Practice Director, Digital & AI

Ensono; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Private healthcare for you and family

Company equity participation

Annual President’s Club & recognition

Job summary

Ensono is seeking a high-impact Consulting Practice Director to lead and grow the UK Data & AI practice—shaping our go-to-market strategy, building a high-performing team, and delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients.

Working with senior directors, you will shape and secure strategic Data & AI opportunities from initial conversations to contract close—balancing AI innovation with robust data foundations, governance and responsible delivery.

Qualifications

• 12+ years delivering data, analytics and AI solutions.
• Proven ability to design and deliver enterprise-scale Data & AI solutions.
• Experience supporting pre-sales and deal shaping with client-facing leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the UK Data & AI practice, shaping go-to-market strategy.
• Build a high-performing team and mentor practitioners.
• Partner with Sales and client executives to shape deals from first conversation through close.
• Direct delivery leadership on key Data & AI engagements and ensure scope, quality and timelines.
• Develop repeatable delivery patterns and accelerators informed by real-world delivery.

Skills

Data & AI leadership

Solution design

Pre-sales support

Executive engagement

Delivery leadership

Strategic storytelling

Job description

At Ensono, our purpose is to be a relentless ally to our clients — disrupting the status quo and enabling them to Do Great Things.

As a trusted technology adviser and managed services provider, we partner with organisations to navigate continuous change and unlock value through modernisation and innovation. Our services span private and public cloud, infrastructure and datacentre transformation, data, identity & access management, mainframe, Power systems, application modernisation and cloud‑native platforms.

Headquartered in the US and backed by private equity, Ensono continues to grow year‑on‑year, with a strong and expanding presence across the UK and Europe. We work with some of the most complex and demanding organisations, helping them deliver meaningful, large‑scale transformation.

About the role

We are looking for a high‑impact Consulting Practice Director to lead and grow Ensono’s UK Data & AI practice—shaping our go‑to‑market strategy, building a high‑performing team, and delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients.

Working closely with New Client Engagement Directors, Consulting Leaders and Sales teams, you will shape and secure strategic Data & AI opportunities—from first conversation through contract close—bringing the credibility to engage client executives and the hands‑on expertise to define winning, deliverable solutions.

You will partner with senior business and IT stakeholders to build transformation roadmaps and propositions that align to business objectives, operating models and long‑term value—balancing innovation in AI/GenAI with strong data foundations, governance and responsible delivery.

As Practice Director, you will be accountable for the growth and performance of the UK Data & AI practice, including pipeline, revenue and margin. You will help scale delivery through repeatable offerings and global collaboration, while remaining close to delivery as an escalation point and sponsor on key engagements.

Success in this role comes from building trusted executive relationships, leading from the front, and combining commercial acumen with pragmatic, hands‑on delivery leadership. If you are excited by shaping market‑leading Data & AI propositions, mentoring talented practitioners, and helping clients deliver meaningful transformation, Ensono offers the platform, culture and growth ambition to help you Do Great Things.

What you’ll be doing

• Actively lead and contribute toData & AI solution designfor complex client opportunities
• Partner with Sales and Client Executives to:
  • Shape deals from first conversation through contract close
  • Lead technical discovery, architecture definition, and delivery approach
  • Participate directly inclient presentations, workshops, and executive discussions
  • Develop pragmatic, outcome‑focused solutions that reflect Ensono’s principles offlexibility, transparency, and modernization without disruption
• Delivery Execution & Client Outcomes
  • Serve in active delivery roles (e.g.,Data Architect, Engagement Lead, or Delivery Sponsor) on key Data & AI engagements
  • Remainhands‑on during execution, guiding teams through critical design decisions, delivery challenges, and client escalations
  • Ensure solutions are delivered toscope, quality, timeline, and commercial commitments
  • Act as a trusted advisor to clients throughout the lifecycle, not just at deal close
• Drive growth, financial performance, and successof the UK Data & AI practice
• Balance billable client contribution with practice leadership responsibilities
• Contribute to and shapeUK & global go‑to‑market offerings, assets, and accelerators
• Build long‑term relationships with UK client executives and technology leaders
• Operate as a senior, contributing leader within Ensono’sglobal Data & AI practice
• Align UK solutioning and delivery approaches with global standards while remaining responsive to local client needs
• Leverage global delivery teams to scale execution while maintaining high quality and accountability
• Share delivery lessons, innovations, and best practices across regions
• Technical & Industry Leadership
  • Maintain deep, current hands‑on expertise across:
    • Modern data platforms and architectures
    • Advanced analytics, AI/ML, and GenAI
    • MLOps, model governance, and responsible AI
  • Set technical direction by example—leading from the front, not from the sidelines
  • Serve as a technical mentor and escalation point for Data & AI teams
• People & Capability Development
  • Mentor Data & AI practitioners in partnership with global teams
  • Develop repeatable delivery patterns and accelerators informed byreal‑world delivery experience
  • Reinforce Ensono’s culture ofownership, pragmatism, and delivering what we commit

What you’ll bring to Ensono

• 12+ years’ experience of deliveringdata, analytics, and AI solutions
• Demonstrable ability todesign and delivercomplex, enterprise‑scale Data & AI solutions
• Proven experience supportingpre‑sales and deal shaping, including client‑facing solution leadership
• Experience balancinghands‑on delivery contributionwith practice or portfolio leadership
• Executive‑level communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into business outcomes
• Deep practical experience with modern data platforms & architectures, AI/ML & GenAI delivery in production environments & Public cloud ecosystems

Additional Experience That Will Set You Apart

• Abuilder and doer, not just an overseer
• Comfortable moving between strategy, solutioning, and hands‑on execution
• Credible with both client executives and technical practitioners
• Pragmatic, outcome‑focused, and accountable
• Strong alignment with Ensono’s values ofexpertise, flexibility, and ownership

Skills & Attributes for Success

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, including engagement at senior and executive levels
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capability
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with practical, deliverable solutions
• Confident facilitator and presenter, able to challenge thinking constructively
• Strong empathy, self‑awareness, highly collaborative, with the ability to influence without authority
• Business and customer-oriented player with strong team orientation
• Organised, adaptable, and able to operate across multiple workstreams
• Highly competitive salary
• Company equity participation, enabling you to share in Ensono’s long‑term growth
• Annual President’s Club & recognition programmes rewarding impact & contribution
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days with length of service
• Dedicated study leave and active investment in certifications, professional development, and architectural learning
• Sabbatical opportunities at 5 and 10 years’ service
• 1 paid charity day each year
• Private healthcare for you and your family
• Enhanced parental leave and flexible, family‑friendly policies
• Life assurance and income protection
• Coaching and mentoring, including access to senior architectural and consulting leaders
• A wide range of wellbeing & lifestyle benefits, including gym discounts, cycle‑to‑work scheme, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and more