Head of AI Innovation

Role Description

The Head of AI Innovation – Network Intelligence & Autonomous Operations leads Ericsson’s Network Intelligence AI Innovation organisation – the team that creates, proves and packages Level 4–5 autonomous operations solutions for network managed services and network intelligence customers. The role owns the overall vision, strategy and portfolio priorities for AI, GenAI, agentic AI and intent-based operations, aligning Network Intelligence Managed Services (NIMS), MSN and BU Cloud Software & Services strategies, sponsoring lighthouse deals and partnerships, and positioning Ericsson as the leading AI and agentic innovation powerhouse for network operations.

Role Responsibilities

Strategic vision & portfolio leadership

• Own the AI and autonomous operations vision for Network Intelligence, including Level 4–5 ANO trajectory and digital‑engineer blueprint across service assurance, optimisation, fault management, change and CX.

• Define and maintain the AI Innovation portfolio strategy (scenarios, domains, technologies, partners), aligned with NIMS, MSN and BU CSS roadmaps and TM Forum AN/ANOps frameworks.

• Set annual and multi‑year portfolio priorities (e.g. 10–12 new Level 4 scenarios per year, Level 5 exemplars, TM Forum AN map coverage) and ensure clear targets and KPIs.

Leadership of AI Innovation organisation

• Lead the AI Innovation organisation comprising the AI Research Director, AI Innovation Directors, AI Architecture Directors and AI Delivery Director.

• Provide direction, coaching and performance management to senior leaders, ensuring strong collaboration and clear accountability across research, innovation, architecture and delivery.

• Build and nurture a high‑end AI talent hub for GenAI, agentic AI, ML and autonomous operations, including succession planning and capability development across domains.

Scenario creation, industrialisation & scale

• Ensure design, build and validation of high‑value Level 4 AN scenarios per year, aligned to NIMS’ high‑value map (service assurance, fault, change, CX, energy), with clear value KPIs (e.g. MTTR, alarm noise, complaints, energy, throughput).

• Oversee the digital‑engineer blueprint (intent → awareness → analysis → decision → execution) and its reuse across scenarios and customers.

• Govern the phased introduction model (recommendations → closed loop → additional use cases) and ensure every scenario is industrialised with standard architectures, SoWs, templates and runbooks, ready for handover to sales and delivery.

Stakeholder, customer and partner engagement

• Act as the primary owner for AI Innovation with NIMS, MSN and BU CSS leadership, ensuring alignment with business strategy, portfolio and go‑to‑market.

• Sponsor lighthouse deals and co‑innovation with key CSPs, ensuring that Level 4/5 scenarios are co‑designed, validated and documented as flagship references.

• Lead engagement with hyperscaler and ecosystem partners (e.g. Google Cloud, TM Forum, academia) to shape joint roadmaps, standards and research agendas around digital engineers and intent‑based closed loops.

Governance, success and risk management

• Chair the AI Innovation governance for scenario selection, investment decisions, resource allocation and delivery phasing, in close coordination with NIMS/MSN portfolio and delivery governance.

• Define and track success criteria for the AI Innovation organisation (e.g. number of Level 4 scenarios, Level 5 exemplars, revenue/margin impact, internal adoption and reuse of architectures and blueprints).

• Identify and manage key risks (e.g. data/integration complexity, talent/capacity constraints, scope‑creep/PoC‑only risk, customer risk appetite) and ensure mitigations (standard landing‑zone patterns, centralised AI talent, phased approach, overlays that preserve operator control).

Internal alignment and enablement

• Ensure sales, solution and delivery teams have clear scenario blueprints, value cases and references to sell and deliver NIMS/MSN deals, shielding them from R&D risk by owning innovation and handing off only industrialised packages.

• Work with capability/IT setup teams to provide platforms, data pipelines, cloud landing zones and security baselines for AI/ANO experiments and deployments.

• Promote a culture of data‑driven, intent‑based, agentic operations, aligning AI Innovation with Ericsson Operations Engine and ANOps frameworks.

• Role Authority

• Define and recommend changes to the AI Innovation strategy, portfolio and governance model within MSN and SA MSN leadership frameworks.

• Approve scenario roadmaps, investment allocations and industrialisation decisions for AI and autonomous‑operations solutions.

• Sponsor lighthouse deals, co‑innovation programmes and strategic partnerships with CSPs, hyperscalers and ecosystem partners.

• Access necessary technical, operational and commercial information to prioritise and steer AI Innovation activities.

Required, Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Experience:

• 15+ years in telecom, cloud or ICT industry, with a significant track record in managed services, network operations or network intelligence.

• 8+ years in senior leadership roles (director/VP) driving portfolio strategy, innovation and/or large‑scale transformation across multiple markets or domains.

• Demonstrated experience leading AI/analytics/autonomous‑operations programmes or portfolios, including GenAI, agentic AI, ML and automation applied to network and operations.

• Proven track record in customer‑facing executive roles (C‑level engagement, co‑innovation, lighthouse deals) and industry thought leadership (standards, conferences, ecosystem work).

Skills:

• Deep understanding of autonomous networks, intent‑based operations, digital engineers and ANOps frameworks, including TM Forum AN levels.

• Strong strategic and portfolio management skills: ability to shape multi‑year roadmaps, prioritise investments and balance innovation with industrialisation.

• Excellent leadership and people‑management skills, with the ability to lead senior directors, build high‑performing teams and create a strong AI talent culture.

• Strong commercial acumen and business understanding, able to link AI Innovation outcomes to revenue, margin, risk and strategic differentiation.

• Outstanding communication and storytelling skills, capable of inspiring change across Ericsson and with external stakeholders (CSPs, partners, standards bodies).

• High level of cloud and AI literacy: familiar with hyperscaler AI/ML platforms, data and automation architectures, and responsible‑AI considerations.

• Ability to operate in complex, multicultural environments and to create order and momentum in fast‑evolving, innovation‑driven settings.

Behaviours and Competencies

• Visionary and strategic thinker who can define and communicate a compelling autonomous‑operations and AI Innovation agenda.

• Strong collaboration and influencing skills across senior internal and external stakeholders, including CSP CXOs and ecosystem partners.

• Inspirational leader who builds high‑performing, diverse teams and a strong AI talent culture.

• Customer and value focused, ensuring AI Innovation outcomes are tied to measurable operational and business impact.

• Resilient and pragmatic in managing risk, ambiguity and change in an innovation‑driven environment.

Working Arrangements

• Office based for a minimum of 60% of the working week.

• Travel is expected in the range of 25% on average, but can rise to around 50% based upon business need.

• If not based in the UK, a minimum of one week in four will be based in the UK.

Why join Ericsson?At Ericsson, you´ll have an outstanding opportunity. The chance to use your skills and imagination to push the boundaries of what´s possible. To build solutions never seen before to some of the world’s toughest problems. You´ll be challenged, but you won’t be alone. You´ll be joining a team of diverse innovators, all driven to go beyond the status quo to craft what comes next.

What happens once you apply?Click Here to find all you need to know about what our typical hiring process looks like.Encouraging a diverse and inclusive organization is core to our values at Ericsson, that's why we champion it in everything we do. We truly believe that by collaborating with people with different experiences we drive innovation, which is essential for our future growth. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply and realize their full potential as part of our Ericsson team. Ericsson is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. learn more.

Primary country and city: United Kingdom (GB) || Reading

Req ID: 791693