes.
- Experience working in research and development environments.
- Experience managing programmes involving international stakeholders.
- Previous consulting or advisory experience in complex transformation programmes.