Leads enterprise Data and AI strategy, P&L, consulting sales, delivery, and regional growth across MENA, the UK, and Europe. Oversees cloud data platforms, AI/ML lifecycle management, DataOps, governance, responsible AI, and client solutions. Builds delivery centers and high-performing teams while mentoring senior leaders, guiding architecture, developing partnerships, supporting RFPs, and translating business needs into scalable data and AI products.
Sr Director – AI Data LeaderFieldDetailsLocationDubaiLanguage Preference
Arabic ,English
Role Summary and OverviewThe AI Data Leader spearheads the organization's data and AI strategy, aligning it with business goals and product priorities in a player–coach capacity that blends technical depth with strategic vision while mentoring and developing teams.
We are looking for an entrepreneurial, value-driven senior Data & AI executive with 15+ years leading Data and AI transformations across MENA, UK & Europe, proven in Data & AI practice pipeline forecasting, P&L ownership, Go-To-Market and Delivery Excellence, who builds high-performing diverse teams, delivers enterprise-scale data platforms, AI/ML Ops and responsible AI programs, and translates complex technical capability into measurable business outcomes as a trusted C-suite advisor and industry thought leader.
Key Responsibilities- Define and drive the organization's Data & AI strategy, covering data infrastructure, AI/ML models, partnerships and talent.
- Own P&L for Data & AI across MENA, setting the strategic growth path for transformation, sales growth and operational leadership.
- Establish and grow regional delivery centers serving MENA, UK & Europe.
- Lead the AI/ML lifecycle from research and prototyping through deployment and monitoring to improve detection accuracy, reduce false positives and uncover new use cases.
- Create and scale unified DataOps, BI/DW and AI teams for Advanced Analytics using agile practices across tools, code and cloud infrastructure.
- Define and execute enterprise Data & AI strategy covering architecture, data platform roadmaps and productization of AI models.
- Provide architectural guidance and hands-on oversight across Azure Data Services (Data Factory, Synapse, Data Lake), Azure Analytics, Databricks, GCP and Informatica.
- Review and validate data engineering pipelines, cloud architecture designs, data platform builds and AI/ML model deployments, embedding data governance, data quality, security and compliance best practices.
- Track emerging AI, GenAI and cloud data platform technologies and bring relevant innovations to client solutions.
- Collaborate with Product and Engineering to embed AI into the product roadmap and customer solutions with production-ready, continuously optimized models.
- Drive consultative selling and commercial capture: lead RFP responses, develop sales toolkits and playbooks, and orchestrate multi-service-line structured deals.
- Advise clients across sectors and translate business problems into data and AI solutions.
- Partner with best-in-breed vendors to accelerate capability while building internal data and AI foundations and growing the Data & AI partnership landscape.
- Ensure AI/ML initiatives are ethical, explainable and compliant with regulations such as AML and data protection laws.
- Build and lead a high-performing team, mentoring engineers in Data/AI/ML practices and fostering an inclusive, collaborative culture with communities of practice.
- Hire, coach and mentor senior managers and Data & AI capability leaders, driving growth-minded culture and high retention of top talent.
- Enhance Client's position as Trusted Thinking Partner of Choice by developing innovative data transformational solutions and building Client brand through industry events, conferences, Data/AI marketing initiatives and POVs.
- AI Certifications & Relevant Project Experiences.
- 15+ years in Data & AI, including P&L ownership, Go-To-Market and Delivery Excellence across MENA, UK & Europe.
- Proven leadership in end-to-end Data transformations and enterprise-scale data platforms across multiple countries and verticals.
- Deep hands-on expertise in Azure Data Services, Databricks, Informatica, Snowflake and GCP, with strong command of data engineering, cloud architecture and AI/ML model lifecycle.
- In-depth knowledge of end-to-end Data & AI practices, architectures, ML techniques and Data/AI trends and transformation.
- Demonstrated consultative selling, RFP response and multi-service-line deal orchestration against sales targets.
- Experience building, growing and mentoring large, diverse teams including senior managers and Data & AI capability leaders.
- Development and delivery oversight across cloud, on-prem and hybrid models.
- Strategic thinking to align technology with business objectives.
- Education: Bachelor's degree, MBA.
- Experience at Tier 1 advisory, consulting or large systems integrator firms, preferably with an onsite-offshore model.
- Experience in ethical AI, regulatory compliance and explainable AI.
- Experience orchestrating global, matrixed deal structuring teams across TCO, multi-tower, digital, consulting and managed services deal types.
- Strong references from key stakeholders (buyers, influencers) in large local enterprises and top buyers within and adjacent to the industry.
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