Practice Head (AI/Data)

The Head, Data & AI is responsible for driving the success of their respective service lines by overseeing delivery execution and solutioning efforts. This role requires a strategic thinker who can effectively manage the entire lifecycle of service delivery, from planning and execution to resource management and quality assurance. The Service Line Head will ensure optimal service management through precise planning, resource allocation, and risk management. By establishing strong relationships with stakeholders, the Service Line Head will maintain high levels of client satisfaction and project success. This role is crucial in driving business growth, maintaining service excellence, and ensuring scalability as the pipeline develops. This position is based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Roles And Responsibilities:

Project planning, execution, and management:

• Develop detailed project plans, defining project scope, and managing project timelines.
• Collaborate with internal teams and outsourcing delivery partners to align project objectives, resources, and timelines.
• Track project milestones, deliverables, and ensure compliance with client requirements and industry standards.
• Manage budgets for service delivery, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and costs are kept within budget.
• Manage delivery through subcontracted delivery partners to ensure optimal service management - where applicable

Practice set-up and development:

• Establish and build the service line practice from the ground up, including recruiting and developing talent.
• Develop processes, methodologies, and best practices for the service line.
• Define and implement training programs to ensure skill development and knowledge transfer within the practice.

Stakeholder and customer management:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for project stakeholders, including clients, team members, and senior management.
• Provide regular updates on project status, address any concerns, and ensure stakeholders are informed and engaged throughout the project.
• Mitigate escalations and issues related to project delivery and quality.

Risk and quality management:

• Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimize their impact on the project.
• Implement and monitor standardized quality assurance processes across all projects.
• Conduct regular quality audits and ensure adherence to organizational and client-specific quality standards.
• Ensure that project deliverables meet required quality standards by implementing quality control processes and conducting regular reviews.

Solutioning and proposal development:

• Develop tailored solutions based on client needs and industry best practices.
• Help define overall deal structure, including architecture tenets, high-level design, statements of work, service design, and commercial model.
• Ensure solutions are innovative, cost-effective, and aligned with regulatory requirements.

Work Experience & Education:

• Minimum 15 years of experience in service delivery roles within the ITeS industry, preferably within Data & AI or related capabilities, with experience in KSA/Middle East preferred.
• Strong experience in IT service delivery, operational excellence, client engagement, solutioning, project management, and quality assurance for mid-to-large organizations.
• Good understanding of the KSA IT services market and regulatory environment.
• Strong understanding of Data & AI, including data management, data engineering, data science, machine learning, analytics, and GenAI use cases.
• Familiarity with Hadoop, Spark, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and scikit-learn, along with data security, governance, and compliance frameworks.
• Experience with Agile/Scrum methodologies; certifications in PMP/PMI, Agile, or Lean Six Sigma are preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field is mandatory; master’s degree preferred.
• Arabic language proficiency is an added advantage.