Director of Data & AI

We are seeking a visionary Director of Data & AI to lead our data and artificial intelligence strategy, building and scaling teams that transform data into competitive advantage. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical expertise with strategic business acumen, driving innovation while delivering measurable impact. You will define our data architecture, AI roadmap, and analytics capabilities while fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making across the organisation., * Define and execute comprehensive data and AI strategy aligned with business objectives and growth targets.

• Build, lead, and scale high-performing teams of data engineers, data scientists, ML engineers, and analysts (15-25 people).
• Establish enterprise data architecture, governance frameworks, and security standards to ensure data quality and compliance.
• Drive AI/ML innovation, identifying opportunities to leverage machine learning, NLP, and predictive analytics for business value.
• Partner with executive leadership to identify data-driven opportunities and translate them into actionable initiatives.
• Oversee design and implementation of scalable data platforms, data warehouses, and real-time analytics infrastructure.
• Champion data democratisation initiatives, enabling self-service analytics and insights across the organisation.
• Manage significant technology budget (£2M-5M), ensuring optimal ROI on data and AI investments.
• Develop and monitor KPIs demonstrating value delivery from data and AI capabilities.
• Represent the company at industry events, contributing to thought leadership in data and AI domains.
• Foster partnerships with technology vendors, academic institutions, and industry bodies to stay at innovation forefront.
• Drive adoption of ethical AI practices, ensuring responsible use of data and algorithmic fairness.

Do you have experience in SQL?, Do you have a Master's degree?, * 12+ years in data leadership roles with proven track record building and scaling data/AI capabilities in technology companies.

• Deep technical expertise in data engineering, machine learning, and analytics platforms.
• Demonstrated success leading large, diverse technical teams (15+ people) across multiple locations.
• Strong understanding of modern data stack (Snowflake, Databricks, dbt, Airflow, etc.) and cloud platforms.
• Extensive experience with ML/AI technologies including deep learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch) and MLOps practices.
• Strategic mindset with ability to translate business challenges into data/AI solutions and demonstrate clear ROI.
• Track record of driving organisational change and building data-driven cultures in complex environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with experience presenting to C-suite and board level.
• Strong understanding of data privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA) and data governance frameworks.
• Experience with data monetisation strategies and building data products is highly advantageous.
• Advanced degree (MSc/PhD) in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related field preferred.
• Published thought leadership, speaking engagements, or contributions to open-source data/AI projects is a plus.