Accountable for an organisation's whole AI capability: strategy, budget, hiring, governance and delivery. Reports to the board and answers for the results.
The roles people usually hold before this one, and the skills each move needs. Every skill is tagged with its IoAI competency framework domain.
Product leaders who can own strategy, governance and delivery together are the most common route into the top AI job.
Advisory breadth converts well to the accountable role, provided you add depth in delivery and people leadership.
From setting the technical direction to owning the whole capability: the hard problems become people, budget and strategy rather than architecture.
Leading one function proves you can lead the discipline; the step is owning strategy, governance and delivery for the whole organisation.
Fellow accreditation recognises exactly the competencies a Head of AI needs: an evidence-based assessment against the five domains, reviewed by the IoAI, renewed annually.
An evidence-based credential from the UK's professional body for AI carries further than another line on a CV. Apply when you are ready, or find your level first.
Your route into AI on one interactive map: pick your starting point and follow the lines.
Live UK roles with honest salary bands, including Head of AI openings when employers post them.
The five domains behind every skill on this page, and what they look like at each level.
