Director, AI & Data Programs

We are hiring a Director, AI & Data Programs to lead the company-wide rollout of our Databricks platform across Advito, BCD Travel’s consulting group. We take corporate travel programs to the next level by analyzing travel data, building program strategies, identifying risks and opportunities, and assisting in supplier negotiations.

Our data platform runs on Databricks, and AI already ships in our products. We’re now extending that platform across the whole company, so every practice works from the same data, tools and AI capabilities. This role leads that program, and it’s a big one: it touches how every team at Advito works with data. You’ll own the plan, the people side of the change, and the operating discipline that keeps a large portfolio of work on track.

You’ll also be an operating partner to our Head of Product and our Product Owners. They set direction, work with clients on AI, and lead product development. Your job is to make sure the department runs well: priorities are clear, AI initiatives are well vetted and scoped, commitments are tracked, and nothing important slips through the cracks. This role needs a strong grounding in AI and data. Most decisions here have a technical side, and our engineers and data teams need to trust your judgment.

As a Director, AI & Data Programs, you will:

• Own the company-wide program to make Databricks the standard platform for data, analytics and AI across Advito, including scope, roadmap, sequencing and timing
• Set up and run the program with an integrated plan, risk and dependency tracking, and a regular steering meeting with executive sponsors
• Run change management as its own workstream: stakeholder mapping, communications, training, and a plain explanation for each team of what changes for them
• Track adoption with real measures, such as active users and time to insight, and adjust the plan when the numbers call for it
• Maintain one view of every AI and data initiative in the department, with status, owners, dependencies, dates and budget
• Run intake and prioritization so new ideas get a fair look and a quick yes, no or later
• Know the work well enough to question it: read a prototype, push on an architecture choice, test a vendor claim
• Help set standards for AI in production, covering accuracy testing, human review, monitoring, cost and Responsible AI
• Own the operating rhythm of the Data & AI function, including planning cycles, objectives and executive reporting
• Support budget tracking, business cases, and partner and vendor relationships alongside the Head of Product
• Lead a small team of data, AI and analytics practitioners, with clear ownership and regular coaching
• Report to executives and stakeholders clearly and honestly, including when something is behind, Join a global industry leader where curiosity drives innovation, growth is continuous, and every voice matters. At BCD, you’ll have the freedom to make an impact, the support to develop your potential, and the opportunity to help shape the future of travel.

Three things matter most:

• You’ve led a company-wide platform program. You’ve run a large change across several business units or functions (a data platform migration, an enterprise analytics rollout) and you can show us how adoption went after go-live. Databricks experience is a strong plus.
• You run a tight program. Planning, governance, risk management and follow-through come naturally to you. PMP, PgMP, Prosci or Lean Six Sigma Black Belt credentials are welcome, though your track record counts for more.
• You know AI and data well. You’ve worked closely with AI, ML, agentic AI or LLM applications in production, you understand how data platforms and pipelines work, and you use AI tools in your own work.

Beyond those:

• Several years leading enterprise-level programs with their own budget, multiple vendor partners and executive sponsors
• Formal change management experience, with communication, training and champion programs you’ve measured the results of
• Experience working with offshore or nearshore development partners
• Experience managing people, including technical practitioners
• Strong stakeholder management across a matrixed, global organization, including people who don’t report to you
• Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative, technical or business field, or equivalent experience

Nice to have

• Databricks certification, or hands-on experience with Unity Catalog and platform governance
• Domain experience in corporate travel, T&E, procurement, payments or B2B spend data
• Experience developing managers as well as individual contributors

• Opportunities to grow your skillset and career

• Work at the forefront of travel technology and help shape the future of business travel

• Generous vacation days so you can rest and recharge

• A compensation package that feels fair to you, including mental, physical, and financial wellbeing tools

• Travel industry professional perks and discounts

• An inclusive work environment where diversity is celebrated

• Work From Anywhere opportunity for 60 days per year

At BCD Travel, we value you-our culture and success are defined by our people. We carefully consider a wide range of objective, gender-neutral compensation factors, including professional background, skills, experience, and role scope.

This position is advertised across multiple global locations. The expected annual gross salary ranges by country are as follows:

• Spain: 70,000 - 84,500 EUR
• Netherlands: 95,000 - 105,000 EUR
• United States: 97,000 - 144,000 USD

The final salary offered will ultimately depend on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and location, and will be determined in line with internal equity.

We do not request salary history and are committed to equal pay in line with the EU Pay Transparency Directive.

BCD Travel creates connections that move people and ideas forward. Through open technology and trusted human expertise, we help companies and people navigate change, simplify complexity and make confident decisions about how and when they travel. Our intuitive digital experiences for every stakeholder power journeys that fuel success and drive progress. With 15,000+ dedicated team members serving clients in 170+ countries, BCD is shaping a more sustainable future for business travel. Industry-leading meetings and events management and a global consultancy complete our suite of solutions and services. In 2025, BCD achieved $24.4 billion in sales. For more information, visit www.bcdtravel.com.