Head of Data Practitioner

About the role

Crosslake is looking for a Head of Data to lead data engagements. In this role, you will work with private equity investors and portfolio company leadership teams to turn data opportunities into measurable business outcomes.

You will own senior client relationships on complex data engagements, building credibility with CDOs, CTOs and other executive stakeholders while leading the work from strategic diagnosis through to practical delivery.

The ideal candidate combines the breadth of a strong consulting leader with deep expertise in data strategy, data transformation and modern data platforms.

You will be expected to shape the problem, develop the data strategy, lead complex transformations, manage senior stakeholders, drive the storyline and own delivery, while credibly challenging clients and specialists on the substance of the work.

This is a role for someone who can move confidently between business, technology and data conversations, connecting strategic ambition to the data capabilities, operating-model changes, investment choices and delivery roadmap required to realise value.

Role responsibilities

• Own client relationships on data engagements, establishing trusted partnerships with senior business and technology leaders and acting as a credible advisor to CDOs, CTOs and executive teams.
• Lead the development of data strategies that align business priorities, value-creation opportunities, target data capabilities, technology choices, operating model and delivery roadmap.
• Lead complex data transformations from diagnosis through to implementation planning, including data platform modernisation, data governance, data quality, data product and analytics initiatives.
• Bring structure to ambiguous data challenges, defining the key questions, building the workplan, managing workstreams and keeping the team focused on the issues that matter most to the client.
• Develop compelling executive-level narratives that synthesise analysis, client input and specialist perspectives into practical recommendations and clear decisions.
• Translate effectively between commercial and technical audiences, ensuring recommendations reflect business priorities, data realities, architecture implications, delivery feasibility and execution risk.
• Link data initiatives to value creation economics, including opportunity sizing, business cases, investment requirements, benefits, trade-offs and dependencies.
• Challenge assumptions, pressure-test recommendations and identify where deeper expertise is needed across data engineering, architecture, governance, analytics, AI or transformation.
• Drive engagements beyond analysis towards prioritised actions, accountable delivery plans and a pragmatic path from recommendation to execution.

What we’re looking for

• Experience operating at a level comparable to a high-performing consulting Director, Associate Director or Senior Consultant, with a track record of leading complex data engagements and senior client relationships. 
• A strong consulting toolkit, ideally developed in a leading strategy, digital, data or transformation consultancy, or through comparable experience in high-stakes advisory or transformation environments. 
• Deep expertise in data strategy and data transformation, with practical experience across areas such as modern data platforms, data architecture, governance, quality, data products, analytics or AI enablement. 
• Proven ability to take ambiguous business and data problems, impose structure, develop hypotheses, lead rigorous analysis, manage teams and translate findings into a clear executive storyline. 
• Credibility with senior executives and functional leaders, including CDOs, CTOs, CIOs, CEOs and leaders across data, technology, product and transformation. 
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including the ability to size opportunities, build business cases, quantify benefits, understand investment needs and evaluate strategic trade-offs. 
• Experience leading complex data programmes or transformations, with sufficient technical depth to challenge decisions on data architecture, platforms, governance, operating models and delivery approaches. 
• A hands-on leadership style: senior enough to build confidence with executives, while close enough to the work to guide analysis, challenge team thinking and personally shape the strategy and storyline. 
• A practical, action-oriented mindset aligned with Crosslake’s values of service, curiosity, credibility, commitment and creativity.