Assistant Vice President, AI Program Lead
About The Position
Ascot Group’s Machine Learning team is seeking an Assistant Vice President, AI Program Lead to accelerate responsible AI adoption across U.S. operations. The role is the primary link among business leaders, technology and data teams, and external partners, identifying, prioritizing, and delivering AI-enabled solutions across underwriting, claims, policy systems, operations, actuarial, finance, and corporate functions. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Predictive Modeling & AI Strategy, this business-focused role embeds AI in strategic initiatives, guides delivery from concept through adoption, and ensures alignment with Ascot’s governance framework, business objectives, and value expectations. The role is in-office with a hybrid work schedule. The successful candidate will work confidently alongside AI-enabled tools, use sound judgment when interpreting insights, and adapt as technology evolves.
Requirements
- A minimum of 10 years of insurance experience with strong knowledge of property and casualty operations and specialty insurance.
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Experience supporting underwriting, claims, policy, actuarial, operations, finance, or distribution functions.
- Proven success leading complex, cross-functional programs and influencing senior stakeholders without direct authority.
- Strong business analysis, process improvement, change management, and execution skills.
- Working knowledge of generative AI, large language models, AI agents, predictive analytics, machine learning, and data-driven decision-making.
- Ability to engage technical teams while maintaining focus on business outcomes, risk, and user needs.
- Familiarity with Microsoft Copilot, Azure AI, Databricks, Palantir, Guidewire, or OpenAI.
- Strong communication, facilitation, problem-solving, decision-making, and organizational skills.
- Collaborative, self-motivated, customer-focused, and effective in a fast-paced environment.
Nice To Haves
- AI-related certification, formal training, MBA, or other advanced degree.
- Experience leading AI, data, digital transformation, innovation, or workflow automation initiatives.
- Experience with AI governance, model risk management, or relevant regulatory considerations.
- Consulting or transformation leadership experience.
Responsibilities
- Partner with North American business and technology leaders to identify and prioritize high-value AI opportunities.
- Translate strategic priorities into an actionable AI roadmap aligned with core platforms and transformation initiatives.
- Lead AI initiatives from concept through deployment, adoption, and continuous improvement.
- Develop business cases, success measures, and value-realization plans; monitor delivery and remove execution barriers.
- Facilitate discovery workshops, requirements gathering, process redesign, and solution design.
- Coordinate business sponsors, technical teams, and partners including Microsoft, Databricks, Palantir, Guidewire, and OpenAI.
- Apply insurance expertise to improve underwriting, risk assessment, broker engagement, claims, policy and billing processes, portfolio management, and operations.
- Ensure compliance with Ascot’s AI governance standards in partnership with Risk, Compliance, Legal, and Information Technology.
- Drive communications, training, AI literacy, stakeholder engagement, and user adoption.
- Monitor AI, insurtech, and specialty insurance trends and convert relevant developments into practical opportunities.
- Demonstrate The Ascot Way by collaborating across teams, embracing inclusivity, and demonstrating accountability while helping build an engaged, high-performing culture.
Benefits
- Medical insurance, including prescription coverage
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Health Savings Account
- Commuter Account
- Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life insurance
- AD&D coverage
- Work/Life Resources, including Employee Assistance Program
- Paid holidays
- Annual Paid Time Off, including paid state/local leave where required
- Short-term disability
- Long-term disability
- Other leaves, including bereavement, FMLA, adoption, maternity, military, and primary and non-primary caregiver leave
- Contributory Savings Plan (401k)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
