(INV) Director, AI & Data, UKI

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EY UK | Consulting | AI & Data

Director – AI & Data

Sector, Function or Account AI & Data Lead

Director • London (hybrid, UK client travel)

About the team

EY’s UK AI & Data practice helps organisations across Government, Life Sciences, Consumer Products, Retail, Utilities and Telecommunications turn AI and data into measurable business outcomes. We solve problems at the heart of the enterprise – AI in customer excellence, finance, procurement and supply chain – and deliver them at scale on Microsoft, Databricks and Snowflake.

Role purpose

As a Director in AI & Data, you will be the AI and data lead for a sector, a function or a strategic account. You will be the recognised AI and data expert in the room for your clients – someone with deep industry knowledge who builds credible, trusted relationships at senior level, translates business problems into AI and data solutions, and leads their delivery through a blended team of UK and offshore capabilities.

You will own the AI and data agenda for your area: its client relationships, pipeline, delivery quality and growth.

Lead role

What that means

Sector lead

Own the AI and data proposition and client portfolio for a sector, e.g. Life Sciences, Government, Consumer Products & Retail, Utilities or Telecoms

Function lead

Own the AI and data proposition for a function across sectors, e.g. AI in Finance, Procurement, Supply Chain or Customer

Account lead

Be the AI and data lead for one or more strategic EY accounts, working alongside the account partner

Key responsibilities

Trusted client relationships

• Senior adviser. Build and sustain credible, trusted relationships with CxOs, functional leaders and technology leaders as their go-to AI and data expert.
• Industry expertise. Bring deep knowledge of the sector’s value chain, regulation and economics to frame AI and data opportunities in the client’s language.
• Agenda setting. Shape the client’s AI and data agenda – strategy, roadmap, priorities and value case – rather than responding to it.

Problem-to-solution translation

• Translate complex business problems into AI and data solutions, identifying the capabilities, platforms, operating model and change required.
• Articulate value to both business and technical audiences, and stand behind it with credible business cases.
• Provide senior technical authority to challenge and assure solutions on Microsoft, Databricks or Snowflake, including GenAI and agentic AI.

Growth and market leadership

• Pipeline ownership. Own sales and revenue targets for your sector, function or account; originate, shape and close large, multi-practice opportunities.
• Internal collaboration. Work as a peer with account partners and consulting practice leaders to bring integrated EY propositions to clients.
• Alliances. Develop joint go-to-market with Microsoft, Databricks and Snowflake.
• Thought leadership. Build EY’s market profile in your area through points of view, events, propositions and accelerators.

Delivery leadership – UK and offshore

• Be accountable for the quality, commercials and outcomes of a portfolio of AI and data engagements.
• Design and lead blended delivery models that combine UK client-facing capability with offshore delivery centres to balance quality, pace and cost.
• Set delivery governance, quality standards and escalation routes across distributed teams; intervene decisively when needed.
• Ensure delivery excellence creates further opportunity and strengthens relationships.

People and practice leadership

• Build and lead a high-performing team for your area; attract, develop and retain top talent across UK and offshore.
• Coach Senior Managers and Managers; act as a role model for inclusive leadership.
• Contribute to practice strategy, offerings and investment decisions.

What you will bring

Essential

• Deep industry expertise in at least one of Government, Life Sciences, Consumer Products, Retail, Utilities or Telecoms, or deep functional expertise in customer, finance, procurement or supply chain.
• A track record as a trusted adviser to senior client stakeholders on AI and data.
• Experience translating business problems into AI and data solutions and leading their delivery at scale.
• Senior technical credibility on at least one of Microsoft, Databricks or Snowflake, sufficient to challenge and assure solutions.
• Proven leadership of blended UK and offshore delivery teams.
• A record of originating and closing significant AI and data work and growing client relationships.
• Strong executive presence and communication with both business and technical audiences.
• Experience in a senior consulting, professional services or equivalent role.

Platform depth (senior expertise in at least one)

Platform

Indicative capabilities

Microsoft

Azure data and AI services, Microsoft Fabric, Azure OpenAI / AI Foundry, Power BI, Copilot and agent extensibility, Purview

Databricks

Lakehouse architecture, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, Mosaic AI, MLflow, data engineering and MLOps at scale

Snowflake

Data cloud architecture, Snowpark, Cortex AI, data sharing and governance, cost and performance optimisation

Desirable

• An established network in the target sector or function.
• Experience building propositions, practices or alliance relationships.
• Knowledge of relevant regulation (e.g. UK GDPR, EU AI Act, GxP, Ofgem/Ofcom, public sector standards) and responsible AI.
• Security clearance or eligibility, for Government work.

What success looks like in the first 12 months

• Recognised by senior clients in your sector, function or account as their trusted AI and data adviser.
• A growing, qualified pipeline and sales against target, including multi-practice opportunities.
• A portfolio of engagements delivered to quality and margin through an effective UK and offshore model.
• A clear proposition and market profile for your area.
• A strong, growing team and visible contribution to practice leadership.

Why join us

You will work on some of the UK’s most significant AI and data transformations, across a breadth of industries and functions, backed by EY’s global network, alliance relationships and investment in AI. EY is committed to an inclusive culture and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds; reasonable adjustments are available throughout the process.

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