AI Readiness Service Line Specialist

Cognizant; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology services company is looking for a Service Line Sales Director – AI & Data to drive growth for its AI Readiness Business Unit across the UK and Europe. This senior leadership role involves managing a high-quality pipeline, achieving revenue targets, and engaging with C-suite executives. The ideal candidate will possess enterprise sales leadership experience, particularly in AI/Data, and will be responsible for building relationships and expanding market share in existing accounts as well as acquiring new clients. Frequent travel across the UK and Europe is required.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in enterprise sales or consulting in AI/Data.
• Proven track record as a quota-carrying leader.
• Strong presence with the ability to influence at C-suite level.

Responsibilities

• Own and exceed hard revenue margin targets.
• Manage and convert pipeline in the UK and Europe.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to C-level client leaders.

Skills

Enterprise sales leadership

Strong executive presence

Negotiation skills

Understanding of AI/Data

Relationship management

Job description

Job Description: Service Line Sales Director – AI & Data

Location: United Kingdom or Any Europe
Role Type: Leadership | Sales & Consulting | AI & Data
Business Unit: AI Readiness

Role Summary

The Service Line Sales Director – AI & Data is a senior sales and consulting leader responsible for accelerating growth for Cognizant’s AI Readiness Business Unit across the UK and Europe. This is a quota‑carrying leadership role with hard annual revenue targets, responsible for building and maturing a high‑quality pipeline, closing large and complex deals, and driving growth in both existing Cognizant accounts and new logo hunting.

The ideal candidate brings a strong blend of enterprise sales leadership, AI/Data technical depth, and an established market presence in the UK and Europe, with proven relationships across C‑suite and technology leadership. This role requires frequent travel across the UK and broader Europe to engage clients, partners, and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Sales Leadership, Revenue & Pipeline Ownership

• Own and exceed hard revenue margin targets for AI Training Data Services.
• Create, manage, and convert pipeline across existing Cognizant accounts and new logos in the UK and Europe.
• Drive end‑to‑end enterprise sales cycles: prospecting, qualification, proposal development, negotiation, and closure.
• Lead pursuit teams and coordinate with solution architecture, delivery, product, and offshore/nearshore teams.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to client CIOs, CDOs, CTOs, AI/ML leaders, and architecture teams.

Offering Evangelism & Market Expansion

• Represent Cognizant’s AI Readiness portfolio across UK & European markets through roadshows, workshops, and executive briefings.
• Expand and strengthen Cognizant’s market positioning in AI readiness, training data, DataOps, and GenAI enablement.
• Identify emerging opportunities, industry trends, and influence GTM and solution strategy.

Account Growth & Relationship Management

• Build and deepen relationships within Cognizant’s existing accounts; identify whitespace and grow share of wallet.
• Leverage strong market presence to open doors and accelerate entry into new client environments.
• Map and influence key decision‑makers, stakeholders, and partners across the region.
• Build multi‑year adoption roadmaps for AI/ML and training data modernization.

Collaborative Leadership

• Partner with vertical sales teams, delivery, product, CoE, and marketing to craft differentiated proposals and solutions.
• Mentor junior talent and contribute to the business unit’s long‑term growth strategy.

Travel

• Frequent travel across the UK and Europe to meet clients, attend workshops, drive pursuits, and support executive engagements.

Experience

• Demonstrable experience in enterprise sales, consulting, or business development in AI, Data, or Digital Engineering.
• Proven track record as a quota‑carrying sales leader meeting/exceeding hard revenue targets.
• Strong experience in both new logo hunting and scaling business within existing accounts across UK and Europe.
• Experience selling AI/ML services, data engineering, GenAI solutions, or data labeling/training data services.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence at CIO, CDO, and CTO levels.
• Well‑established relationships and market credibility across the UK and Europe.
• Powerful communicator with strong storytelling, negotiation, and value articulation capabilities.
• Ability to balance technical depth with commercial acumen.
• High ownership mindset, resilience, and comfort operating in a quota‑driven environment.

Performance Metrics

• Annual revenue and margin attainment
• Pipeline creation, health, velocity, and win rates
• New logos closed in UK & European markets
• Expansion within existing Cognizant accounts
• Client satisfaction and engagement longevity
• Growth of AI Training Data Services footprint
• Contribution to GTM, offerings, and solution innovation