Head of Data & AI - Inside IR35

An international workforce solutions business is looking for an interim VP of Data & AI to provide hands-on leadership of its global Data & AI function while it recruits a permanent successor. You’ll take charge from day one, keeping a major data transformation programme and day-to-day operational delivery on track.

The foundations are in place. Databricks is the strategic platform, all jobs run on it, and invoice, supplier and talent data are being brought across, alongside regional warehouses and a global instance. The team is relatively new and still being built. You’ll lead 40-60 people across Europe, the UK & Ireland, the US and India, own the Data & AI budget and platform decisions, and work as a peer with engineering, architecture and regional business leaders. You’ll report to the Chief Product & Technology Officer, who sits on the Global Board.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Taking over leadership of the global Data & AI function from day one, with no handover period for planning
• Keeping existing projects and deadlines on track, including large data transformation work and operational priorities such as pay and bill
• Driving the unified data platform roadmap on Databricks, including data governance, ownership and quality standards
• Moving AI use cases into production and delivering measurable value, building on the existing agentic SDLC and citizen development work
• Building trust with the team and regional leaders, and agreeing a prioritised roadmap with the CPTO
• Making build-versus-buy recommendations and managing the Data & AI budget
• Supporting the team’s capability and retention, including clear career paths and a skills map
• Preparing the function for a smooth handover to the permanent VP

• Senior Data & AI leadership at scale, ideally 40-60+ FTE across multiple regions
• Experience running a modern data platform, Databricks or equivalent
• A track record of taking AI into production, with measurable value
• Strong stakeholder management and the ability to advise senior executives
• Experience delivering in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment, such as private equity-backed or big tech
• A solutions-focused, can-do approach, and strategic but hands-on enough to stay credible with engineers
• Experience leading offshore teams, ideally including India
• Available to start at short notice

Desirable

• HR, staffing or recruitment-tech experience
• Experience of interim, turnaround or transformation leadership
• AI governance and responsible AI experience
• Integration or data migration experience across merged businesses