Head of Data & AI - Inside IR35

SRG; City Of London; On-site; GBP 160,000 - 209,000; Full time

Job summary

SRG, acting for The Vertage Group Portfolio, seeks an interim VP of Data & AI to lead the global Data & AI function while driving a major data transformation programme. You will manage 40–60 people across Europe, the UK & Ireland, the US and India, own the Data & AI budget and platform decisions, and work as a peer with engineering, architecture and regional business leaders.

You'll report to the Chief Product & Technology Officer.

Qualifications

• Senior Data & AI leadership at scale (40-60+ FTE across regions).
• Experience running a modern data platform (Databricks or equivalent).
• Track record of taking AI into production with measurable value.
• Strong stakeholder management; ability to advise senior executives.
• Experience in high-pressure, fast-paced environments (PE-backed or big tech).

Responsibilities

• Taking over leadership of the global Data & AI function from day one.
• Keeping existing projects and deadlines on track, including large data transformation work and operational priorities.
• Driving the unified data platform roadmap on Databricks, including governance and quality standards.
• Moving AI use cases into production with measurable value.
• Building trust with regional leaders and agreeing a prioritised roadmap with the CPTO.
• Managing the Data & AI budget and build-versus-buy decisions.
• Supporting capability and retention, with clear career paths.
• Preparing the function for a smooth handover to the permanent VP.

Skills

Senior Data & AI leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic yet hands-on leadership

Experience leading offshore teams

Available on short notice

Databricks experience

Tools

Databricks

Job description

Interim Head of Data & AI

Location: City of London

Inside IR35: £1000 per day

Duration: Initial 6 months, extendable to be confirmed

An international workforce solutions business is looking for an interim VP of Data & AI to provide hands‑on leadership of its global Data & AI function while it recruits a permanent successor. You'll take charge from day one, keeping a major data transformation programme and day-to-day operational delivery on track.

The foundations are in place. Databricks is the strategic platform, all jobs run on it, and invoice, supplier and talent data are being brought across, alongside regional warehouses and a global instance. The team is relatively new and still being built. You'll lead 40-60 people across Europe, the UK & Ireland, the US and India, own the Data & AI budget and platform decisions, and work as a peer with engineering, architecture and regional business leaders. You'll report to the Chief Product & Technology Officer, who sits on the Global Board.

What You'll Be Doing

• Taking over leadership of the global Data & AI function from day one, with no handover period for planning
• Keeping existing projects and deadlines on track, including large data transformation work and operational priorities such as pay and bill
• Driving the unified data platform roadmap on Databricks, including data governance, ownership and quality standards
• Moving AI use cases into production and delivering measurable value, building on the existing agentic SDLC and citizen development work
• Building trust with the team and regional leaders, and agreeing a prioritised roadmap with the CPTO
• Making build-versus-buy recommendations and managing the Data & AI budget
• Supporting the team's capability and retention, including clear career paths and a skills map
• Preparing the function for a smooth handover to the permanent VP

What We're Looking For

• Senior Data & AI leadership at scale, ideally 40-60+ FTE across multiple regions
• Experience running a modern data platform, Databricks or equivalent
• A track record of taking AI into production, with measurable value
• Strong stakeholder management and the ability to advise senior executives
• Experience delivering in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment, such as private equity-backed or big tech
• A solutions-focused, can-do approach, and strategic but hands-on enough to stay credible with engineers
• Experience leading offshore teams, ideally including India
• Available to start at short notice

Desirable

• HR, staffing or recruitment-tech experience
• Experience of interim, turnaround or transformation leadership
• AI governance and responsible AI experience
• Integration or data migration experience across merged businesses

Guidant, Carbon60, Lorien & SRG - The Vertage Group Portfolio are acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.