Data and Artificial Intelligence Lead

Anson McCade; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Anson McCade is seeking an experienced Data & AI Lead to shape and deliver high-impact technology programmes in the UK healthcare sector. The role blends data architecture, consulting and business development with client-facing responsibility across NHS organisations, government bodies and clinical research institutions.

You will lead data platforms, analytics and AI initiatives, translate healthcare challenges into practical strategies, and guide delivery across complex programmes while

Qualifications

• Client-facing data/AI consulting experience.
• Proven pre-sales, opportunity shaping and bids.
• Strong data architecture, modelling and governance knowledge.
• Experience in healthcare or public sector transformations.
• Leadership across data platforms, analytics and AI.

Responsibilities

• Lead early client engagements and discovery workshops.
• Shape Data & AI opportunities and future-state architectures.
• Develop propositions and bid responses with sales teams.
• Provide architectural direction across data platforms and AI.
• Mentor data professionals and establish best practices.
• Represent the organisation at industry forums and client briefings.

Skills

Data architecture

Healthcare domain

Pre-sales

Stakeholder management

AI/ML

Job description

A leading digital technology and transformation organisation is seeking an experienced Data & AI Lead to help shape and deliver high-impact technology programmes across the UK healthcare sector.

This is a senior, client-facing opportunity for an individual who combines data architecture expertise, healthcare domain knowledge, consulting capability and commercial experience. The successful candidate will work across both pre-sales and delivery, helping healthcare organisations identify where data, analytics and AI can create measurable improvements in patient care, public health, clinical research and operational performance.

The role offers the opportunity to work with senior stakeholders across NHS organisations, national healthcare bodies, government agencies, regional health and care organisations and clinical research institutions, while playing a key role in developing new Data & AI propositions for the healthcare market.

The Role

The Data & AI Lead will operate across the full lifecycle of complex technology engagements, from early client conversations and opportunity shaping through to solution design, bidding and delivery assurance.

Working alongside senior account, technology and delivery leaders, the successful candidate will translate complex healthcare challenges into practical, scalable Data & AI strategies and architectures.

They will also take a hands-on leadership role within delivery programmes, providing architectural direction across areas such as data platforms, data integration, analytics, AI/ML, interoperability, data governance and information management.

This is an ideal opportunity for a senior Data Architect, Data & AI Consultant, Principal Data Architect or Data & AI Lead who enjoys combining technical leadership with strategic consulting and business development.

Key Responsibilities

Data & AI Consulting and Pre-Sales

• Lead early-stage client engagements, discovery sessions and workshops to understand business, clinical and technology challenges.
• Shape Data & AI opportunities and help clients define compelling technology strategies and future-state architectures.
• Work closely with sales and account teams to qualify opportunities and develop propositions, proposals and bid responses.
• Lead technical input into pitches and client presentations, communicating complex concepts clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders across healthcare, government and public-sector organisations.
• Identify opportunities to apply data, analytics and AI to improve healthcare outcomes and organisational performance.
• Contribute to the development of reusable healthcare Data & AI propositions, accelerators and consulting assets.

Data Architecture & Technical Leadership

• Lead the architecture and design of complex data and AI solutions across integration, analytics, machine learning, interoperability and data platforms.
• Operate as a Lead Data Architect within major transformation programmes, providing technical direction from strategy through to implementation.
• Develop and assure data models, data flows, metadata management, transformation approaches and governance frameworks.
• Define appropriate information-handling and data-platform strategies based on organisational requirements.
• Provide architecture assurance and technical governance throughout the delivery lifecycle.
• Advise clients on data technologies, platforms and product selection.
• Support engineering and delivery teams with specialist Data & AI expertise and hands-on technical input where required.
• Establish standards, patterns and best practices across complex data environments.
• Mentor and develop data professionals, helping to build a high-performing technical community.
• Monitor emerging developments across Healthcare Data, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Generative AI and modern data platforms.
• Identify practical opportunities to introduce emerging technologies into healthcare transformation programmes.
• Develop innovative approaches, reusable assets and accelerators that improve both client outcomes and delivery capability.
• Contribute to go-to-market strategies and new Data & AI propositions.
• Create compelling sales and thought-leadership material that demonstrates the value of Data & AI within healthcare.
• Represent the organisation at industry events, conferences, advisory forums and client briefings.

Essential experience includes:

• Significant experience working in a client-facing Data or AI consulting environment.
• Proven involvement in pre-sales, opportunity shaping, bid development and client pitches.
• Strong technical expertise across core data architecture disciplines, including data modelling, data analysis, metadata, data transformation, data migration and data governance.
• Experience delivering or providing technical assurance across large-scale Data & AI programmes within healthcare or the wider public sector.
• Demonstrable technical leadership experience across complex data transformation programmes.
• Ability to establish technical standards, provide architecture assurance and mentor other data professionals.
• Strong understanding of modern data platforms, cloud technologies, data integration, analytics, AI/ML and data governance.
• Proficiency across at least three mainstream data technologies, alongside a broad awareness of the wider data technology landscape.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills, with confidence engaging C-suite, Director and senior client stakeholders.
• Experience working across the complete sales lifecycle, from initial opportunity shaping through to proposal, pitch and close.

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

• Working with NHS England, UKHSA, DHSC, NHSBSA, Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) or equivalent healthcare organisations.
• Experience across UK healthcare, public health, clinical research or regional health and care.
• Strong knowledge of healthcare interoperability standards such as FHIR, HL7 and SNOMED CT.
• Experience designing or delivering Secure Data Environments (SDEs) or research-focused data platforms.
• Practical experience applying Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) within healthcare or regulated environments.
• Knowledge of UK public-sector procurement and commercial processes.
• Experience developing Data & AI go-to-market propositions, accelerators and reusable consulting assets.
• Participation in healthcare data standards bodies, industry forums, advisory groups or related communities.