Head of Digital Consulting

Jacobs; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A global consulting firm is seeking a Head of Digital Consulting to lead and innovate within their digital teams across Europe. This role requires extensive experience in managing digital capabilities such as data science and software development, with a focus on driving transformation within a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate should possess strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of digital technologies, and the ability to foster collaboration among teams. The firm champions a culture of inclusion and values flexible working arrangements, making this an exciting opportunity for strategic leaders in the digital space.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Well-being benefits

Global giving and volunteering program

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading teams in a complex, fast‑paced environment.
• Background in software development, data engineering or data science required.
• Strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated success in leading large‑scale digital initiatives.
• Exceptional ability to communicate technical strategies to non‑technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire cross‑functional digital and technical teams.
• Drive the advancement of digital capabilities including data science and software development.
• Oversee digital application development from ideation to deployment.
• Monitor performance metrics to ensure quality digital solutions.
• Champion cybersecurity and data privacy across digital platforms.

Skills

Leadership

Data science

Software development

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Cloud platforms

Data analytics tools

AI/ML tools

Job description

Market Enterprise Functions

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

We are seeking a strategic and visionary leader to oversee our digital consulting teams, drive the development and deployment of innovative solutions, and lead the advancement of our digital capabilities including data science, data engineering, and software development. This Head of Digital Consulting role, based in the UK, will require a strong and demonstrable commercial understanding of the digital consulting market and will be instrumental in shaping our digital transformation and AI advisory journey.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and inspire cross‑functional digital and technical teams, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Develop and execute a comprehensive digital consulting strategy in Europe that is aligned with organizational goals aligned with our target market.
• Partner with senior leadership to identify opportunities for digital consulting, innovation and transformation (both within Jacobs and with our clients)
• Oversee and define use cases and deployment for Jacobs AI advisory services in European end markets

Technical Excellence

• Demonstrates deep understanding of emerging digital technology trends (particularly in the generative AI) and translates them into actionable strategies that drive business transformation
• Architecture & Design Expertise: guides enterprise‑level architectural decisions, ensuring scalable and future‑ready digital solutions
• Champions adoption of cutting‑edge digital tools, solutions and methodologies (e.g. cloud native, AI / ML automation) to accelerate digital maturity
• Establishes and enforces technical standards, best practices and compliance frameworks across digital solutions
• Anticipates and mitigates technical risks related to cyber security, scalability and regulatory compliance

Application Development & Deployment Oversight

• Oversee the end‑to‑end lifecycle of digital application development, from ideation through deployment and ongoing maintenance
• Ensure agile and scalable development practices are in place to support rapid delivery and iteration
• Implement governance frameworks for quality assurance, release management, and operational excellence

Digital Capabilities Management

• Build and manage high‑performance teams in data science, data engineering, and software development
• Drive the adoption of modern technologies, tools, and methodologies to enhance digital capabilities
• Ensure robust data architecture and engineering practices to support analytics, AI / ML, and business intelligence initiatives
• Lead digital transformation in Europe, advising clients on emerging technologies and strategies
• Lead consulting services that help organizations leverage digital technologies to achieve business goals and transform operations to enable the business to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape

Operational Excellence

• Monitor performance metrics and KPIs to ensure delivery of high‑quality digital solutions
• Manage budgets, vendor relationships, and resource allocation across digital initiatives
• Champion cybersecurity, data privacy, and compliance across all digital platforms

Here's what you'll need

• Proven experience leading teams in a complex, fast‑paced environment
• Background in software development, data engineering or data science required
• Proven track record of leading and developing high‑performing, multidisciplinary teams across digital and technical domains
• Experience in developing and delivering commercial business plans in a digital consulting environment
• Ability to foster a culture of trust, inclusion, accountability, and continuous learning
• Skilled in coaching and mentoring team members at all levels, with a focus on career development and talent retention
• Strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills with the ability to navigate complex team dynamics and drive alignment
• Demonstrated success in leading large‑scale digital initiatives including modernization of legacy systems and integration of advanced digital solutions
• Proven experience in enterprise architecture, cloud platforms, data analytics and emerging technologies such as AI / ML, automation and cyber security
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts into clear, actionable strategies to diverse audiences
• Excellent strategic thinking, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into actional technology and business strategies for key stakeholders
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks, data privacy laws and risk management in digital environments
• Exceptional ability to communicate technical strategies to non‑technical audiences and influence executive decision making
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Digital Strategy or related field; Master's preferred

To apply - please submit the following :

• Your resume
• A one‑page cover letter that includes your summary response to the following question :
• "Jacobs has strongly signalled how important digital capabilities will be to the future growth prospects of the business across all of our key markets – in your opinion, how do you see digital consulting delivering on this critical challenge?"

Application deadline : End of day, Friday 23 January.

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well‑being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about our.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit our careers portal to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices / projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via email.