Director of Data Science - #2095428

Director of Data Science

Location: London (Hybrid)
Salary: £110,000 + £20,000 bonus

Overview

Our client is seeking a Director of Data Science to lead the delivery of complex AI and data science engagements whilst helping to develop and grow the Data Science capability.

This is a leadership role suited to someone who combines deep technical expertise with strong consulting skills. The successful candidate will be expected to lead client engagements, shape technical solutions, contribute to business development activities and play a key role in developing the Data Science practice through mentoring, capability development and operational leadership.

The role is approximately 80% client-facing delivery and 20% internal practice leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Client Delivery

• Lead complex Data Science and AI engagements from discovery through to implementation.
• Design end-to-end technical solutions addressing business challenges.
• Act as Technical Lead across multiple client programmes.
• Provide architectural oversight and technical decision making.
• Translate business problems into scalable AI and Data Science solutions.
• Deliver high-quality consulting whilst remaining technically hands-on where required.

Business Development

• Support Partners during client pursuits and proposal development.
• Provide technical credibility during sales engagements.
• Help shape client solutions that win new business.
• Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders.

Practice Leadership

• Support the operational leadership of the Data Science practice.
• Contribute to resource planning and staffing.
• Mentor and develop consultants across the practice.
• Support performance reviews and career development.
• Drive learning and capability development initiatives.
• Help build succession within the technical leadership team.

Required Experience

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Extensive experience leading Data Science and AI consulting engagements.
• Strong consulting background with experience advising senior stakeholders.
• Experience acting as Technical Lead on enterprise-scale programmes.
• Ability to balance commercial thinking with technical delivery.
• Experience designing AI, Machine Learning or advanced analytics solutions.
• Strong solution architecture capability.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.

Essential Technical Skills

Candidates should be able to demonstrate experience in:

• Data Science solution design
• AI solution architecture
• Machine Learning
• Technical leadership
• End-to-end delivery ownership
• Client consulting
• Technical governance
• Solution implementation
• AI transformation programmes

The successful individual should remain technically credible rather than operating purely as a people manager.

Desirable Experience

Experience in one or more of the following would be advantageous:

• AI Governance
• Responsible AI
• AI Ethics
• Enterprise AI strategy
• Agentic AI transformation
• Consulting within a technology consultancy
• Building or scaling technical practices

Whilst governance and AI ethics are valued, candidates must also demonstrate the ability to lead technical delivery rather than specialising solely in policy or frameworks.

Success Measures

Performance will typically be measured against:

• Client utilisation of approximately 70-75%.
• Successful delivery of client programmes.
• Contribution to winning new work.
• Technical leadership across engagements.
• Development of the Data Science capability.
• Coaching and mentoring of consultants.
• Positive client feedback and commercial impact.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate combines:

• Strong consulting capability.
• Deep technical Data Science expertise.
• Commercial awareness.
• Excellent stakeholder management.
• Ability to lead both delivery and people.
• Hands-on technical credibility.
• Experience operating comfortably between business strategy and technical execution.
• Equally comfortable discussing AI strategy in the boardroom and reviewing technical solution design with engineering teams.

RSG Plc is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.