AI / ML / Data Science Strategy & Delivery Lead (SM/D)

AI / ML Engineering Strategy and Delivery Lead (Senior Manager/Director)

About Baringa:
We set out to build the world's most trusted consulting firm - creating lasting impact for clients and pioneering a positive, people-first way of working. We work with everyone from FTSE 100 names to bright new start-ups, in every sector.

You'll find us collaborating shoulder-to-shoulder with our clients, from the big picture right down to the detail: helping them define their strategy, deliver complex change, spot the right commercial opportunities, manage risk, or bring their purpose and sustainability goals to life. Our clients love how we get to know what makes their organisations tick - slotting seamlessly into their teams and being proudly geeky about solving their challenges.

We have hubs in Europe, the US, Asia and Australia, and we work all around the world - from a wind farm in Wyoming to a boardroom in Berlin. Find us wherever there's a challenge to be tackled and an impact to be made.

Our Data, AI, Solutions and Engineering (DAISE) practice are looking for experienced Senior Managers and Directors with expertise in AI, machine learning and data science strategy and delivery to join the team.

Our DAISE team brings together specialists in data strategy, engineering, science, governance, and AI to deliver transformative outcomes for clients.

In 2025, Baringa's DAISE team was honoured with the "Data Team of the Year" award at the British Data Awards and one of only 13 firms ranked for AI expertise out of 170 in the FT's Leading Management Consultants, celebrating our people-first approach, collaborative mindset, and commitment to delivering high-impact AI and data solutions.

We are looking for experienced and visionary Senior managers or Directors to join our award winning and growing Data, AI, Solutions & Engineering (DAISE) team. This is a unique opportunity to shape and lead cutting-edge AI engagements across industries, helping clients unlock the full potential of their data and AI capabilities. You will play a pivotal role in defining strategy, delivering complex AI programmes, and growing our AI consulting footprint.

At Baringa, you shape your own journey. We offer.

• A flat, collaborative structure where your voice is heard and valued
• A flexible working culture that supports work-life balance
• A dedicated learning framework and access to cutting-edge AI tools and platforms
• Four promotion reviews per year - your progression is based on merit, not tenure
• The opportunity to work on high-impact projects that deliver real value to clients and society

What you will be doing
You will be leading the delivery of AI and machine learning solutions that solve complex client challenges across sectors. We typically work with multi-skilled teams, from Baringa's client sector teams and from other capabilities, to solve challenging client problems.

As a Senior Manager/Director in the DAISE team, you'll work closely with senior stakeholders and C suite staff to shape AI strategies, AI opportunities, define delivery roadmaps, and oversee the implementation of scalable, production-grade AI systems. You'll be responsible for ensuring that solutions are aligned to our client's business goals, technically robust, and ethically sound-while also supporting the development of our internal capabilities and mentoring junior team members.

Typical engagements include:

• Developing tailored and innovative strategies for transformation and growth through AI, with the ability to then leading the end-to-end delivery of AI/ML projects, from discovery and design through to deployment and monitoring.
• Identifying AI use cases and building business cases for AI adoption
• Advising and upskilling clients on AI/ML operating models, governance frameworks, and responsible AI/ML practices.
• Translating business requirements (both functional and non-functional) into solutions, ensuring compliance with the organisation's strategy, policies and standards and in some cases, help customers to define new policies, principles and standards
• Translating business objectives into AI/ML delivery plans, managing cross-functional teams to execute against them.
• Supporting clients in scaling AI/ML capabilities, including MLOps, cloud infrastructure, and data readinesss, as well as transition from on-prem to modern cloud-based infrastructures (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Leading the end-to-end delivery of AI/ML projects, from discovery and design through to deployment and monitoring.
• Driving stakeholder engagement, ensuring alignment between technical delivery and business value.

Your skills and experience

We are seeking passionate and strategic leaders who bring a blend of technical depth, commercial acumen, and consulting experience. You should have:

• Proven experience (8+ years) in AI/ML strategy, delivery, or transformation, within a consulting environment
• Previous track record of building and sustaining strong client relationships, and a substantial role in identifying and shaping opportunities and then converting them into sold engagements
• Strong understanding of AI governance, ethics, and regulatory considerations
• Deep understanding of responsible AI frameworks
• Defining the capabilities, process, skills, and governance needed for the client
• Setting out the required roadmap of initiatives for an organisation to transform to become more data-driven
• Expertise in AI/ML technologies, including supervised/unsupervised learning, NLP, LLMs, MLOps, and cloud-based AI platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP)
• Ability to shape and articulate compelling value propositions for AI initiatives
• Experience supporting large-scale AI programmes or portfolios, including stakeholder engagement at CxO level
• Coaching, mentoring, and advising junior colleagues onAI/ML technologies, engineering best practices and developing those capabilities within DAISE
• A track record of building and leading diverse, high-performing teams within their client roles and within the internal team at Baringa
• Actively engaging in attracting and in the acquisition of new team members and talent
• Desire to be involved in a growing team, with opportunity to shape the future development of the team's focus with AI/ML space
• A STEM degree is preferred; advanced degrees (e.g., MSc, PhD) in AI, data science, or related fields or professional certifications focused on Data and AI governance (e.g. AIGP, CDMP) are a plus.

What a career at Baringa will give you

Putting People First.
Baringa is a People First company and wellbeing is at the forefront of our culture. We recognise the importance of work-life balance and flexible working and provide our staff amazing benefits. Some of these benefits include:

• Generous Annual Leave Policy: We recognise everyone needs a well-deserved break. We provide our employees with 5 weeks of annual leave, fully available at the start of each year. In addition to this, we have introduced our 5-Year Recharge benefit which allows all employees an additional 2 weeks of paid leave after 5 years continuous service.
• Flexible Working: We know that the 'ideal' work-life balance will vary from person to person and change at different stages of our working lives. To accommodate this, we have implemented a hybrid working policy and introduced more flexibility around taking unpaid leave.
• Corporate Responsibility Days: Our world is important to us, so all our employees get 3 every year to help social and environmental causes and increase our impact on the communities that mean the most to us.
• Wellbeing Fund: We want to encourage all employees to take charge and prioritise their own wellbeing. We've introduced our annual People Fund to support this by offering every individual a fund to support and manage their wellbeing through an activity of their choice.
• Career Progression: No one develops at the same pace. That's why we have quarterly rather than annual promotion reviews. We don't have any quotas: if you're ready and delivering at the right level, you'll get that promotion.
• Profit Share Scheme: All employees participate in the Baringa Group Profit Share Scheme so everyone has a stake in the company's success.

Diversity and Inclusion.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that creating an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging is central to our culture and that diversity is paramount to driving creativity, innovation, and value for our clients and for our people.

An award-winning workplace.
You can be a part of our 'Great Place to Work' - with our commitment to women and well-being in the workplace for all. Click here to see some of our recent awards and how we've achieved this.

Using business as a force for good.
We maintain high standards of environmental performance and transparency, which can be seen through our commitment to Net Zero with our SBTI-verified Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions reduction targets and our support of the Better Business Act. We report our progress publicly and ensure that we are also externally assessed and scored through organisations like CDP and EcoVadis - helping us to continually identify where we can improve.

We have a long legacy of supporting the communities in which we work, and offer a variety of ways to contribute, by putting people first and creating impact that lasts. Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda is about giving back to the communities in which we live and work by sharing our skills, talent and time. In essence, we aim to empower and encourage everyone in the firm to contribute to the things we care about, and support registered charities and organisations with a clear social or environmental purpose to increase the positive impact they can have.

Join us

All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, age, faith or social background. We do not filter applications by university background and encourage those who have taken alternative educational and career paths to apply. We would like to actively encourage applications from those who identify with less represented and minority groups. We operate an inclusive recruitment process, ensuring reasonable adjustments where needed. Please contact a member of our Recruitment Team to discuss further.