Head of AI, Analytics & Data Science

Head of AI, Analytics and Data Science

Location: Bristol, Norwich, York or Sheffield

Salary: £130k

This is a great job for someone who wants to shape AI, analytics and data science transformation in Aviva. You may already be leading large, high-performing teams, or ready to step into a broader, enterprise-level leadership role.

A bit about the job

This role provides end-to-end leadership of the AI, Analytics and Data Science capability across our Insurance, Wealth and Retirement (IWR) business. It is central to shaping how data, analytics and AI support the IWR strategy, improving customer outcomes, driving operational efficiency and enabling sustainable growth.

Working closely with senior stakeholders, the role identifies, prioritises and delivers high-impact use cases, ensuring solutions move from early exploration through to scaled, embedded delivery with measurable business value. It also plays a key role in aligning with Group to ensure consistent approaches to technology, governance and delivery, enabling greater reuse and scalability across Aviva.

Alongside leading a team of around 65 specialists, the role shapes capability, tooling, standards and ways of working to increase pace, quality and impact, while providing thought leadership on how AI is deployed safely and effectively—balancing innovation with risk, regulatory expectations and customer outcomes.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll define and lead the AI, Analytics and Data Science strategy across IWR, ensuring it delivers measurable value for customers and the business. You’ll shape and prioritise a portfolio of high-impact initiatives, balancing commercial opportunity, risk and long-term capability build. Through your leadership, you’ll build and scale a high-performing team of specialists, creating the conditions for delivery at pace and quality.

You’ll work in close partnership with senior leaders to embed data-driven decision-making across core business processes, while ensuring strong governance, responsible AI practices and regulatory compliance. You’ll also align with Group to drive consistency, scalability and reuse, positioning AI and analytics as a key driver of competitive advantage for Aviva.

Skills and experience we’re looking for

• Significant experience leading large AI, analytics, data science or actuarial teams in complex, regulated environments, with a strong track record of building high-performing teams and scaling capability
• Proven ability to deliver AI and data-led initiatives end-to-end, from concept through to implementation, adoption and measurable business impact, across multiple business areas
• Deep technical understanding of advanced analytics, statistical modelling, AI, automation and data science techniques, with practical experience applying them to real commercial problems
• Strong commercial and strategic insight, ideally within insurance, wealth or retirement, with experience shaping roadmaps, prioritising investment and using analytics to improve customer, operational and financial outcomes
• Excellent stakeholder management and leadership skills, including the ability to influence senior leaders, translate complex technical concepts into clear business recommendations, and operate within strong governance, risk and regulatory frameworks

What you’ll get for this role:

Our purpose - with you today, for a better tomorrow – is a promise we make to our colleagues too.  And one of the ways we live up to that promise is by investing in you.  We have so much to offer when it comes to being an Aviva colleague.

• Starting salary circa £130k (depending on location, skills, experience, and qualifications)
• Bonus opportunity 25% – actual amount depends on your performance and Aviva’s
• Generous pension scheme e.g. if you put in 8%, Aviva adds 14% in.
• 29 days holiday plus bank holidays, and you can choose to buy or sell up to 5 days
• Aviva-funded Private Medical Benefit to help you get expert support when you need it
• Make your money go further - Up to 40% discount on Aviva products, and other retailer discounts
• Up to £1,200 of free Aviva shares per year through our Matching Share Plan and share in the success of Aviva with our Save As You Earn scheme
• Brilliantly supportive policies including parental and carer’s leave
• Flexible benefits to suit you, including sustainability options such as cycle to work
• Make a difference, be part of our Aviva Communities and use your 3 paid volunteering days to help others
• We take your wellbeing seriously with lots of support and tools

Take a look to learn more.  Put a salary into this calculator to see what your total Aviva Reward could be.

Aviva is for everyone:

We’re inclusive and welcome everyone – we want applications from all backgrounds and experiences. Excited but not sure you tick every box? Even if you don’t, we would still encourage you to apply. We also consider all forms of flexible working, including part time and job shares.

We flex locations, hours and working patterns to suit our customers, business, and you. Most of our people are smart working – spending at least 50% of their time in our offices every week - combining the benefits of flexibility, with time together with colleagues.

To find out more about working at Aviva take a look here

We’d love it if you could submit your application online. If you require an alternative method of applying, please give Chloe Nettley a call on 07795207964 or send an email to chloe.nettley@aviva.com