Director of Ai Strategy

Interim AI Strategy Director

Location: LondonWorking pattern: Hybrid, 3 days onsite per weekContract: Initial 6 MonthsDay rate: £1,000 to £1,500 per day - Outside IR35Start date: ASAP

Harnham are working with a leading global maritime and logistics business who are looking for an Interim AI Strategy Director to define and deliver their first enterprise-wide AI strategy.

This is a senior, high-impact contract working directly with the executive leadership team. The business is looking for someone who can quickly assess the current AI, data and technology landscape, identify where AI can create genuine commercial value, and build a practical roadmap for adoption across the organisation.

This is not a purely technical delivery role. The successful consultant will need to operate credibly at C-suite level, challenge thinking, influence senior stakeholders and provide clear strategic direction on how AI should be adopted across the business.

The Role

You will be responsible for shaping the organisation's AI strategy from the ground up, identifying high-value use cases across commercial, operations, technical, finance, legal, HR and wider business functions.

You will also help establish the governance, operating model, controls and roadmap required to support responsible and sustainable AI adoption.

Key Responsibilities

Assess the current AI, data and technology landscape.

Develop an enterprise-wide AI strategy and implementation roadmap.

Identify and prioritise AI use cases across multiple business functions.

Advise senior leadership on AI opportunities, risks, governance and best practice.

Define the operating model, policies and controls required for responsible AI adoption.

Support selected pilot initiatives and proof-of-concepts where appropriate.

Build awareness and understanding of AI capabilities across senior stakeholders.

Provide recommendations around future investment, capability and organisational structure.

Skills and Experience

Proven experience leading AI strategy, AI transformation or digital transformation programmes.

Strong commercial mindset with the ability to connect AI initiatives to business outcomes.

Experience building strategic roadmaps rather than solely delivering technical solutions.

Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing C-suite or executive-level stakeholders.

Ability to command a room and operate credibly in senior leadership environments.

Strong understanding of generative AI, automation, data platforms and AI governance.

Sharp, intellectually curious and capable of challenging conventional thinking.

Ability to bring innovative ideas rather than simply delivering a standard consulting playbook.

Backgrounds of Interest

There is a strong preference for candidates who have operated in high-performance environments such as hedge funds, asset management, financial services, trading firms or similarly demanding corporate environments.

Experience in shipping, logistics, transportation, commodities or operationally complex industries would also be beneficial.

The Offer

£1,000 to £1,500 per day, with flexibility for the right individual.

Initial 3 month contract.

3 days per week onsite, London.

ASAP start.

Opportunity to extend or potentially convert into a permanent leadership role.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced AI strategy leader to shape how AI is adopted across a global maritime and logistics business, working closely with senior leadership and influencing the organisation's approach to AI for years to come.

Please apply with an up-to-date CV.