At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data and AI strategy, optimising processes and driving innovation across global manufacturing.
- Company: Element Six, a leader in synthetic diamond and tungsten carbide supermaterials.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to innovation and excellence in a global setting.
- Why this job: Shape the future of data and AI in a cutting-edge industry with real-world impact.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in data and AI, with expertise in governance and cloud platforms.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ per year.
Element Six (E6) is a global leader in the design, development and production of synthetic diamond and tungsten carbide supermaterials. Part of the De Beers Group, our primary manufacturing sites are located in the UK, Ireland, Germany, South Africa and the US.
Our mission is to put our customers first. Using our technological expertise and industrial leadership, we deliver innovative solutions to achieve competitive advantage.
We are committed to fostering a vibrant workplace culture that is inclusive and embraces our diversity, where we value and respect every colleague for who they are and provide equality of opportunity so that everyone can fulfil their potential and thrive.
Successful candidates will be required to complete a background screening check which may include a criminal check and validation of qualifications.
We make some of the world's hardest materials: synthetic diamond and tungsten carbide. Our products are found anywhere from surgical tools and semiconductors to the machinery that helps build and maintain infrastructure. Behind that sits a business that runs on data, and increasingly on AI.
As our new Head of Data and AI, you'll lead the next stage of that journey, reporting directly to the Head of IT and Digital Transformation and shaping how data, analytics and AI create value across the organisation. This is a global role supporting 24/7 manufacturing operations across six factories, so the data and AI you deliver has to work around the clock. You’ll own our data platform, our analytics and AI products, and the cloud compute that powers them.
Leading a high-performing team of four, you'll set the direction for how E6 turns data into better decisions, whether that's optimising manufacturing processes on the shop floor, accelerating innovation in R&D, or improving efficiency across corporate support functions. This is a hands-on leadership role. You’ll shape strategy and still care about how the pipelines run.
- Own the E6 data and AI strategy end to end, from a single source of truth through to AI products that people actually use day to day.
- Lead and grow a team of four across data engineering, analytics, and AI, setting priorities and building capability.
- Run our cloud compute estate globally. You’ll own capacity, cost, performance, and security for the platforms our data and AI workloads depend on, with the resilience that 24/7 manufacturing demands.
- Deliver governed, real-time data foundations across all six factories: trusted datasets, shared definitions, master data, and quality controls that reporting and AI can rely on.
- Take AI from pilot to embedded, with clear use cases, measurable value, and guardrails for responsible use.
- Set and enforce data governance, ethics, and privacy standards in line with our Data Trust and Integrity framework and relevant regulation.
- Work with senior stakeholders across E6 and De Beers to make the case for investment and show the return.
We’ve mapped this role to the Government Digital and Data (DDaT) Capability Framework so expectations are clear. You’ll bring:
- Data and AI leadership (expert): a track record of setting data vision and direction, and being the strategic authority people turn to.
- Data governance and ethics (practitioner): you’ve built the standards, not just followed them.
- Data engineering and platforms (practitioner): you understand pipelines, APIs, and how to build for scale, and can hold your own with the engineers.
- Machine learning and applied AI (practitioner): you know where models add value, and where they don’t.
- Cloud compute (practitioner): hands-on ownership of cloud infrastructure (Azure and Databricks), covering cost, capacity, resilience, and security.
- Stakeholder leadership (expert): you can convince a CFO of the value and explain the same thing to a plant manager.
- People leadership: you’ve led and developed technical teams, ideally across multiple sites or time zones.
All applicants must be able to provide documentation verifying their eligibility to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not provided for this role.
Head of Data & AI in Didcot employer: Element Six
Element Six is an exceptional employer that prioritises innovation and inclusivity, offering a vibrant workplace culture where every employee is valued and respected. With access to cutting-edge R&D technology and a commitment to employee growth, the IM Contracts Specialist role provides unique opportunities for professional development while contributing to impactful projects in the synthetic diamond and tungsten carbide industry. Located in the UK, employees benefit from a collaborative environment that fosters teamwork and encourages continuous improvement in contract management processes.
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Data & AI in Didcot
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!
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Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at Element Six, 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 Element Six. 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 Element Six
✨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!
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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
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✨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.
