Head of AI

Hello. We’re Virgin Australia. We’re the airline that’s always done things a little different. Our way. The Virgin way. We’re on a mission to make flying better than ‘nice’. And to do that, it takes a team of talented people who are passionate about customer experience, doing the right thing always, with a focus on safety – in the air, on the ground and in our workplaces. A team who values real diversity and inclusion, in a big brand with big ambitions.

What you’ll be doing:

As Head of AI, you’ll drive our AI vision from strategy to execution. You will set the direction, lead innovation, and roll up your sleeves to bring cutting-edge solutions to life. This role blends visionary leadership with deep technical know-how, making you the force behind how AI transforms our organisation.

You’ll be great in this role if you:

• Come with 8+ years of professional experience in AI/ML development and deployment
• Have 5+ years in leadership roles managing technical teams
• Are formally trained in machine learning fundamentals and statistical methods
• Have a proven track record of delivering AI solutions from proof-of-concept to production scale
• Are experienced in working in cross-functional environments with product, engineering, and business teams
• Have demonstrated success in scaling AI initiatives within an organisation
• Enjoy strategy and roadmap development and communication
• Have strategic thinking and business acumen with ability to translate technical concepts into business value
• Have project management and delivery execution skills
• Are a natural at stakeholder management and influence without authority
• Have experience in financial modelling and business case development
• Have a degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or related technical field
• Have previous experience in consulting or client-facing roles (desirable)
• Have a background in the Airline Industry (desirable)
• Are fluent in multiple programming languages, technologies and Agile and DevOps methodologies (desirable)
• Have done vendor negotiation and contract management (desirable)
• Come with risk management and compliance expertise (desirable)

What you’ll get from us:

We’re committed to looking after you, with some of the best benefits and conditions in the industry – including (but not limited to):

• Heavily discounted air travel for you and your loved ones (including $1000 worth of travel credits per year)
• Flexible working arrangements (including work hours and work from home)
• Discounts on travel insurance, car hire, accommodation and experiences worldwide
• Discounted Virgin Australia Lounge membership
• Hospitality, retail, technology, beauty services and wellness discounts
• Wellness support, including the Converge digital wellbeing platform
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Program, which offers confidential coaching and support from qualified professionals for all aspects of life – physical, mental, social and financial
• Dress for Your Day – enjoy the freedom to wear whatever is appropriate for the type of work you do and the day you have ahead of you

Equality rules:

We’re all individuals. We love that. That’s why we encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, people with disability, those from diverse cultural backgrounds, our friends in the LGBTQI+ community, and anyone else who wants to join our family.

Ready to apply? We’re ready to hear from you. Apply now.