Commercial Director - Data

The Commercial Director for Data plays a key role in providing specialist data sales expertise. This person will work closely with sales, pre‑sales, technical teams, marketing, and partners to support the positioning and sale of Version 1’s data services and solutions to new and existing clients. The focus of the role is to increase Version 1’s data revenue by contributing sales insights, refining messaging, and ensuring alignment with market trends, customer needs, and emerging technologies.

Responsibilities

• Assist Sales Leads in managing and qualifying data solution opportunities.
• Provide specialist sales insights to align customer needs with Version 1’s data offerings, engaging directly in sales opportunities, bid production, customer presentations and contractual negotiations where applicable.
• Collaborate with marketing, delivery, and partner teams to support demand generation and targeted campaigns.

Customer Engagement & Consultative Selling

• Support customer discussions by showcasing Version 1’s data capabilities in areas such as data engineering, analytics, AI/ML, and cloud data platforms.
• Work with technical pre‑sales teams to help shape tailored solutions that meet customer requirements and ensure these solutions are reflected accurately to support the winning of deals in proposals, tender responses and customer presentations.
• Assist in refining Version 1’s data value proposition, ensuring clarity on distinctive strengths and industry best practices.

Go-to-Market Activities

• Work with sales leadership and Data & AI Service Line leads to develop and implement go‑to‑market strategies for data solutions.
• Assist in developing sales collateral, pitch decks, and value messaging tailored to different industries and customer personas.
• Stay informed on industry trends, market positioning, and emerging technologies to support the sales approach.

Partner & Ecosystem Collaboration

• Work alongside partners, including cloud providers (Azure, AWS) and data platform vendors (Databricks, Snowflake, Oracle), to strengthen solution offerings.
• Support engagement with Version 1’s delivery and engineering teams to ensure sales commitments align with execution capabilities.
• Identify co‑sell opportunities and collaborate with partners to maximise customer value.

Performance & Reporting

• Assist in tracking and managing pipeline activity, ensuring accurate forecasting and reporting of sales performance.
• Be responsible for the TCV and Revenue KPIs for the Data Service Line, working with Sales Leads to achieve growth targets.
• Provide insights and feedback to the data leadership team to refine offerings based on customer demand.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of data solutions, consultative selling skills, and the ability to translate technical capabilities into business value for prospective customers.
• Experience in B2B data technology and capability sales, preferably in data solutions, analytics, or cloud platforms.
• Experience with Azure Data Services, AWS, Databricks, Snowflake, Oracle, and Power BI.
• Solid understanding of data platforms, data engineering, AI/ML, analytics, and cloud ecosystems.
• Ability to work with senior decision‑makers (CIOs, CTOs, Heads of Data & Analytics).
• Ability to explain technical concepts clearly to both business and IT audiences.
• Experience collaborating with technical pre‑sales, delivery teams, and marketing.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience contributing to business cases and sales messaging.
• Experience influencing internal stakeholders to position capability effectively.
• Experience working through complex sales cycles and multi‑stakeholder engagements.
• Self‑motivated with experience in supporting sales pipeline development and execution.
• Comfortable working in an evolving market, adapting to new trends and customer needs.
• Experience effectively challenging internal organisation to position capability to win.

Benefits

• Strong career progression & mentorship coaching through Strength in Balance & Leadership schemes with a dedicated quarterly Pathways Career Development programme.
• Flexible/remote working to help achieve a healthy work‑life balance.
• Version 1 Pension with a 5% employee‑matched contribution, private healthcare cover, life assurance, financial advice and an employee discount scheme.
• Employee wellbeing schemes including gym discounts, bike‑to‑work, fitness classes, mindfulness workshops and employee assistance programme.
• 24 days holiday allowance plus public holidays, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, marriage/civil partnership leave and special leave policies.
• Educational assistance, incentivised certifications and accreditations, including AWS, Microsoft, Oracle and Red Hat.
• Reward schemes including Annual Excellence Awards & quarterly Star Awards.
• Environment, social and community first initiatives allowing involvement in local fundraising and development opportunities.

Version 1 is an equal opportunities employer.