Head of Data Products & AI

BE THE DIFFERENCEAt AIA we don’t simply believe in being ‘the best’. We believe in better – because there’s no limit to how far ‘better’ can take us. Everything we do is driven by our purpose to make a difference by helping people embrace Healthier, Longer, Better Lives. And every one of our people has an important role to play. If you want to make a difference by helping shape a healthier, better-protected Australia, read on.
The OpportunityAs a key member of the Data Office Leadership Team, the Head of Data Products & AI is responsible for translating AIA Australia’s Data & AI Strategy into scalable, governed data products and AI solutions that deliver measurable business value, operational efficiency and innovation. Leading multidisciplinary teams across Data Engineering, Analytics Engineering, AI/ML Engineering and Data Product Management, this role drives the delivery of trusted data, analytics and AI capabilities across the organisation.
The role partners closely with business and technology leaders to leverage modern technologies in data and AI, embed strong governance and compliance practices, advance AI and automation initiatives, and foster a high-performing, customer-focused culture. Success in this position requires strong leadership, stakeholder engagement and a proven ability to deliver large-scale data and transformation programs within a regulated environment.
The successful candidate would be responsible for:
Lead the strategy, roadmap and delivery of enterprise data products and AI capabilities, aligning initiatives to AIA Australia’s Data & AI Strategy and business prioritiesProvide technical leadership across Data Engineering, Analytics Engineering, AI/ML Engineering and Data Product Management, establishing standards and best practicesSet direction for the delivery lifecycle of data products, analytics and AI solutions, from ideation through to deployment and ongoing value realisationPartner with Data Product Owners and business stakeholders to prioritise opportunities and deliver measurable business valueChampion the reliability, scalability and cost-effectiveness of the data and AI capabilities the function delivers, working closely with technology partnersDrive innovation through the adoption of emerging technologies, automation, AI, GenAI and advanced analytics capabilitiesEnsure all data and AI solutions meet governance, risk, compliance, information security and responsible AI requirements within a regulated environmentLead transformation initiatives and continuous improvement programs to enhance engineering practices, delivery frameworks and operational effectivenessBuild, coach and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous learningManage key stakeholder, governance and vendor relationships, representing the Data Products & AI function across enterprise and Group initiatives
To be successful in this position, you will have:
Demonstrated technical experience in data engineering, analytics engineering and AI/ML whilst working in a senior leadership role of multidisciplinary teamsFinancial Services and/or Insurance industry experience, ideally within a regulated environmentHands-on experience with modern cloud data platforms (e.g. Databricks, Azure) and MLOps practicesProven experience delivering production AI/ML and/or GenAI solutions – including building and deploying models directly, not solely prompt-engineering or agent-orchestration – with a clear understanding of model risk and explainability requirementsA strong understanding of data governance, data quality and responsible AI principlesDemonstrated leadership and people management experience across engineering and product disciplinesExperience owning technology budgets and vendor relationships of significant scaleExperience with regulatory compliance
Why choose AIA:
At AIA, we’ve made a promise to help people live healthier, longer, better lives. And it starts with our own people.AIA Australia is part of the larger regional Asia AIA Group, which is the largest public listed life insurance company in the Asia-Pacific region.Access our training and development to build on your current skills.Career development through internal mobility opportunities.Work for a business helping millions of Australians and make a difference to someone’s life every day.Access additional leave days a year to recharge and refresh yourself.Enjoy wonderful Health and Wellbeing initiatives that support you.Work within a supportive and inclusive working environment.Flexible working arrangements.
AIA Australia, we’re proud to help guide, support and protect the wellbeing of over 3.5 million Australians. Through life and health insurance, financial wellbeing and our total wellbeing ecosystem that includes AIA Vitality – the world’s leading science-backed wellbeing program – we’ve started a movement to make Australia the healthiest, best protected nation in the world.As part of the AIA Group – the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group with a presence in 18 markets in Asia-Pacific – it is our ambition to engage one billion people to live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives by 2030. Lots of companies like to say they’re different. What makes us truly different at AIA, is the difference we make in people’s lives.
AIA is different. Are you?If you want to be part of an organisation that helps people live better every single day, apply via the link.