AI Adoption, Portfolio & Capability Lead

Advances in artificial intelligence are creating new opportunities to improve how Finance operates, makes decisions and serves the Society. This role will sit at the centre of the Finance AI capability, helping turn those opportunities into an aligned, governed and measurable portfolio of work.

You will coordinate the Finance AI roadmap, support prioritisation and governance, drive adoption and value realisation, and maintain strong alignment with enterprise AI teams and senior stakeholders. You will also help Finance assess emerging technology and build capability through communities and partner networks.

Working as part of a cross-functional team spanning analysis, solution design and development, you will provide the portfolio discipline and adoption focus needed to move AI solutions from promising ideas into sustainable business outcomes.

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this job you’ll spend at least two days per week, or if part time you’ll spend 40% of your working time, based at either our Swindon, London or Northampton office. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works.

Whilst these locations are where we are primarily looking to fill the role, if you’re an internal applicant based in a different location we would welcome your application and if successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this could work for this specific role. You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working here.

Nationwide is committed to the redeployment of our employees impacted by change, as such applications for redeployment candidates will be prioritised in this recruitment process.

If you’re a colleague on long-term absence (for example, on parental leave) or a temporary worker, please use your personal email address to submit an application.

Responsibilities

What you’ll be doing

As our AI Adoption, Portfolio and Capability Lead, you’ll own and maintain the Finance AI roadmap, ensuring priorities, dependencies, progress and key decisions are clearly understood and aligned to Finance and enterprise objectives. You’ll drive portfolio governance and prioritisation, helping to assess opportunities consistently and translate priorities into deliverable outcomes with the right ownership and governance.

You’ll lead the adoption of AI capabilities across Finance, supporting new ways of working, colleague engagement and capability development through learning activities, communities of practice and partner networks. Working closely with stakeholders across Finance, Technology and the wider business, you’ll ensure alignment with enterprise AI strategy, standards and delivery teams.

You’ll also oversee value realisation and reporting, providing clear insight into benefits, progress, risks and outcomes. By monitoring emerging AI technologies and championing responsible adoption, you’ll help Finance identify future opportunities while ensuring risk, controls, ethics and compliance remain central to all portfolio and adoption activity., * Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind

• Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think - we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand
• Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development
• Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these., We’re not just guided by data, we’re driven by the real experiences of our people. We’re a Disability Confident Level 3 Leader, the highest level.

That’s why we’re constantly evolving our policies and practices to make sure everyone feels genuinely supported, valued, and empowered to champion inclusion. Whatever your needs, we’re here to support you. If you need any additional support throughout your application journey, email our team at Recruitment Support.

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The hiring manager for this role is Andy Lomas, and the main recruitment contact is Kris Mason.

Please note that should you be successful in securing this role, the job title on our internal systems will be Operational Effectiveness Senior Consultant.

• Experience coordinating a portfolio, roadmap or change agenda across multiple workstreams and stakeholders.
• Experience working in Finance in financial services.
• Knowledge of responsible AI technology risk, controls, data governance or model governance.
• Demonstratable examples of facilitating and/or building practical AI use cases in a Finance context.
• Experience of governance and prioritisation, including presenting clear options, recommendations and trade-offs to senior stakeholders.
• A strong track record in adoption, change management, communications or capability development for technology-enabled change.
• Experience defining, tracking and communicating business value, benefits and delivery outcomes.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to work across Finance & Treasury, Technology and enterprise teams and to challenge constructively when needed.
• An informed interest in AI and emerging technology, with the ability to translate technical developments into clear business implications without overstating certainty.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to turn complex information into concise, decision-ready material.
• Well-developed organisation and prioritisation skills, with the ability to create clarity across competing demands and evolving priorities.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to build communities, partnerships and networks that improve collective capability.
• Flexibility required to support the business with AI related activities as and when required.

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role

• 25 days holiday, pro rata
• Private medical insurance
• A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement
• Access to an annual performance-related bonus
• Training and development to help you progress your career
• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death
• Wellhub - access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness
• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year

Banking - but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society

We forge our own path at Nationwide.

As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.

At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community, we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.

We are purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.