Director Business Systems and AI Enablement

ROLE: Director Business Systems and AI Enablement LOCATION: Dublin REPORTING TO: Chief Operating Officer ABOUT THE ROLE: Barden is delighted to partner with a fast-growing international investment business as they look to appoint a Director of Business Systems and AI Enablement in Dublin. The business is lean and flat, with a strong platform in place and ambitious plans to keep growing. The goal is efficiency and automation. You will be a visible, trusted partner to senior leadership and the executive team and the various functions across the business, and you will build solutions securely within the business’s own Microsoft environment. “The groundwork is done: the business has mapped a long pipeline of AI and automation ideas across functions including finance, operations and the investment team. An AI strategy partner and an implementation partner are engaged, and the first projects are under way. What it needs now is a dedicated, hands-on leader to own that pipeline, drive delivery inside the Microsoft environment, and keep it moving as new ideas are added to the pipeline” – Chief Operating Officer Key Responsibilities: - Oversee day-to-day IT through a well-established managed service provider, keeping support in balance with transformation delivery. - Own the AI and automation pipeline end to end, from prioritising use cases to delivery and adoption. - Work with functions and stakeholders across the business including finance, operations, and the investment team to turn ideas into working solutions. - Lead the AI strategy and implementation partners, and build proprietary solutions hands-on using for example Microsoft Copilot and Foundry. - Connect systems to automate and combine reporting from multiple platforms, replacing manual processes. - Shape the data architecture, models, and governance so colleagues can trust the data across systems. - Get more from Oracle Fusion and a Salesforce-based asset management system through continuous enhancement. - Set the systems and technology strategy, manage the project budget, and own governance and risk. ABOUT THE PERSON: This is a strategic role that also needs a hands-on mentality. Transformation and delivery carry the heavier weighting, so we are looking for a senior leader who is as comfortable in the detail as they are in the boardroom. Required Skills and Competencies: - 10+ years in systems architecture, data, and IT, including senior hands-on leadership. - Strong Microsoft background, including Copilot and Foundry or comparable AI tooling, as the business will keep building within its Microsoft environment. - Experience starting to deliver AI and automation initiatives, and a real interest in AI as the direction of your career. - Strong data mining, data governance, and data architecture experience, including consolidating reporting across multiple systems. - Proven systems integration and deployment experience, with solid knowledge of cloud, cybersecurity, and data management. - Confident managing consultants, implementation partners, and managed service providers. - Credibility with senior leadership and executive stakeholders, and a collaborative, self-starting approach. - Private equity or financial services experience would be a plus, particularly investment management. Industry knowledge can be learned. OTHER DETAILS: - This is a permanent role based in Dublin, operating five days a week in office. - Competitive salary plus bonus If you are excited by the chance to lead AI and automation in a business that wants to make colleagues’ working lives easier, apply through the link or contact Catherine Drysdale for a confidential conversation (catherine.drysdale@barden.ie)