Head of Delivery, UKI
As Head of Delivery you are responsible for Datatonic’s growth through successful, high-quality delivery, with a clear focus on measurable value, and strategic alignment. You will oversee a team of Delivery Leads who provide strategic consulting and engagement leadership in order to grow our key accounts. You will own the end-to-end success of delivery across the UKI region from solution design and SoW creation through delivery and business value realisation. You will form part of the UK leadership team, working closely with commercial and technology leaders to ensure successful, profitable growth of the region.
The position demands a highly consultative delivery leader with proven experience leading an organisation that can manage successful Data & AI transformations. We are looking for someone with expertise managing complex commercial arrangements, can steer multiple delivery teams, maintain C-suite relationships, and ultimately ensure customer satisfaction and retention.
This role retains billability focussed on programme management of our most strategic accounts.
Responsibilities
Client engagement and Growth:
Regional Leadership & Strategy: Serve as the delivery representative on the London Leadership Team; contribute to regional growth strategies and operational improvements.
Transformation definition: Define large transformation programmes including solutions delivery, design of operating models, and change management
Commercial process: Be overall responsible for the delivery margin and efficiency of SoWs and taking ownership the commercial process in top accounts, working alongside the Account Manager
Top Account growth: actively look for ways to retain and grow our presence in top accounts, looking for new workstreams and renewals, taking responsibility for revenue performance in those accounts.
Strategic Alignment: build a team of Delivery leads who provide active client engagement and consulting in order to build a partnership
Active client engagement: Be actively involved in select accounts, spending time with clients, as a trusted transformation partner and ensuring value / ROI is tracked and realized
Delivery success and profitability:
Value measurement: Ensure delivery success is measured through account growth and value measurement, where ROI is tracked throughout delivery.
Financial Accountability: Own regional delivery KPIs with a primary focus on maintaining and optimizing Gross Margin (GM).
Planning & Staffing: Work with our Delivery Operations team to plan upcoming projects and resources. Be responsible for overall team utilization and productivity, ensuring gross margin targets are achieved. Own delivery hiring pipeline and contractor requirements.
Team and Organisational Development
People Management: Manage, coach, and mentor a team of Delivery Leads, ensuring consistent delivery methodologies and professional development.
Senior Program Management (Billable): Lead delivery for large-scale accounts, overseeing complex workstreams and high-level stakeholder relationships.
Qualifications
Required:
10+ years of experience in consulting or programme management within a professional services or consulting firm.
Proven experience managing a team.
Deep understanding of financial modeling for professional services, specifically Gross Margin calculation and utilization tracking.
Expertise in Agile and Waterfall methodologies.
Preferred:
PMP, Prince2, or advanced Scrum Certification (CSM/PSM II).
Experience operating within a "Matrix" organizational structure.
Previous experience in a billable leadership role.
Skills
Operational Finance: Ability to interpret P&L statements and adjust staffing models to protect project margins.
Strategic Resourcing: Proficiency in capacity planning tools and "creative staffing" (borrowing/lending talent across regions).
Negotiation: Ability to balance client demands with internal resource constraints during SOW approval.
Conflict Resolution: Highly skilled in navigating high-stakes client escalations.
Technical Literacy: Strong grasp of Data & AI and Cloud lifecycles to effectively vet technical SOWs.
Key Competencies
Accountability: Takes full ownership of regional delivery outcomes and financial health.
Strategic Influence: Ability to collaborate with other regional heads to negotiate resource sharing.
Pragmatism: Balances the "ideal" delivery process with the commercial realities of a billable role.
Mentorship: Focuses on leveling up the Delivery Manager cohort through proactive feedback.