Roles We Place
We specialise in first and early AI hires for SMEs.
These are execution roles — not research, not advisory, not experimental.
If you are hiring your first AI leader, these are the only roles that usually make sense.
AI-Enabled Product Manager
What they actually do
- Identify where AI creates real business value
- Translate business problems into shipped solutions
- Own delivery across tools, teams, and vendors
- Prioritise outcomes, not features
When a company needs this role
- AI needs embedding across multiple workflows
- Existing products or platforms need improvement
- Delivery coordination matters more than coding
- You want results inside 90 days
When this is the wrong hire
- You expect them to build everything personally
- Workflows and ownership are undefined
- You want an evangelist, not an operator
Head of Automation / AI Enablement
What they actually do
- Identify repeatable, high-friction processes
- Automate ops, finance, sales, and marketing
- Reduce manual effort and headcount pressure
- Own automation strategy and delivery
When a company needs this role
- Manual processes are slowing growth
- Headcount is rising without efficiency gains
- AI must reduce operational friction
- Automation is a board-level priority
When this is the wrong hire
- AI use cases are still exploratory
- There is resistance to operational change
- Leadership won’t redesign processes
Automation & No-Code Lead
What they actually do
- Build internal tools using no-code platforms
- Automate workflows across teams
- Replace spreadsheets and manual processes
- Deliver fast, tangible wins
When a company needs this role
- Execution speed matters
- Engineering resources are stretched
- You want fast ROI from automation
- Efficiency beats innovation
When this is the wrong hire
- You need long-term AI leadership
- Heavy governance is required
- You expect deep ML expertise
Choosing the right first AI hire
Most SMEs only need one role to start.
Hiring the wrong one burns budget, slows progress, and creates resistance.
Hiring the right one delivers results within months and sets the foundation for future hires.
If you’re unsure which role comes first, that’s exactly where we help.