Looking for Head of Data and AI jobs? This senior leadership role sits at the strategic apex of an organization's most valuable assets: its data and its capacity for intelligent automation. A Head of Data and AI is responsible for crafting and executing a unified vision that transforms raw data into a competitive advantage and embeds artificial intelligence into the core business fabric. This position is far more than technical management; it is a critical business function that bridges the gap between advanced technology and tangible commercial outcomes, making it one of the most sought-after executive roles in the modern digital economy. Professionals in this role typically own the end-to-end data and AI strategy. This involves defining a target-state data architecture, often consolidating and modernizing legacy data stacks into scalable, cloud-native platforms. They establish robust data governance, ensuring quality, security, and compliance while making data accessible for innovation. Concurrently, they develop and own the AI/ML roadmap, identifying opportunities where machine learning, predictive analytics, and automation can drive efficiency, reveal insights, and create new product capabilities. Their core mission is to build a data-driven culture and operationalize AI at scale. Common responsibilities include leading and growing a multidisciplinary function that often encompasses data engineering, data science, machine learning engineering, and MLOps. They are accountable for the entire machine learning lifecycle, from research and experimentation to deployment, monitoring, and continuous improvement of models in production. A key aspect of the role is stakeholder partnership, requiring regular collaboration with C-suite executives and business unit heads to align data initiatives with overarching business goals, secure investment, and demonstrate measurable ROI from AI projects. Typical skills and requirements for these high-level jobs blend deep technical expertise with strategic acumen and leadership. Candidates generally possess a strong background in data engineering or data science, with hands-on experience in modern cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), data warehousing solutions, and big data technologies. AI literacy is essential, including a practical understanding of model development, MLOps practices, and the ethical implications of AI. However, equally critical are exceptional communication and influencing skills, the ability to manage large budgets, and a proven track record of building high-performing teams. For those targeting Head of Data and AI jobs, success hinges on the unique ability to translate complex technical potential into clear, executable business strategy that fuels growth and innovation.
