At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead AI and data strategy, client relationships, and innovative project delivery.
- Company: Join Artefact, a fast-growing data and AI consultancy with a global presence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, transparent progression, and a culture of learning.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with diverse teams and exciting global projects.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI and data solutions for top global clients.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in AI and data projects, strong leadership and technical expertise.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ per year.
Artefact is a new generation of data and AI consultancy, and one of the fastest growing. In the last six months alone we've grown from 2,000 to 2,500 people, now serving over 3,000 clients across 36 offices in 27 countries. Founded in 2014 and backed by Cinven, we're Europe's largest pureplay consultancy in data and AI, and we're not slowing down.
We specialise in data consulting and AI-driven transformation, working with organisations across the globe to turn data into measurable business impact, creating real change in how businesses operate, compete, and grow. With 40% of our people in consulting roles, we have the critical mass to deliver full transformation at scale. We don't just offer strategies. We frame problems, design solutions, build the technology, and operate what we deliver.
Our UK office is at an inflection point. We've built the foundations of a category-defining consultancy, and now we're scaling, fast. The shape of the team a year from now will look very different to today. Join now, and you're building the office before Artefact becomes a name every top consultant already knows.
We work across a broad range of industries, including Retail Banking, Insurance, Private Equity, Energy & Utilities, Retail & E-commerce, CPG & FMCG, and Automotive, giving consultants the space to build real depth in one or two areas while staying genuinely exposed to others. Our engagements run end to end, from strategy and governance through to delivery of high value data and AI solutions.
The problems we work on are the ones organisations are genuinely wrestling with right now: Data Platform Strategy and Build, Generative AI Strategy, Agentic AI Strategy & Deployment, AI Governance and Assurance, Digital Transformation, and AI Adoption and Change. This work needs people who can operate at a strategic level in the morning and get into the technical weeds in the afternoon, and know when to do which.
As a Director at Artefact UK, you will operate at the intersection of AI and data strategy, client leadership, and commercial growth. Reporting to the Partners and Managing Director, you own the AI and data agenda across a portfolio of clients, with Tech Leads and Managers reporting to you and running the day-to-day delivery of the engagements within it.
This is a role for someone who is equally comfortable shaping a client's AI strategy at board level and building the playbook that lets Artefact deliver it again, better, for the next client.
- Technology leadership: You will take a client's business opportunities and pain points and match them to the right ML, AI or data engineering solution.
- AI use case leadership: You will work with client management and Artefact teams to identify and prioritise the AI use cases that create genuine differential value, and lead their development end to end, from ideation through to deployment and continuous improvement.
- Data and analytics capability building: You will assess clients' current data and analytics maturity, spot the opportunities for rapid enhancement, and turn what you learn into a playbook that can be repeated across new clients.
- Senior client advisory and stakeholder relationships: You will work closely with client cross-functional teams, spanning technology and business, to ensure AI solutions integrate cleanly into how the organisation actually runs.
- Commercial ownership and business development: You will lead pitches end-to-end, shaping the proposition, directing proposal development, and leading client-facing pitches and RFP responses.
- Thought leadership, innovation and talent development: You will stay ahead of developments in AI and data analytics, bring cutting-edge solutions and a network of trusted advisors to your clients.
The Director role is for people who have already proven they can lead AI and data engagements and manage senior talent, and who are ready to be accountable for a portfolio of clients, a library of reusable solutions, and the technology leads who deliver against both.
What we're looking for:
- Around 10+ years of experience leading AI and data projects, with a strong, specific track record of delivering measurable business value for clients.
- Deep expertise across AI technologies, machine learning, data analytics, and data management.
- A track record you can speak to specifically, including engagements you have delivered, accounts you have grown, and pitches you have led.
- Credible at C-suite level; confident engaging and influencing senior executives and stakeholders across a client organisation.
- Genuinely invested in developing other people; you mentor and support the technical talent around you.
Why you should join Artefact:
- Exciting, cutting-edge projects at global scale.
- Genuinely diverse work and people.
- Transparent progression: A clear pathway to Partner level.
- Global without the travel grind: Multi-market projects and a 2,500-person global network.
- A genuine culture of learning.
Director - AI and Machine Learning in Whitehall employer: Artefact
Artefact is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic hybrid working environment that fosters collaboration between our London and Cornwall offices. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide extensive learning opportunities, generous annual leave, and unique benefits like a birthday day off and subsidised gym memberships, all while being part of a diverse team dedicated to transforming data into impactful business solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director - AI and Machine Learning in Whitehall
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Join professional bodies related to data science, like the Data Science Society or similar organisations. Getting involved can lead to mentorship opportunities and insider knowledge about full-time positions at companies like Artefact.
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We think you need these skills to ace Director - AI and Machine Learning in Whitehall
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!
Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love numbers! When drafting your CV, highlight your achievements with quantifiable results. For instance, mention how your data analysis led to a certain percentage increase in efficiency or revenue at a previous job or project. These details can really make your application pop!
Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at Artefact, your cover letter should reflect your passion for data science and your excitement about the specific projects or values of the company. Dive into why you’re a good fit, how your skills align with their needs, and any unique perspectives you can bring to the team.
Stand Out with Relevant Courses and Certifications:Although experience talks, relevant courses or certifications can be your ticket to impressing hiring managers at Artefact. Mention any standout courses you've completed that equipped you with essential skills, such as machine learning certifications or data visualisation courses. This shows your commitment to continuously developing your skills in the field!
How to prepare for a job interview at Artefact
✨Brush Up on Your Statistics
For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Prepare a killer portfolio showcasing your data science projects. We should include details about the datasets used, the tools and techniques applied, and the impact of your findings. If we can walk them through a particularly challenging project or a cool visualisation that had real-world implications, it’ll really make us stand out!
✨Get Comfortable with Python and R
Most data science positions require us to be proficient in programming languages like Python and R. We should practice common libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, and be ready for live coding exercises or algorithm questions. Showing off our coding chops can really impress the interviewers at Artefact!
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to encounter real-world case studies during the interview. We might be asked how we’d approach a data problem or analyse a dataset to extract insights. It's essential to think out loud and demonstrate our problem-solving process so that the interviewer can see our logical thinking in action.
