Forward Deployed Lead - Data Solutions - Munich/Cologne - 130k

Next Ventures; München; Hybrid; EUR 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Real ownership of data solutions

Strategy meets execution

Entrepreneurial freedom

Modern technology focus

Leadership growth

Direct client impact

Hybrid working in Munich or Cologne

Job summary

Next Ventures is seeking a Forward Deployed Lead for Data Solutions in Munich/Cologne. You will bridge strategic consulting with hands-on delivery, shaping data governance frameworks and modern data platforms while growing the Data Solutions practice.

You will lead a small team of data specialists, drive pre-sales activities, and own engagements from problem definition to delivery, with travel to client sites as needed.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Data & Analytics, Data Engineering, Architecture or Strategy, ideally in consulting or client-facing tech.
• Ability to translate business requirements into data strategies and actionable solutions.
• Strong understanding of modern data platforms including lakehouse, data warehouse and cloud-native approaches.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on data strategy, architectures and AI readiness.
• Translate business challenges into scalable data solutions with measurable value.
• Design and implement modern data platforms and data governance frameworks.
• Identify and deliver use cases for analytics and AI, including Generative AI.
• Own client engagements end-to-end from problem to delivery.
• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.

Skills

Data strategy

Data governance

Data architecture

Modern data platforms

Communication

Leadership

Client engagement

German language

English language

Tools

Databricks

Snowflake

Microsoft Fabric

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

Forward Deployed Lead - Data Solutions - Munich/Cologne - 130k

Data & AI Strategy | Data Governance | Modern Data Platforms

As Forward Deployed Lead - Data Solutions, you will combine strategic consulting, technical delivery and entrepreneurial thinking. You will work closely with client executives, business stakeholders and engineering teams to identify opportunities, design solutions and bring modern data and AI capabilities into production.

At the same time, you will help build and grow our Data Solutions practice: developing our service portfolio, shaping new Data Governance and Data-for-AI offerings, winning client engagements and leading a small team of data and analytics specialists.

This is a hands-on leadership role with responsibility from the first client conversation through solution delivery and business impact.

What you'll do

Client Advisory & Solution Delivery

• Advise business leaders and technology stakeholders on data strategy, modern data architectures and AI readiness.
• Translate business challenges into practical, scalable data solutions with measurable business value.
• Work directly with client teams to design and implement modern data platforms, Data Governance frameworks and AI-ready data architectures.
• Identify and deliver use cases for advanced analytics, Generative AI and agentic AI systems.
• Own client engagements end to end, from problem definition and solution design through implementation and delivery.
• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and act as a key point of contact throughout engagements.

Practice Building & Business Development

• Help shape and grow our Data Solutions practice, both strategically and operationally.
• Develop and position offerings around Data Strategy, Data Governance and Data for AI.
• Lead pre-sales activities, shape solution concepts and develop proposals and RFP responses.
• Identify new client opportunities, expand existing relationships and contribute to a sustainable sales pipeline.
• Support commercial scoping, effort estimation and the development of compelling client propositions.
• Represent our expertise at client meetings, industry events and relevant professional networks.
• Lead a team of initially 4-5 data specialists, with the plan to scale this to 20.
• Coach team members, support their professional growth and foster a culture of ownership, collaboration and high-quality delivery.
• Work across teams to build reusable solutions, strengthen delivery practices and grow our business.

What you'll bring

• Approximately 5+ years of relevant experience in Data & Analytics, Data Engineering, Data Architecture or Data Strategy, ideally in consulting or a client-facing technology environment.
• Experience translating business requirements into data strategies, architectures and implementable solutions.
• A strong understanding of modern data platforms and architectures, including lakehouse, data warehouse and cloud-native approaches.
• Practical experience with platforms such as Databricks, Snowflake or Microsoft Fabric and/or cloud ecosystems such as AWS, Azure or GCP.
• A solid understanding of Data Governance, data quality, data architecture and the foundations required for production-grade AI.
• Initial experience leading teams and developing people, with the ambition to take on broader leadership responsibility.
• Experience in pre-sales, proposal development or RFP responses—or the motivation to take ownership of these activities.
• An entrepreneurial mindset and a genuine interest in building consulting offerings, developing client relationships and growing a business.
• Confidence communicating with engineers, business stakeholders and senior executives.
• Fluent German and English (C1 or above) and a willingness to travel to client sites as needed.

What we offer

• Real ownership: Help build a growing Data Solutions practice rather than simply maintaining an established structure.
• Strategy meets execution: Work across business strategy, architecture and hands-on solution delivery.
• Entrepreneurial freedom: Shape offerings, influence commercial direction and contribute directly to business growth.
• Modern technology: Work on relevant Data, Cloud and AI challenges with tangible business impact.
• Leadership opportunities: Build and develop a team while expanding your responsibility across clients, offerings and the business.
• Direct impact: Short decision-making paths and the opportunity to see your work translate into client outcomes.
• Flexible working: Hybrid setup with a base in Munich or Cologne and regular collaboration with clients.

Interested?

If you want to combine Data & AI expertise with client ownership, entrepreneurial responsibility and team leadership, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply with your LinkedIn profile or CV and tell us about a data solution you helped bring from idea to impact.

#DataStrategy #DataGovernance #DataEngineering #DataArchitecture #Databricks #Snowflake #MicrosoftFabric #GenerativeAI #ForwardDeployed