Head of Data and AI

Head of Data & AI | North East | £150k to £200kbase + bonus + profit share + benefits This isn't a technology role. It's a change and transformation role, and data and AI are enabling that change! We're partnering with a large, multi-site UK consumer business (30,000+ headcount), a household name, to appoint their Head of Data & AI (de facto CDAIO) The hard technical groundwork is done: a modern cloud data platform, trusted master data, and a strong engineering team to do the build. What the business needs now is someone who can take it on the journey. That means spotting where data and AI can make a real difference, winning hearts and minds, influencing to change attitudes and behaviours, and making sure the benefits actually land in the numbers. What the role is really about:

• Leading change. Moving a business with ambition but developing data and AI maturity from experimentation to new ways of working, at scale.
• Influence without control. Being the go-to voice on data and AI across the entire enterprise business. You'll own delivery in some functions and shape the direction of others through influence rather than authority.
• Commercial focus. Prioritising the opportunities that move the needle, building the business case, and being accountable for the value delivered, not just the roadmap. What you'll do:
• Work with leaders across the business to find, prioritise and deliver the data and AI opportunities that matter most, from quick productivity wins to rethinking how core functions operate.
• Build the case for AI investment and win a funded mandate at Board level.
• Lead a business-wide capability and change programme to embed data and AI in how people work.
• Build new AI capability while leading an established, multi-disciplinary data team of around 50. What we're looking for:
• A proven change and transformation style Data Leader who has led an entire end-to-end data, analytics and AI capability, who has used data and AI to change how a business works, with the evidence to show it.
• A natural influencer and evangelist, with strong business facing/consulting skills, who builds trust, educates and brings sceptical stakeholders along.
• Strong commercial acumen: you talk about outcomes first and technology second, and you've taken ideas through to measurable business benefit.
• Credibility in the boardroom, and a track record of building trust and securing investment.
• Experience building teams and capability, and bringing people through change.
• Enough technical fluency to lead a technical team without being misled. You don't need to be in the detail. The practicalities: The role is based in the North East, with a minimum of three days a week on site. If you cannot commit to that, please do not apply. If you're interested, apply here or message me directly for a confidential conversation.