Sales Director | Data & AI, UK (Hybrid)

Job description

About adesso We are on a mission to help our clients deliver results with clarity, fairness, and accountability. By combining deep technical and functional IT and digital expertise, we drive innovation, modernise systems, and strengthen the teams behind them. Our Data & AI practice works with clients across data platforms, data engineering, analytics, cloud transformation, applied AI, and GenAI. We combine strategic advice with hands-on delivery, helping organisations move from ambition to practical, scalable outcomes. If you’re an entrepreneurial sales leader who can open doors, build trusted executive relationships, and turn complex Data & AI challenges into compelling business opportunities, we’d love to talk . The Role We are looking for an experienced Sales Director to lead the growth of our Data & AI business in the UK. This is a senior , hunter-profile role focused on identifying new business opportunities , developing strategic relationships, creating qualified pipeline, and converting opportunities into long-term client partnerships. You’ll engage with senior decision-makers across technology, data, analytics, transformation, and business functions, helping them understand how modern data and AI capabilities can address their most important challenges. You’ll work closely with our Data & AI Practice Lead, delivery teams, and colleagues across the adesso Group to shape propositions, build compelling client solutions, and ensure a smooth transition from sales through to delivery. The ideal candidate combines strong enterprise technology sales experience with genuine curiosity about data and AI. You don’t need to be a hands-on engineer, but you must be able to understand complex technical concepts, ask the right questions, and communicate business value with credibility. This is a role for someone who can move confidently between a first conversation with a prospective client, a C-level strategy discussion, a detailed proposal, and an internal solution-shaping session. What You'll Do Generate new business Act as a hunter-profile Sales Director, responsible for generating new business and achieving agreed sales, revenue, and order-entry targets Develop a strong and qualified pipeline across Data & AI consulting, technology delivery, and managed or ongoing services Identify and pursue opportunities through your established network, targeted outreach, prospecting, referrals, partnerships, and industry events Build relationships with senior stakeholders, including CIOs, CTOs, Chief Data Officers, Chief Digital Officers, Chief AI Officers, data and analytics leaders, and business executives Understand each client’s strategic priorities, operating model, technology landscape, and commercial drivers Connect customer challenges to relevant Data & AI capabilities, including: Data strategy and operating models Cloud data platforms and lake houses Data engineering and integration Business intelligence and advanced analytics Data governance and quality Applied AI and GenAI AI-enabled software delivery and transformation Convert opportunities to achieve and exceed monthly, quarterly, and annual targets Develop long-term account strategies that create opportunities beyond the initial engagement Lead the sales cycle Manage customer relationships and interactions throughout the full sales cycle, from initial qualification through to contract signature and handover Lead discovery conversations, executive briefings, client workshops, proposal development, negotiations, and close activities Collaborate with technical and delivery colleagues to shape credible, outcome-focused solutions Translate complex Data & AI propositions into clear commercial narratives for technical and non-technical audiences Develop proposals, statements of work, estimates, presentations, demonstrations, and business cases Ensure opportunities are properly qualified, commercially viable, and aligned with our ability to deliver Maintain accurate activity, pipeline, opportunity, and forecast information using a structured sales methodology Work with delivery leaders to ensure a clear and effective transition from sales into project mobilisation Stay engaged after contract signature to support client satisfaction, identify follow-on opportunities, and strengthen the relationship Shape our UK market proposition Provide input into UK market-entry and go-to-market strategies for Data & AI Identify emerging trends, customer needs, competitive developments, and new areas of commercial opportunity Help adapt adesso Group Data & AI capabilities, reference projects, accelerators, and propositions for the UK market Work with practice leadership to refine our value proposition, target sectors, buyer personas, and account priorities Develop relationships with technology partners and strategic ecosystem organisations Represent adesso UK at industry events, networking forums, roundtables, conferences, and client meetings Help strengthen our profile as a credible and practical Data & AI transformation partner Work across adesso Collaborate closely with the UK Data & AI Practice Lead and wider leadership team to align commercial priorities with delivery capacity Work with colleagues across Europe and the wider adesso Group to bring relevant expertise and reference experience to UK opportunities Coordinate with international adesso entities to support successful deployments and continued account growth Share market intelligence, customer insight, and competitive feedback with the relevant practice and business leaders Contribute to an entrepreneurial, collaborative, and high-performing sales culture Grow the Data & AI practice Define and execute the UK Data & AI practice strategy in line with wider business objectives Build a compelling proposition for data platforms, analytics, AI, and GenAI services Identify market opportunities, develop customer relationships, and contribute to account growth Lead pre-sales activities, including discovery workshops, proposals, estimates, solution designs, demonstrations, and presentations Help customers understand the value, feasibility, risks, and delivery considerations of Data & AI investments Support the development of case studies, accelerators, reference architectures, and other go-to-market material Own the practice P&L, including revenue, margin, utilisation, forecasting, and delivery performance Contribute to resource planning and ensure the practice has the capability required to deliver successfully Build and lead the team Recruit, onboard, and retain talented Data & AI consultants and engineers Build a strong local Data & AI community within adesso UK Set clear expectations and support the professional development of team members Coach colleagues through project delivery, technical challenges, and career progression Create an environment in which people can share knowledge, challenge ideas, and continuously improve Develop capability plans to ensure the team remains aligned with customer demand and emerging technologies Lead or contribute to internal and international communities of practice Shape our AI capability Lead the UK contribution to adesso’s international New School of AI community Share practical knowledge, experience, and best practice around applied AI and GenAI Help customers and colleagues understand the implications of AI for architecture, delivery processes, governance, and operating models Explore how AI can support software development, testing, documentation, analysis, and other delivery activities Contribute to discussions around agent-ready architecture, responsible adoption, security, quality, and accountability Turn relevant developments in AI into credible customer propositions, internal guidance, and practical delivery approaches The New School of AI focuses on helping organisations make informed decisions about GenAI-powered software processes, AI-enabled architecture, and prompt-driven development. What You'll Bring At least ten years’ experience in B2B sales, ideally selling custom software solutions, technology consulting, digital transformation, data services, or enterprise technology A consistent track record of winning new business and achieving or exceeding sales and order-entry targets A strong network among senior technology, data, analytics, digital, transformation, and business stakeholders Demonstrable experience selling complex, consultative solutions with multiple stakeholders and extended sales cycles The ability to create and develop pipeline independently rather than relying solely on inbound opportunities Experience selling one or more of the following areas: Data platforms and cloud transformation Data engineering and modernisation Analytics and business intelligence Data governance and operating models Artificial intelligence and GenAI Technology or software engineering services A strong understanding of how Data & AI investments support business outcomes such as growth, operational efficiency, risk management, customer experience, and better decision-making Experience using a structured, process-oriented sales methodology A proven ability to identify customer needs and shape solutions that address them Exceptional presentation, negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills The confidence and credibility to engage with senior and C-level stakeholders The ability to work effectively across sales, consulting, architecture, engineering, and delivery teams Strong commercial awareness, including experience with forecasting, pipeline management, qualification, pricing, and negotiation An entrepreneurial mindset, with the energy and resilience to build a growing market proposition A genuine interest in data, AI, cloud technology, and the changing technology landscape A background in engineering, technology consulting, data, or software development would be advantageous Existing relationships and market knowledge in Banking and Financial Services would be desirable, but are not essential Strong written and spoken English Why Join Us You’ll join an established business with the energy and ambition of a growing technology consultancy. You’ll have the opportunity to shape our UK Data & AI proposition, build strategic client relationships, and play a direct role in the growth of the business. We offer: The opportunity to sell meaningful Data & AI transformation rather than isolated technology products Close collaboration with experienced consultants, architects, engineers, and practice leaders Access to the expertise and reference experience of the wider adesso Group A flexible hybrid working model and digital-first culture A lean organisation with minimal bureaucracy and the autonomy to make an impact A collaborative and entrepreneurial working environment Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits Genuine opportunities to grow your career as the UK business scales Hybrid working: You’ll work across customer sites, the adesso UK London office, and remotely from home, depending on customer requirements and business needs. Ready to Make an Impact? If you’re ready to help organisations turn their data and AI ambitions into practical business outcomes, we’d like to hear from you!