AI Development Lead
Zurich Insurance · Manchester, England, United Kingdom
- On site
- Full-time
- £100,000 / year
- Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Job highlights
- Lead AI/ML development and adoption in insurance.
- Develop cutting-edge AI/ML solutions at scale.
- Mentor colleagues on AI best practices.
- Solve complex business problems using AI.
- Drive digital transformation with AI innovation.
About the role
AI Development Lead
Location: UK Flexible/Hybrid/Home Working
Working Hours: Part-time, job-share, or full-time
The Opportunity
Join Zurich's Global Life team as an innovative and visionary AI expert at the heart of our digital transformation. You will drive AI and ML adoption across Life, Health, and Bank Distribution, working with cutting-edge AI solutions and our AI Lab. This role focuses on improving business outcomes and fostering innovation through machine learning and Generative AI.
We are looking for a hands-on AI leader passionate about mentoring colleagues, solving complex business problems with AI/ML, and explaining the art-of-the-possible to stakeholders with varying technical expertise. You will enjoy turning ambiguous problems into practical solutions and making a real-world difference.
This is an excellent opportunity to leverage emerging AI trends, collaborate with talented data scientists, engineers, and consultants, and contribute to high-impact AI solutions in a supportive and passionate company.
What Will You Be Doing?
You will play a key role in redefining how we work, our solutions, and enterprise platforms through digital transformation.
- Support colleagues in becoming self-sufficient with AI for value-driving use-cases.
- Lead AI/ML solution prototyping, working towards production readiness with cloud tools and MLOps.
- Stay updated on AI/ML developments, assess their relevance, and consider ethical impacts.
- Understand business challenges and integrate AI capabilities to create solutions for ambiguous problems.
- Collaborate to identify and prioritize business areas for AI-driven benefits.
- Ensure high ethical standards in AI/ML usage.
- Provide technical guidance and advanced AI capabilities.
- Mentor colleagues, proactively suggesting AI/ML solutions.
- Translate technical concepts to business users, promoting AI adoption.
- Act as an AI/ML advocate and thought leader, communicating business value.
What Are We Looking For?
Your skills and experience will ideally include:
- Experience applying leading AI methods to practical, end-to-end production solutions.
- Proven expertise and thought leadership in machine learning and AI.
- Comfort working with diverse data types (big data, text, XML, JSON).
- Experience with LLMs for commercial value, including management and monitoring.
- Experience with Microsoft Power Platform and CoPilot Studio.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Azure cloud services and Python for ML/AI solutions.
- Experience with CI/CD and MLOps practices.
- Proficiency in Python and modern software development (e.g., Git).
- Passion for mentoring and supporting colleagues in AI/ML best practices.
- Exceptional communication skills for articulating complex AI issues and gaining stakeholder support.
- Strong analytical, structured, and interdisciplinary thinking with creative problem-solving abilities.
- Comfort working with ambiguity and practical delivery for the business.
- Ability to see the bigger picture and connect dots across complex landscapes.
- Demonstrated ability to foster a culture of curiosity, support, and honesty.
Nice to Have:
- Knowledge of SQL and R.
- Experience with Databricks and Spark with Python.
- Experience with AWS cloud services for ML solutions.
- Experience in mentoring or teaching.
- Master’s degree or PhD in Physics, Mathematics, Data Science, or Computer Science.
Benefits:
Zurich offers a wide range of flexible benefits, including a 12% defined non-contributory pension, annual company bonus, private medical insurance, and options to buy/sell holiday days.
About Zurich:
At Zurich, we aspire to be a responsible and impactful business, creating a brighter future for our customers, people, and planet. With over 55,000 employees in more than 170 countries, you'll benefit from the support of a strong and stable global insurer with a long-standing presence in the industry. We are committed to sustainable impact, employee wellbeing, curiosity, and continuous development.
Our Culture:
We foster a strong sense of community, championing diversity and inclusion with numerous awards. We encourage employees to bring their whole selves to work, ensuring everyone feels welcome. We are committed to fair treatment and respect for all applicants. Our focus on wellbeing (physical, mental, social, financial) is supported by expert advice and lifestyle resources. We offer comprehensive training and development opportunities and encourage employees to get involved in volunteering and community activities through our charitable arm, Zurich Community Trust.
Key Skills/Competency
- AI Development Lead
- Machine Learning
- Generative AI
- Python
- Cloud Services (Azure)
- MLOps
- LLMs
- Data Science
- Problem Solving
- Mentoring
Skills & topics
- AI Development Lead
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
- Generative AI
- Python
- Azure
- MLOps
- LLM
- Data Science
- Insurance
- UK
- Hybrid
- Remote
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight AI/ML expertise, Python, Azure, and LLM experience. Quantify achievements in previous roles.
- Craft a compelling cover letter: Showcase your passion for AI, mentoring skills, and understanding of Zurich's mission.
- Prepare for technical interviews: Be ready to discuss AI/ML concepts, practical applications, and your experience with Azure and MLOps.
- Demonstrate leadership and communication: Highlight your ability to mentor, translate technical ideas, and collaborate with stakeholders.
- Research Zurich's culture: Understand their commitment to responsible business, diversity, and employee wellbeing.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What specific AI/ML technologies are most important for the AI Development Lead role at Zurich?
- For the AI Development Lead position at Zurich, proficiency in Python, experience with cloud services like Microsoft Azure, expertise in Machine Learning and Generative AI, and practical knowledge of LLMs are crucial. Familiarity with MLOps, CI/CD, and tools like Microsoft Power Platform and CoPilot Studio is also highly valued.
- How does Zurich support flexible working for the AI Development Lead role?
- Zurich is highly supportive of flexible working. The AI Development Lead role can be taken on a part-time, job-share, or full-time basis, with options for hybrid or home working within the UK. Candidates are encouraged to discuss their specific flexibility needs during the interview process.
- What is the expected level of technical contribution versus leadership for this AI Development Lead role?
- The AI Development Lead role requires a blend of hands-on technical contribution and leadership. You will lead prototyping, provide technical guidance, and implement advanced AI capabilities, while also mentoring colleagues, translating technical concepts to business users, and acting as a thought leader.
- How does Zurich ensure ethical AI practices in its AI Development Lead roles?
- Zurich emphasizes high ethical standards for AI/ML usage. The AI Development Lead is responsible for assessing the ethical impacts of new AI developments and ensuring that all AI solutions are developed and implemented responsibly and ethically within the organization.
- What kind of business problems will the AI Development Lead solve at Zurich?
- The AI Development Lead will focus on solving business problems within Life, Health, and Bank Distribution. This includes improving business outcomes, driving innovation through ML/GenAI applications, and developing value-driving use-cases where requirements may be ambiguous. The goal is to leverage AI to create significant business benefits.
- What are the key differences between the 'ideal candidate' description and the 'nice to have' qualifications for the AI Development Lead role?
- The 'ideal candidate' possesses core skills like practical AI/ML experience, LLM proficiency, Azure/Python knowledge, and strong mentoring abilities. 'Nice to have' qualifications, such as SQL, R, Databricks, Spark, or AWS experience, and advanced degrees, would further enhance a candidate's profile but are not strictly required for consideration.
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