Practice Director, Digital & AI

Who are we?

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

• Hands‑On Solutioning & Pre‑Sales

• Actively lead and contribute to Data & AI solution design for 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 in client presentations, workshops, and executive discussions

• Develop pragmatic, outcome‑focused solutions that reflect Ensono’s principles of flexibility, 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

• Remain hands‑on during execution, guiding teams through critical design decisions, delivery challenges, and client escalations

• Ensure solutions are delivered to scope, quality, timeline, and commercial commitments

• Act as a trusted advisor to clients throughout the lifecycle, not just at deal close

• Practice & Commercial Leadership

• Drive growth, financial performance, and success of the UK Data & AI practice

• Balance billable client contribution with practice leadership responsibilities

• Contribute to and shape UK & global go‑to‑market offerings, assets, and accelerators

• Build long‑term relationships with UK client executives and technology leaders

• Global Practice Collaboration

• Operate as a senior, contributing leader within Ensono’s global 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 by real‑world delivery experience

• Reinforce Ensono’s culture of ownership, pragmatism, and delivering what we commit

What you’ll bring to Ensono

• 12+ years’ experience of delivering data, analytics, and AI solutions

• Demonstrable ability to design and deliver complex, enterprise‑scale Data & AI solutions

• Proven experience supporting pre‑sales and deal shaping, including client‑facing solution leadership

• Experience balancing hands‑on delivery contribution with 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

• A builder 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 of expertise, 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

Our benefits

• 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

• Half‑day leave for your birthday

• 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

• Competitive pension scheme

• 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