Head of Services - AI & Data Services

Head of Services - AI & Data Services

Position Title: SVP Services

Reports To: Chief Business Officer (CBO)

Team Size: 200+ Professionals

Business Unit: Retail AI & Services

Executive Summary

We are looking for a powerhouse leader to serve as the Services Head of Data & AI Services . This individual will be the architect and driver of our services engine, overseeing a large-scale organization dedicated to delivering world-class Data, Analytics, and AI solutions. Reporting directly to the Chief Business Officer, you will own the end-to-end P&L, from pre-sales solutioning to profitable delivery. The ideal candidate is a \"Services Native\" who understands how to build a high-performance culture, optimize gross margins, and maintain \"trusted advisor\" status with client CXOs.

Key Responsibilities

1. P&L & Operational Excellence

• Gross Margin Accountability: Own the financial health of the business unit. Directly responsible for project profitability, resource utilization, and cost-to-serve optimization across all programs.
• Services DNA Infusion: Cultivate a culture of delivery excellence, accountability, and customer-centricity. Transition the team from a task-oriented mindset to an outcome-driven services philosophy.
• Portfolio Management: Oversee a diverse portfolio of engagements including high-scale Staff Augmentation, managed AI CoE engagements, and fixed-fee product/service implementations.

2. Strategic Delivery & Complex Programs

• Scale Management: Lead, mentor, and scale a high-performing team of 150–175 data engineers, AI scientists, and project managers.
• Program Leadership: Act as the executive sponsor for complex, multi-year digital transformation programs, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and with high client satisfaction.
• The \"AI Factory\": Standardize delivery frameworks for emerging technologies, including Agentic AI and LLMOps, to ensure repeatable success.

3. Sales Enablement & CXO Engagement

• Revenue Partnership: Partner with the Sales team to drive growth. A \"dual-threat\" leader who can lead technical sales pitches and architect commercial models that win.
• CXO Relationship Management: Build and maintain deep relationships with client Chief Analytics Officers (CAO), Chief Data Officers (CDO), and CTOs.
• Customer Experience (CX): Set the gold standard for client interactions, ensuring that \"best-in-class\" experience is embedded in every touchpoint of the service lifecycle.

Candidate Profile: Capabilities & Experience

Core Requirements (Must-Haves):

• Services Veteran: 15+ years of experience in the Data & Analytics services industry, with a proven track record of growing a services business on data bricks, Snowflake et
• Subject Matter Expertise: Deep, authoritative knowledge of the Data & Analytics landscape (Data Engineering, Cloud Warehousing, BI, and AI/ML).
• Leadership at Scale: Demonstrated ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams (150+ people) in a global or matrixed environment.
• Commercial Acumen: Expertise in managing Gross Margins, SOW negotiations, and complex financial modeling for services.
• Delivery Models: Expert knowledge of Staff Augmentation, CoE-as-a-Service, and project-based delivery.

Preferred Qualifications (Nice-to-Haves):

• Domain Expertise: Deep understanding of Retail and Marketing analytics (e.g., Supply Chain optimization, Customer 360, Retail Planning).
• Platform Knowledge: Experience with Databricks, Snowflake, or major Cloud AI stacks.

Success Criteria in the First 12 Months:

• Margin Growth: Achieve targeted Gross Margin percentage across the entire program portfolio.
• Delivery Stability: Standardize \"Service Delivery Playbooks\" to reduce project overruns and improve NPS.
• Talent Retention: Maintain high engagement and low attrition across the 150+ person team through clear career pathing and \"Services DNA\" training.
• Strategic Wins: Lead and close at least three major AI CoE engagements in partnership with the CBO.

About Company:

Algonomy helps consumer businesses maximize customer value by automating decisioning across their retail business lifecycle, with AI-enabled solutions for eCommerce, Marketing, Merchandising, and Supply Chain. Algonomy is a trusted partner to more than 400 leading brands, with a global presence spanning over 20 countries. Our innovations have garnered recognition from top industry analysts such as Gartner and Forrester. More at