Lead, AI Transformation (12 month FTC)

Lead, AI Transformation (12 month FTC)

Purpose of the Role

McLaren Racing is transforming its Commercial & Marketing operating model to become more data-driven, automated, and AI-enabled.

The Lead, AI Transformation will play a pivotal role in defining and embedding AI across this future operating model. Working alongside Process Engineering and Technology Transformation teams, you will ensure AI is designed into processes, workflows, and systems from the outset—not retrofitted later.

This role focuses on identifying high-impact AI opportunities, shaping practical use cases, and driving adoption across workflows, decision-making, and automation.

You will define how AI transforms the way Commercial & Marketing operate. Working at the intersection of business transformation, technology, and operations, you will turn AI from concept into measurable business advantage.

How This Role Fits Into the Transformation Team

Three key disciplines will work together to shape the future operating model:

Process Engineers

• Define future ways of working

• Simplify and optimise business processes

Lead, Technology Transformation

• Defines the technology landscape, platforms, and systems architecture

• Ensures scalable, integrated solutions

Lead, AI Transformation

• Identifies where AI can create step-change improvements

• Embeds AI into workflows, decisions, and automation

• Drives practical adoption and measurable business outcomes

Together, these teams will:

• Identify opportunities to eliminate manual effort

• Improve decision quality through AI-enabled insights

• Embed AI into workflows, systems, and data flows

• Ensure solutions are practical, scalable, and aligned to business priorities
  

Key Responsibilities

AI Strategy & Transformation Leadership

• Define the role of AI within the Commercial & Marketing operating model

• Identify areas where AI can deliver the greatest impact through automation, efficiency, and insight

• Create and maintain an AI roadmap aligned to business priorities and technology strategy

• Bring external perspective and best practice on emerging AI capabilities and trends

• Champion AI as a strategic enabler across the function

AI Opportunity Identification

• Partner with Process Engineers to analyse end-to-end business processes

• Identify opportunities to apply AI across:

  • Workflow automation

  • Decision support

  • Personalisation and customer insight

  • Content generation and optimisation

• Assess and prioritise opportunities based on value, feasibility, and organisational readiness

AI Use Case Design

• Translate business requirements into clearly defined AI use cases

• Define:

  • Data and input requirements

  • Expected outputs and business outcomes

  • Integration requirements within workflows and systems

• Ensure all use cases are:

  • Practical and achievable

  • Outcome-focused and measurable

  • Aligned to current and future technology architecture

Embedding AI Into the Technology Landscape

Working closely with the Lead, Technology Transformation, you will:

• Ensure AI capabilities are integrated into platform and system design

• Define how AI interacts with core applications, data platforms, and workflows

• Align AI solutions with:

  • Enterprise data platforms

  • Identity and access frameworks

  • Marketing technology and workflow tools

• Focus on scalable, integrated AI capabilities rather than isolated point solutions

Delivery & Adoption

• Support the translation of AI opportunities into delivery initiatives

• Collaborate with internal delivery teams, partners, and vendors to validate and implement solutions

• Define approaches for successful adoption, including:

  • User engagement

  • Training and enablement

  • Workflow integration

  • Change management

• Ensure AI initiatives move beyond experimentation and into operational use

Governance, Risk & Responsible AI

• Promote responsible and effective AI implementation across Commercial & Marketing

• Establish guardrails and standards covering:

  • Data usage and privacy considerations

  • Output quality and reliability

  • Transparency and trust in AI-enabled decision making

• Support alignment with broader McLaren AI governance, policies, and standards

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong relationships across Commercial, Marketing, Technology, and Transformation teams

• Translate complex AI concepts into clear business outcomes and practical opportunities

• Provide recommendations to senior stakeholders on:

  • Where to invest in AI

  • Which opportunities to prioritise

  • Risks and challenges to avoid

• Influence and guide business leaders on the strategic adoption of AI

Experience & Background

Essential

• Proven experience applying Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), automation, or advanced analytics to solve business challenges and drive measurable outcomes.

• Experience leading or supporting digital, technology, or business transformation programmes, either within industry or a consulting environment.

• Strong track record of translating business problems into practical, data-driven and AI-enabled solutions.

• Solid understanding of:

  • Data platforms, architectures, and pipelines

  • AI and ML capabilities, opportunities, and limitations

  • Workflow automation and systems integration

  • Operating within complex, multi-system enterprise environments

• Ability to bridge strategic thinking with practical delivery, ensuring AI initiatives create tangible business value.
  

Desirable

• Experience within commercial, marketing, customer, or fan engagement environments.

• Exposure to modern AI and digital technologies, including:

  • Generative AI (GenAI)

  • Personalisation and customer data platforms (CDPs)

  • Content automation and optimisation technologies

  • Agentic AI and intelligent automation solutions

• Experience supporting or working alongside process transformation and operating model redesign programmes.

• Familiarity with leveraging AI to enhance customer experience, decision-making, and operational performance.
  

Capabilities & Behaviours

We're looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery and can confidently operate across business, technology, and AI disciplines.

You'll Bring

• The ability to translate between business stakeholders, technical teams, and AI specialists, creating alignment and momentum.

• A commercial mindset, focused on delivering measurable value rather than pursuing technology for its own sake.

• Confidence working in ambiguous environments, helping shape direction and define priorities where clear answers do not yet exist.

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences.

• A pragmatic, delivery-focused approach with a passion for embedding AI into real-world workflows and business processes.

• Excellent communication skills, capable of simplifying complex AI concepts into clear, actionable outcomes.

• A collaborative mindset and proven ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary transformation team.