At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and grow our Data & AI capability, shaping client engagements and delivering innovative solutions.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking technology consulting firm with a focus on data and AI.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with excellent career advancement opportunities and a collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the world of data and AI while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in data, analytics, or AI; strong programming skills in SQL, R, or Python.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
We are hiring an Associate Director to help lead and grow our Data & AI capability within Technology Consulting. You will shape and deliver client engagements across data strategy, analytics, BI, data engineering, data governance, data science, AI and automation. You will lead multi‑disciplinary teams, manage senior client relationships, oversee delivery quality and contribute to the continued growth of the practice.
Role Tracks
- Data Strategy, Operating Model and Transformation
- Data Analytics, BI and Reporting Leadership
- Data Engineering and Data Platform Leadership
- Data Science, AI and Advanced Analytics Leadership
- Data Governance, Data Quality and Data Management Leadership
- Automation and AI‑enabled Workflow Leadership
Roles & Responsibilities
- Lead client engagements across Data & AI, from shaping and mobilisation through to delivery and implementation support.
- Work with senior client stakeholders to understand business priorities and shape practical data‑led solutions.
- Lead multi‑disciplinary delivery teams across analytics, BI, engineering, data science, governance and automation.
- Provide quality assurance over technical and business deliverables, and translate technical work into clear recommendations for senior audiences.
- Manage delivery planning, risks, issues, dependencies, budgets and engagement economics.
- Identify new opportunities and lead proposals, client presentations and commercial responses.
- Develop propositions, methodologies, accelerators and reusable assets, and support recruitment and onboarding.
- Coach and develop consultants across Data & AI disciplines.
- Lead data strategy and operating model assessments.
- Oversee BI, reporting and dashboard transformation programmes.
- Lead data engineering, data platform or migration workstreams.
- Shape advanced analytics, machine learning, NLP or GenAI use cases.
- Lead data quality, governance, metadata or remediation programmes.
- Lead AI‑enabled automation and workflow improvement engagements.
Education and Certifications
- Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline such as Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Business Analytics or a related field.
- Minimum of 8 years’ professional experience in data, analytics, BI, data engineering, data science, AI, automation, data governance, technology consulting or a related field.
- Proficiency in at least one programming language such as SQL, R or Python.
Core Experience and Leadership Skills
- 8+ years in data, analytics, BI, engineering, data science, AI, automation, governance or technology consulting.
- Proven experience leading Data & AI engagements, programmes or teams.
- Strong stakeholder management at senior client level.
- Ability to translate technical work into clear recommendations, business cases and delivery plans.
- Experience managing delivery risks, dependencies, budgets and engagement economics.
- Commercial awareness and experience supporting business development and proposals.
- Experience coaching, developing or leading junior team members.
- Proficiency in SQL, Python or R.
- Sector experience in financial services, public sector, healthcare or life sciences is beneficial.
- Relevant certifications (e.g. Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate, Azure / AWS / GCP, Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, Snowflake, DAMA) are beneficial.
Track‑Specific Experience
- Data Strategy, Operating Model and Transformation
- Defining data strategies, roadmaps and business cases.
- Designing data operating models, governance structures and delivery approaches.
- Leading data maturity assessments, discovery phases or mobilisation.
- Translating business strategy or regulation into Data & AI initiatives.
- Data Analytics, BI and Reporting Leadership
- Leading BI, reporting and dashboarding delivery.
- Overseeing KPI design, semantic modelling and reporting transformation.
- Providing quality assurance over Power BI, Tableau, Qlik or similar.
- Improving reporting governance, controls and adoption.
- Data Engineering and Data Platform Leadership
- Leading design and delivery of data pipelines, ETL / ELT and platform components.
- Advising on data warehouse, lakehouse and cloud platform approaches (e.g. Azure, Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, Snowflake).
- Overseeing data modelling, quality, reconciliation, lineage and testing.
- Providing delivery oversight across engineering teams.
- Data Science, AI and Advanced Analytics Leadership
- Leading statistical, predictive, machine learning, optimisation, NLP or GenAI use cases.
- Advising clients on responsible and practical use of AI.
- Overseeing model design, validation, deployment and monitoring.
- Applying responsible AI principles (explainability, fairness, human oversight, data protection); awareness of model risk and AI regulation is beneficial.
- Data Governance, Data Quality and Data Management Leadership
- Designing governance frameworks, ownership models and stewardship approaches.
- Leading data quality assessments, remediation programmes and metadata development.
- Supporting data migration, regulatory reporting or system implementation.
- Embedding governance into business and technology processes.
- Automation and AI‑enabled Workflow Leadership
- Identifying automation and AI‑enabled workflow opportunities across operations, risk, finance, compliance or customer processes.
- Leading delivery using Power Automate, Power Apps, UiPath, Python or similar.
- Advising on AI for document processing, extraction, classification, triage or decision support.
- Moving use cases from proof of concept into sustainable delivery.
Data & AI Consultant – Associate Director - ROI / Belfast employer: Grant Thornton Ireland
As an Associate Director in our Data & AI Consulting team based in Belfast, you will thrive in a dynamic work culture that prioritises innovation and collaboration. We offer competitive benefits, including professional development opportunities and a supportive environment that encourages growth and mentorship, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the field of data and AI.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Data & AI Consultant – Associate Director - ROI / Belfast
✨Get Involved in Data Science Meetups
Tap into local data science meetups or workshops to connect with fellow enthusiasts and professionals. These events are goldmines for networking, and sometimes even lead directly to job openings at companies like Grant Thornton Ireland!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Start building a public portfolio showcasing your data science projects on platforms like GitHub or personal websites. Highlight unique analyses or models you've developed. This not only demonstrates your skills but also gets your name out there for roles like Data & AI Consultant – Associate Director - ROI / Belfast at Grant Thornton Ireland.
✨Leverage Professional Networks
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 Grant Thornton Ireland.
✨Apply Directly through Our Website
When you find a suitable opening like Data & AI Consultant – Associate Director - ROI / Belfast at Grant Thornton Ireland, make sure to apply directly through our website. It gives you an edge and shows you're keen to join our team. Plus, who doesn’t love a direct application? It’s easier than navigating through job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Data & AI Consultant – Associate Director - ROI / Belfast
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 Grant Thornton Ireland, 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 Grant Thornton Ireland. 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 Grant Thornton Ireland
✨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 Grant Thornton Ireland!
✨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.
