Head of Data and AI

About the Role:

Innablr is seeking an accomplished Head of Data and AI to lead the next stage of growth for its established Data and AI practice. This senior leadership role suits a commercially minded, technically credible leader who builds trusted relationships, develops a market-facing practice and helps enterprise clients achieve meaningful outcomes from data and AI.

Innablr is part of DX1, a growing AI services company and AI-first secure transformation partner for Australian enterprises. DX1 brings specialist capability across AI, cloud and platform, security, data and operations, creating a broader platform for growth around Innablr’s deep data and AI expertise.

Innablr is an Australian data and AI engineering consultancy. We help enterprise and government organisations establish governed, AI-native data foundations and production-grade AI systems, with the rigour, security and delivery discipline required in complex and regulated environments. Our capabilities span data strategy and architecture, lakehouse platforms, data engineering, data modernisation, quality assurance, machine learning, MLOps, AI and business intelligence.

The practice is already established. The mandate is to take it to the next level: achieve an agreed growth target, deepen strategic client relationships, expand the pipeline and service offering, develop exceptional people and uphold Innablr’s high standard of technical and delivery excellence.

This role carries meaningful commercial accountability, combining practice growth, executive client engagement, partner-led go-to-market and technical stewardship to build a stronger, more scalable Data and AI business.

Why Innablr and DX1:

Innablr exists to make data deliver on its promise. We work with leading Australian enterprises and government organisations to build unified, governed data platforms, accelerate time to value, strengthen security and compliance, and create AI-ready foundations. Our engagement model spans advisory, build and scale, supporting clients from discovery and strategic roadmaps through to implementation, managed services, adoption and continuous improvement.

As part of DX1, Innablr operates within a growing AI services company with capabilities across AI engineering, cloud and platform, security, data and operations. For the right leader, this presents a compelling opportunity: shape a high-growth specialist practice while helping define how data and AI capability is brought together across a broader AI-first services organisation.

Scope extends across practice strategy, offerings, team capability, partner ecosystem and market presence. The role is supported by experienced leaders and technically strong colleagues, within a business that values engineering quality, pragmatic outcomes and trusted client partnerships.

Key Responsibilities:

• Set and execute the commercial and strategic plan for the Data and AI practice. In partnership with Innablr and DX1 leadership, convert market opportunity into a focused growth agenda, create momentum in priority accounts and develop a profitable, sustainable pipeline of work.
• Build enduring relationships with senior client stakeholders across business, technology, data and risk. The role requires confidence in executive conversations, along with the ability to engage credibly with technical teams and translate strategic priorities into secure, governed and measurable data and AI outcomes. Experience working with ASX 200 organisations, major government agencies or similarly complex enterprises is important, as is the judgement required to manage diverse stakeholder groups, competing priorities and high standards of governance.
• Shape and lead complex opportunities from initial conversations through solution development, proposals and executive presentations. Bring together the appropriate commercial, delivery and technical expertise to articulate differentiated value, build client confidence and win work that aligns with Innablr’s strengths.
• Lead the practice’s strategic alliances and go-to-market activity with Databricks, AWS and relevant hyperscaler partners. This includes developing and executing joint account and industry plans, building co-sell pipeline, mobilising partner field teams, coordinating joint pursuits and strengthening executive relationships across the ecosystem.
• Bring a practical understanding of the commercial incentives that underpin cloud and data-platform partnerships, including the role of consumption growth, marketplace and partner-led motions. Use that understanding to create value for clients, partners and Innablr, while ensuring that partnership activity translates into qualified opportunities, strong delivery outcomes and sustainable practice growth.
• Provide visible technical leadership across modern data and AI platforms, particularly Databricks and AWS. Depth in every technology is not expected; sound judgement and practical experience are. This leader must be able to challenge assumptions, guide architecture and delivery decisions, identify risk and ensure teams bring a rigorous perspective to clients.
• Build and lead a high-performing practice. This includes attracting and retaining strong talent, setting clear expectations and creating practical career pathways. The role holds direct accountability for individual performance management, including objectives and KPIs, regular feedback and coaching, formal performance reviews, recognition, development planning and timely action where performance falls short.
• Maintain executive oversight of strategic engagements. Working alongside delivery leaders, protect client outcomes, manage risk, resolve issues early and identify opportunities to extend the relationship. Secure engineering, robust data governance and quality are integral to this work.
• Strengthen Innablr’s market presence through thought leadership, client forums, partner engagement and participation in the broader data and AI community.

Required Experience

The successful candidate brings experience as a practice, consulting or technology leader, together with a demonstrated ability to grow a Data, Analytics, AI, Cloud or digital engineering business. They will be comfortable discussing commercial performance, client strategy and complex technology delivery with equal confidence.

• Commercial leadership: A proven record of owning or materially contributing to a growth plan, building qualified pipeline, leading strategic pursuits and expanding key accounts. Experience with practice financial management, revenue accountability or P&L-style responsibility is highly regarded.
• Partner GTM and alliances: Demonstrated experience developing and executing a Databricks, AWS or hyperscaler partnership strategy. This includes co-sell engagement, joint account planning, field alignment, partner pipeline management and a sound understanding of consumption-led commercial models for services partners.
• Data and AI expertise: Strong knowledge of contemporary data platforms, lakehouse architecture, data engineering, data governance, analytics, machine learning, MLOps and enterprise AI. The ability to connect technical choices with business value, risk and delivery practicality is essential.
• Databricks and AWS: Meaningful experience with Databricks and AWS in enterprise settings, including an understanding of how cloud, data platforms and AI capabilities combine to support scalable, secure solutions.
• Enterprise client leadership: Demonstrated success earning trust with senior business and technology stakeholders within ASX 200 companies, major government agencies or comparably complex organisations. Strong stakeholder management, executive presence and the ability to navigate complex decision-making environments are essential.
• Consulting and solution leadership: Experience shaping complex engagements, leading multidisciplinary teams, developing compelling proposals and presenting commercially sound solutions to executive audiences.
• People leadership: A collaborative, high-expectations leadership style, supported by direct experience leading individual performance. This includes setting KPIs and objectives, conducting performance reviews, giving clear feedback, supporting development and addressing performance issues constructively and promptly.
• Delivery judgement: A record of balancing pace and quality while maintaining appropriate attention to security, governance, risk, delivery assurance and client value realisation.

This person is likely to bring significant experience from consulting, professional services, technology services, cloud, data or AI. They will lead from the front while recognising when to bring the right experts into the room. Sustainable growth is built on work clients value, trust and want to extend, and that belief should be evident in how they lead.

How to apply

If you are a commercially driven Data and AI leader with the technical depth, client presence, partner ecosystem experience and people leadership capability to grow an established practice, we would welcome a conversation.

Please apply through LinkedIn with your CV and a brief note outlining your experience in practice growth, enterprise data and AI, Databricks, AWS, strategic partnership development and executive client relationship management.