Group IT – Artificial Intelligence [AI] Portfolio Lead

At First Quantum, we free the talent of our people by taking a very different approach which is underpinned by a very different, very definite culture – the “First Quantum Way”.

Working with us is not like working anywhere else, which is why we recruit people who will take a bolder, smarter approach to spot opportunities, solve problems and deliver results.

Our culture is all about encouraging you to think independently and to challenge convention to deliver the best result. That’s how we continue to achieve extraordinary things in extraordinary locations.

Job description:

Company Description:

First Quantum Minerals is a leading Canadian-based global mining & metals company focused on the production of copper, nickel, gold & cobalt. As a company, we strive for continuous excellence and after 25 years of operations we are now one of the world’s top 10 copper producers, exporting millions of tonnes of concentrate from multiple countries to customers worldwide. Our operations and future developments span across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and the Americas, and we are globally recognised for our specialist technical, engineering, construction and operational skills, which allow us to unlock value from complex mineral projects and deliver rewarding careers for our people, returns for our shareholders and sustainable development for the many local communities that host our operations. As we expand our operations, continue to provide metals to build the modern world and shift to a low carbon, greener economy in the years ahead, our mining projects will continue to require the best and the brightest talent to help us solve the emerging challenges of our time, shape our business and unlock opportunities for our future.

Job Description:

Although our production and financial results are the engine that drives our business, it is the depth of capability in our people that will continue to determine First Quantum’s ongoing success. Reporting to the Head of Group IT, this AI Lead role will oversee and manage our internal portfolio of AI initiatives and so will be pivotal in driving the adoption, development, and governance of AI solutions across the organisation. The AI Lead will work cross-functionally with business units, data teams, and IT to ensure AI projects align with strategic goals, deliver measurable value, and adhere to ethical and regulatory standards, policy and frameworks.

Key Responsibilities:

Portfolio Management

• Own and maintain the internal AI portfolio, including use case prioritisation, resource allocation, and delivery tracking.
• Develop and maintain a roadmap of AI initiatives aligned with business strategy.
• Monitor performance metrics and KPIs for AI projects.
• Deliver senior management reporting on progress and performance of the AI portfolio.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with business leaders to identify opportunities for AI-driven innovation and efficiency.
• Communicate AI strategy, progress, and outcomes to senior stakeholders.

Training

• Develop and make available, tailored programmes of training for all stakeholders.

Advice and Guidance

• Provide advice and guidance to key AI initiatives.
• Build a network of experts and third parties who can support AI programmes of work.

Technical Leadership

• Guide the design, development, and deployment of AI models and solutions.
• Ensure scalability, reliability, and maintainability of AI systems.
• Stay current with AI trends and technologies to inform strategic decisions.

Governance & Compliance

• Establish and enforce best practices for responsible AI, including data privacy, model explainability, and bias mitigation.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulations.

Team Enablement

• Work with senior business leaders to create and advise a community of AI Champions.
• Support and mentor data scientists, data engineers, and analysts working on AI projects.
• Foster a culture of experimentation, learning, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications Required

• Experience with portfolio or program management methodologies.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP) and operational practices.
• Degree in Computer Science, Data Science, AI, or related field; advanced degree preferred.

Desirable Skills Required

• Experience leading AI or data management initiatives in a complex environment.
• An understanding of machine learning, NLP, computer vision and AI platforms.
• Experience in change management and digital transformation.
• Knowledge of ethical AI frameworks and regulatory landscapes.
• Ability to translate business problems into AI solutions.

Experience & Skills Required

• Knowledge of AI Management frameworks, practices, and processes.
• 5+ years of providing line management, team leadership, coaching and mentoring – ideally with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to translate technical language and ideas into business terms.
• Consulting skills would be a plus.
• Ideally, experience above includes mining industry experience, but this is not mandatory.

Behavioural Traits Required

• Outgoing and comfortable with engaging with all levels of a large multi-national organisation. Critically, this role requires an individual capable of building trusted networks across a diverse business. The ability to identify requirements and build relationships will be key to success.
• Business benefit and outcome driven.
• Commercially astute and value-for-money driven.

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