Director, AI & Data CoE

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Director, AI & Data CoE exists to operate the Group's AI and Data Centre of Excellence as a highperforming, delivery-oriented engine. This role translates Group Data & AI strategy into consistent execution, scalable delivery, and measurable outcomes across the operating companies. The role is execution-first: running the factory that delivers AI, data, and analytics value at scale.

Without this position, the CoE risks operating as a loose collection of squads with inconsistent delivery, weak reuse, and limited cross-OpCo scaling, undermining the CSIO operating model and the commercial proposition of Pulse.

RESPONSIBILITIES /ACTIVITIES / TASKS

1. CoE Delivery Execution

• Lead end-to-end delivery of AI, data, and analytics use cases executed by the CoE.
• Oversee cross-functional delivery squads (Data Engineers, Data Scientists, Analytics Engineers, Coordinators).
• Ensure delivery meets agreed quality, timeline, and governance standards.
• Drive predictable delivery throughput and on-time delivery rate across the CoE portfolio.

2. CoE Operations & Squad Management

• Manage the day-to-day operational rhythm of the AI & Data CoE.
• Coordinate Project Coordinators and Squad Leads across delivery squads.
• Ensure effective squad mobilisation when new projects activate (post-P3 gate).
• Maintain CoE capacity planning, resource allocation, and bench management.

3. Knowledge, IP & Reuse

• Convert delivery outputs into reusable IP: data products, AI models, templates, and patterns.
• Maintain and grow the CoE library of shared assets and the future Marketplace.
• Feed learnings back into delivery methodology and operating standards.
• Support the AI Product Manager in tracking use-case value and roadmap currency.

4. Cross-OpCo Scaling

• Lead the scaling of proven solutions across operating companies.
• Identify replication and acceleration opportunities in the Group portfolio.
• Build CoE capability and capacity to support Group growth ambitions.

5. Team Leadership & Capability

• Lead and develop Project Coordinators, Business Analysts, Product Analysts, and Squad Leads.
• Build a high-performance, delivery-oriented culture.
• Define clear roles, expectations, and growth pathways for CoE talent.
• Operate the QA Engineer function as a quality gate across all CoE squads.

6. Any additional or related activities requested by Management within his/her competence and expertise.

LEVEL OF EDUCATION

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration with IT focus, or related discipline.

LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE

• More than 12 years across delivery management, programme management, or AI / data operations, with at least 5–7 years leading multi-squad delivery organisations.
• Demonstrable experience running an AI / data / analytics CoE or equivalent delivery factory at scale.
• Proven track record converting bespoke delivery into reusable IP and growing cross-business deployment.
• Experience operating in a services environment with utilisation, throughput, and quality accountability.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS REQUIRED

• Operational Excellence: sets and maintains a predictable, measurable delivery rhythm.
• Reuse Mindset: instinctively asks build once, deploy many rather than starting from scratch.
• Servant Leadership: unblocks squads, removes friction, and protects delivery focus.
• Stakeholder Management: partners effectively with functional Directors who own standards while owning execution.
• Results Orientation: measured by throughput, on-time delivery, reuse, and CoE engagement.
• Diverse and Multicultural Collaboration: effective across the Axian Middle East and Africa footprint.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: TECHNICAL TOOLS

• Delivery Tooling: expert in Jira, Azure DevOps, Asana, or equivalent portfolio and squad tooling.
• Agile & Delivery Methods: mastery of Agile, Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, and hybrid delivery patterns.
• Reporting & Analytics: comfortable with Power BI / Tableau for CoE operational dashboards.
• CoE & Reuse Platforms: familiarity with template libraries, design systems, and reuse marketplaces.
• Collaboration: fluent in Microsoft 365, Teams, and modern collaboration platforms.
• Data & AI Awareness: sufficient technical fluency to challenge delivery quality and engineering choices.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Essential: fluent English (written and verbal).
• Essential: fluent French (written and verbal); the role is customer-facing across francophone clients and operating companies, and both languages are required at native or near-native level.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Telco Sector Experience: Essential. Direct experience delivering data, AI, or technology programmes inside a telecommunications operator, vendor, or systems integrator serving telco clients.
• Deep Knowledge of the Middle East and Africa Ecosystem: understanding of regional delivery realities, talent landscape, and client expectations.
• High Availability and Geographical Mobility: willingness to travel across clusters and CoE delivery sites.
• Leadership of Complex Delivery Programs: proven ability to lead multi-squad delivery factories in excess of USD 10M annual throughput.