Director Data and AI Consulting

Job Description

Appealing Points

• Build, grow and lead the Business Strategy, Data and AI business for the Japan operation, with the mandate to define the proposition for the Japanese market, build a pipeline of high-value opportunities and build out a larger team of specialists
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders, up to C-suite and Board level, on business, data and AI strategy, guiding clients from AI experimentation to scaled adoption with measurable business outcomes
• Join at a pivotal point of strong growth, with demand for data and AI services in Japan accelerating through enterprise digital transformation programs, legacy data modernization and growing executive interest in generative AI

Annual Salary: 12 Million Yen and above 

Job Responsibilities

Business development and growth

• Own the Business Strategy, Data and AI revenue, pipeline and margin targets for the Japan business, building a sustainable and profitable practice
• Identify, qualify and win new clients, leading proposals, solution design, pricing and commercial negotiation for complex Business Strategy, Data and AI engagements
• Expand relationships within existing clients, identifying cross-sell and follow-on opportunities across business strategy, data, analytics and AI
• Shape go-to-market strategy and offerings tailored to the Japanese market, with a priority focus on financial services and other target sectors
• Build and leverage alliance relationships with Microsoft, AWS, Google and other technology partners to generate joint opportunities

Client leadership and advisory

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders, up to C-suite and Board level, on business, data and AI strategy, operating models and enterprise maturity
• Guide clients from AI experimentation to scaled adoption, linking initiatives to clear business cases and measurable outcomes
• Help clients establish responsible AI governance frameworks, standards and guardrails that balance innovation with risk management
• Advise on data governance, data platform modernization, analytics and opportunities to commercialize data assets
• Support business leaders in lifting change capability and fostering a data-driven culture across their organizations

Practice and team leadership

• Plan for and build out a high-performing team of Business Strategy, Data and AI consultants, architects and engineers in Japan, including recruitment, development and retention
• Lead and coach cross-functional delivery teams, building bilingual and cross-cultural capability where required
• Develop reusable assets, accelerators, methods and offerings that strengthen the practice's differentiation
• Collaborate with regional and global practice leaders to bring the organization's broader capabilities to Japanese clients

Delivery quality and risk

• Provide executive oversight of engagements to ensure high-quality, on-time and on-budget delivery
• Apply disciplined commercial and delivery risk management across contracts, estimates and engagement governance
• Ensure solutions reflect Japanese regulatory and compliance expectations, including the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) and Japan's AI guidelines for business

Required Qualifications

• Practice building and growth: a proven track record of building and growing a profitable consulting or professional services practice, with demonstrable success in winning new clients and expanding existing accounts
• Leadership: strong progression as a leader of technology capabilities across established areas such as business strategy, data and digital platforms, together with recent, hands-on experience leading AI adoption, and strong examples of building, leading and developing cross-functional delivery teams
• Technical core skills: sound technical knowledge across Microsoft, AWS and Google environments, including Microsoft Fabric and Lakehouse architectures, modern data platforms and generative AI services
• Commercial acumen: extensive risk management experience and demonstrable commercial acumen, including deal shaping, pricing and contracting, with a clear link between your work and visible business outcomes
• Japan market experience: experience working with Japanese enterprises and a strong understanding of Japanese business culture, decision-making and relationship-building practices

Preferred Qualifications

• Industry knowledge: experience in key Japanese sectors such as manufacturing, insurance or the public sector
• Responsible AI and governance: experience establishing AI governance, data governance and responsible AI frameworks in regulated environments
• Data commercialization: experience helping organizations commercialize data assets and create new revenue streams
• Partner ecosystem: established relationships within the Microsoft, AWS and Google partner ecosystems in Japan

Language Required: Native level Japanese and Business level English.

Company Description :

We are a global technology company, home to more than 224,000 people across 60 countries, delivering industry-leading capabilities centered around digital, engineering, cloud and AI, powered by a broad portfolio of technology services and products. We work with clients across all major verticals, providing industry solutions for Financial Services, Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Technology and Services, Telecom and Media, Retail and CPG, and Public Services. Consolidated revenues as of 12 months ending December 2023 totaled $13.1 billion. To learn how we can supercharge progress for you.