Head of Data & AI

As the Head of Data & AI at CTI Digital, you will be the driving force behind our strategic shift into applied intelligence. You'll lead the creation and growth of the entire Data & AI business unit, transitioning from a hands-on technical expert to a strategic leader. This is about defining our next epic leap forward and delivering measurable business outcomes., * Strategic Leadership & Growth: Define and execute CTI's Data & AI strategy, owning the P&L, and acting as the senior lead for all data and AI activity.

• Team Building & Mentorship: Recruit, hire, and mentor a high-performing team of data engineers, analysts, and AI product specialists, transitioning the focus from individual delivery to scalable management.
• Architecting Data Foundations: Oversee the architecture for clean, compliant, and scalable data pipelines (e.g., GA4, BigQuery, Azure, dbt) and standardise frameworks for transformation and visualisation.
• AI Solutions & Productisation: Lead the design and delivery of AI-powered automation and insight tools for clients, from RAG/LLM implementations to developing reusable AI components that can be packaged into CTI's product suite.
• Client Engagement & Delivery: Act as the principal consultant and solution architect for AI transformation programmes, translating client requirements into technical roadmaps and positioning CTI as a thought leader in applied AI.
• Governance & Enablement: Work with our Governance and Support teams to embed ethical AI and data-governance standards (GDPR, ISO 42001/22989) while integrating AI tools into CTI's internal workflows.

Do you have experience in SQL?, To thrive in this role, you'll need the rare combination of deep, hands-on technical expertise and proven commercial leadership. This role demands someone who can write the code one day and present the strategy to a CEO the next. Key experience and skills include:

• Proven Leadership: Demonstrable experience leading data or AI transformation within an agency, consultancy, or product environment, including the ability to hire, mentor, and build capability in new teams.
• Deep Technical Background: A hands-on background in data engineering and machine learning, proficient with tools like BigQuery / Azure / AWS, SQL, and Python.
• Applied AI Expertise: Experience deploying LLMs, embeddings, and modern automation frameworks (e.g., OpenAI, Hugging Face, LangChain, Pinecone, pgvector).
• Data Governance & Compliance: A strong understanding of data compliance, governance, and the ability to maintain oversight of data quality and security.
• Strategic Communication: Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical, commercial, and strategic concepts for diverse audiences.
• Commercial Mindset: Prior experience in shaping commercial models for AI/automation-as-a-service is a big plus.

️28 days annual leave, in addition to the bank holidays Hybrid-working - we're in the office twice a week Workplace nursery scheme Health cash plan Cycle-to-work scheme

• Flexible working hours

Employee well-being and mental health programme Relaxed working environments - office dogs welcome! Company socials and lots of fun!

About CTI Join 150+ strategists and specialists who refuse to settle, creating bold digital experiences for ambitious brands since 2004. We're a full-service digital agency delivering strategic consultancy, web development, and digital marketing to drive demand online. Using over two decades of industry experience, we provide next-gen solutions as part of lasting partnerships with hundreds of clients from Chester Zoo and Zip World to Balfour Beatty and Mind. What makes us different * We break new ground. You'll work on innovative projects using the latest technologies before they hit mainstream. We celebrate calculated risks and learn fast from every experiment. * We get stuck in together. Genuine collaboration across all departments. Your ideas matter here, regardless of your role or how long you've been with us. * We stay curious. Continuous learning is essential. You'll have dedicated time and budget for development, working alongside industry experts who are genuinely invested in your success. * We own it. Full accountability and autonomy over your work means you'll build client relationships, see real-world impact, and be recognised when you go the extra mile. The Data & AI function is our future. You're not just joining a team; you're building a new business unit - the engine room of CTI's next phase of innovation. This role initially reports directly to the CEO, giving you direct influence at the highest level. We believe in the power of applied intelligence to solve real-world problems. Your mission is to formalise our early technical successes in AI, data engineering, and automation into a scalable, client-facing capability. You'll build a multidisciplinary team of engineers and analysts, setting the vision, owning the P&L, and driving the commercialisation of proprietary AI solutions for our enterprise clients