Applied AI & Automation Hires for Growing Businesses
We help SMEs hire AI operators — the person who actually makes AI work inside the business.
AI adoption in SMEs is failing
Founders and Directors are told to:
- Hire a “Head of AI"
- Build internal capability
- Experiment with tools
What really happens:
- Vague job titles
- Recruiters who don’t understand AI delivery
- 6 FIGURE Hiring Mistakes
- Nothing ships
Most SMEs don’t need data scientists or researchers.
They need operators who can execute inside the business.
We recruit applied AI and automation leaders — not theorists
We place senior operators who:
- Embed AI into real workflows
- Automate ops, sales, finance and marketing
- Use proven tools, not experimental models
- Deliver measurable improvements within 90 days
This isn’t AI consulting.
It’s hiring someone who owns outcomes.
The roles we specialise in
We focus on first and early AI hires, including:
These are execution roles, not research roles.
If you’re hiring your first AI leader, this is our lane
The type of roles we place
- Head of AI & Enablement
- Automation Lead
- AI Product Manager
Global Reach
We work with companies all over the world from the USA to the UK as AI has no borders and the boundaries are being pushed everyday as AI capabilities grow.
How we de-risk the hire
Most AI hires fail before day one — because the role is wrong
Our approach:
1. We define the role properly
What AI owns, what success looks like in the first 90 days, and what not to hire.
2. We headhunt proven operators
People who’ve already delivered automation inside SMEs.
3. We prioritise precision over speed
No CV spraying. No guesswork. One hire, done right.
That’s why we work Engaged Search or Contained Search
SME AI Recruitment
Founder-led or PE-backed SMEs
Growing Businesses
£5m–£100m revenue businesses
Efficiency
Clear pressure to improve efficiency or scale.
Salary Guides for
- Head of AI & Enablement
- Automation Lead
- AI Product Manager