• Find a role /
• Assistant Director of Data & AI

Assistant Director of Data & AI

Added 22nd September 2025

Make data and AI work for nature.

We’re hiring an Assistant Director of Data & AI on Behalf of the RSPB. You’ll set their strategy, build strong governance, and turn ethical AI into practical solutions — from smarter field monitoring to better fundraising insights. With board-level backing, this is your chance to shape a modern data function and scale your remit as it grows.

What you’ll do

• Publish and embed the organisation-wide Data & AI strategy in your first six months.
• Build the foundations: governance, stewardship, literacy, GDPR-ready controls.
• Standardise BI, grow self-serve, and expand storytelling with data.
• Define a practical AI roadmap across all business units, with some examples including:
• Field and conservation – computer vision for images, drones, and camera traps.
• Knowledge and research – natural language AI to process scientific and policy data.
• Operations and engagement – predictive analytics for fundraising, supporter behaviour, and resource planning.
• Innovation and insight – generative AI to speed up scenario modelling and reporting.
• Unite data functions, end duplication, and establish the target operating model.
• Lead and grow capability across architecture, engineering, and data science.

What you’ll bring

• Proven leadership in enterprise data governance and strategy delivery.
• Experience applying AI and BI at scale, with judgement to keep tech choices problem-led and model-agnostic.
• A collaborative leadership style: you’ve managed teams and influenced widely, building credibility with scientists and academics.
• Strong literacy across modern data platforms (cloud-native, engineering tools, analytics).
• Useful extras: GIS familiarity; research/university or conservation background; relevant certifications (e.g. data governance, cloud, AI/ML).