Lead AI Strategy & Value Specialist

About us

Every day we deliver safe and secure energy to homes, communities, and businesses. We are there when people need us the most. We connect people to the energy they need for the lives they live. The pace of change in society and our industry is accelerating and our expertise and track record puts us in an unparalleled position to shape the sustainable future of our industry.

To be successful we must anticipate the needs of our customers, reducing the cost of energy delivery today and pioneering the flexible energy systems of tomorrow. This requires us to deliver on our promises and always look for new opportunities to grow, both ourselves and our business.

IT and Digital works in a harmonised partnership with the National Grid group of diverse energy businesses to deliver technology which revolutionises the way we operate. As we lead the charge towards a carbon-free future, our teams are embracing disruptive changes in our industry by working with Agile methodologies and adopting Digital mindsets to drive efficiency and bring new capabilities for our internal and external customers.

Our work here is critical. National Grid moves energy to millions of homes and businesses in the UK and US and the technology we utilise to complete that task is down to us. The successful applicant for this position will be an integral contributor towards this goal and we will support your professional development as part of our multi-cultural, customer-centric global team.

This role operates under a hybrid working model and is based out of the Brooklyn, NY, Syracuse, NY or Waltham, MA.  Hybrid work expectations are subject to business needs and company policy.

Job Purpose

The AI Value Office Consultant is a US-based individual-contributor role responsible for helping business teams identify, shape, assess and progress high-value artificial intelligence opportunities. Reporting to the AI Value Office Director, the role operates as a hands-on internal consultant and a key Value Office interface for relevant US business stakeholders, while working as part of one integrated UK/US team.

The Consultant supports opportunities through the end-to-end AI value lifecycle: origination and intake, problem framing, value and feasibility assessment, business-case development, prioritization, delivery partnership and value realization. The role works closely with Connect AI and other delivery teams to translate business needs into clear requirements, assess build, buy and reuse options, identify the best-fit delivery route and maintain focus on measurable outcomes. Technical design, engineering and solution ownership remain with the appropriate delivery teams.

The Consultant is responsible for rigorous analysis and accurate reporting at opportunity level, including financial and non-financial benefits, costs, assumptions, baselines, KPIs, benefit ownership, adoption and risk. Portfolio-level ownership and executive accountability remain with the AI Value Office Director and Head of AI Value Office.

Key Accountabilities

• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders to understand strategic priorities, challenges and opportunities.
• Identify, assess and prioritize AI opportunities based on business value, strategic alignment, readiness, risk and feasibility.
• Develop financial and non-financial business cases, including benefits, costs, KPIs, assumptions and adoption measures.
• Partner with Finance and business teams to validate value assumptions and track benefits.
• Work with AI, Technology, Data and Architecture teams to shape solutions and assess build, buy and reuse options.
• Define success measures and track initiatives from identified value through to realized outcomes.
• Provide clear portfolio reporting, insights and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Identify risks, dependencies, value leakage and opportunities to scale successful solutions.
• Ensure opportunities meet relevant governance, Responsible AI, risk and investment requirements.
• Contribute to improving Value Office tools, methodologies and ways of working.

Qualifications

• Experience in management consulting, internal consulting, business analysis, digital transformation, technology strategy, analytics or AI advisory.
• Proven experience framing complex business problems, capturing requirements and translating them into structured opportunities and recommendations.
• Experience developing business cases, investment proposals, benefits frameworks, KPIs and value-realization plans.
• Experience working across business, Finance, technology, data, risk and delivery teams in a matrixed organization.
• Strong track record of preparing and delivering clear presentations, reports and recommendations for senior stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and influence without direct authority.
• Experience in utilities, energy or another complex, regulated or asset-intensive industry is desirable.

Knowledge & Expertise

• Good understanding of analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, generative AI, automation and agentic AI, and how they can support business objectives.
• Understanding of the AI lifecycle from discovery and validation through build, deployment, adoption and value realization.
• Business analysis, process analysis, opportunity assessment and requirements-shaping methods.
• Financial and non-financial value assessment, including costs, benefits, ROI, total cost of ownership, assumptions, baselines and KPIs.
• Awareness of build, buy, configure and reuse considerations and different delivery models.
• Working knowledge of data readiness, enterprise architecture, information security, Responsible AI and technology risk.
• Sufficient technical literacy to challenge assumptions and work effectively with specialists, without being a hands-on data scientist, engineer or solution architect.