AI&Performance Optimization Team Leader

Join Us

At Vodafone, we’re not just shaping the future of connectivity for our customers – we’re shaping the future for everyone who joins our team. When you work with us, you’re part of a global mission to connect people, solve complex challenges, and create a sustainable and more inclusive world. If you want to grow your career whilst finding the perfect balance between work and life, Vodafone offers the opportunities to help you belong and make a real impact.

What you’ll do

Join Vodafone Portugal’s dynamic and fast-growing TOBi team – home to one of the world’s leading digital assistants.
We are looking for a passionate and forward-thinking AI & Performance Optimization Team Leader to drive TOBi’s evolution through emerging technologies and data-driven strategies. In this key leadership role, you will guide a multiskilled team focused on making customer interactions with TOBi simpler, faster, and more engaging across multiple touchpoints, including web, app, WhatsApp, social media, and voice.
You will be accountable for delivering measurable business outcomes while continuously enhancing TOBi’s user experience. Although your primary focus will be the Portuguese market – one of Vodafone’s most innovative and successful – you will also collaborate closely with the Vodafone Group and 14 other markets where TOBi is live.
If you're a collaborative leader with a passion for cutting-edge technology, impactful solutions, and agile ways of working, this is your opportunity to make a difference at scale.

• Define and lead the strategic vision for AI and performance optimization within the TOBi ecosystem, ensuring alignment with Vodafone Portugal’s broader digital transformation goals
• Lead and develop a high performing, multiskilled team of analysts, process specialists, conversation designers, developers, and AI experts - fostering individual growth, team engagement and a culture of learning, collaboration and continuous improvement
• Actively support people development through coaching, enabling the team to thrive in a fast-paced, result oriented, tech-driven environment
• Collaborate with Vodafone Group and TOBi teams in 10+ markets to share insights, align on best practices, and influence the global conversational AI roadmap
• Establish data-driven ways of working with stakeholders across business and technology teams to manage initiative pipelines, co-create impactful solutions, and accelerate time-to-value
• Design and evolve performance dashboards and KPIs to support strategic decision-making, monitor impact, and identify high-leverage opportunities
• Apply AI/ML and other emerging technologies to increase TOBi’s intelligence, automation, and overall customer experience across digital touchpoints
• Champion a test-and-learn mindset through A/B testing and experimentation to validate hypotheses and prioritize initiatives based on measurable results
• Stay ahead of industry trends and emerging technologies in AI and customer engagement to ensure TOBi remains a leader in conversational experiences

Who you are

• Experience in designing and implementing complex, AI-powered or data-driven solutions with measurable business impact
• 5+ years of experience leading or contributing to digital projects involving AI, machine learning, or advanced analytics—preferably in conversational interfaces or virtual assistants
• Educational background in Engineering, Data Science, Computer Science, Management, or a related field, with strong data literacy and experience working with large datasets
• Technical expertise in machine learning, prompting techniques, and large language models (LLMs), with the ability to turn emerging technologies into real-world solutions
• Hands-on experience with agile methodologies, with Scrum Master or Product Owner certification considered a strong plus
• Strong leadership and people development skills, including coaching, team building, and cultivating a high-performance, learning-oriented culture
• Excellent soft skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, cross-functional collaboration, and openness to experimentation and continuous improvement
• Fluency in English

Not a perfect fit?

Worried that you don’t meet all the desired criteria exactly? At Vodafone we are passionate about empowering people and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, whatever their personal or professional background. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align exactly with every part of the job description, we encourage you to still apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or another opportunity.

What's in it for you

• Hybrid Work Model - Flexible hybrid work model with 8-10 in-office days per month, managed by team leaders
• Vodafone Products and Services - Employees get a mobile phone, free communication plan, data card, and various discounts on services and products
• Recognition - Recognition programs for innovative, creative, high-potential employees and exemplary behaviors
• Health and Well-being - Well-being Program offers nutrition and psychological consultations, webinars, workshops, and discounts on various services and products
• Learning - Access to Communities of Practice and a customizable digital training platform with high-quality content (namely Harvard Business Publishing and Skillsoft)
• Local and International Mobility - Internal recruitment with local and international rotation opportunities across departments and roles

Who we are

We are a leading international Telco, serving millions of customers. At Vodafone, we believe that connectivity is a force for good. If we use it for the things that really matter, it can improve people's lives and the world around us. Through our technology we empower people, connecting everyone regardless of who they are or where they live and we protect the planet, whilst helping our customers do the same.

Belonging at Vodafone isn't a concept; it's lived, breathed, and cultivated through everything we do. You'll be part of a global and diverse community, with many different minds, abilities, backgrounds and cultures. ;We're committed to increase diversity, ensure equal representation, and make Vodafone a place everyone feels safe, valued and included.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request as part of your recruitment journey, for example, extended time or breaks in between online assessments, please refer to https://careers.vodafone.com/application-adjustments/ for guidance.

Together we can.