Fractional AI & Data Lead
Senior AI and data leadership, without the full-time hire.
The strategy, architecture and delivery leadership of a Head of AI & Data — for companies that need the seniority but not the headcount. Week to week, accountable, hands-on.
A Head of AI & Data, on the days you need one
Most SMEs and scale-ups cannot justify — or find — a full-time Head of AI & Data. But without senior ownership, AI work drifts: pilots multiply, architecture fragments and governance slips. A fractional lead gives you the ownership without the payroll.
A Fractional AI & Data Lead fills that gap with senior leadership scoped to what the business needs right now. Define Data brings strategy, architecture and delivery discipline proven on enterprise AI work — driving the roadmap, owning delivery, and building toward the point where a permanent hire makes sense.
AI strategy ownership
A living AI roadmap tied to business outcomes — use cases prioritised, sequenced and honestly assessed.
Architecture direction
Design authority across AI, data platforms and integration — so every build fits one coherent architecture.
Delivery leadership
Hands-on leadership of AI and data work — vendors, contractors or your in-house team.
Governance & responsible AI
Provenance, permissions, evaluation and auditability standards that keep AI trustworthy as it scales.
Data platform stewardship
The Snowflake/dbt-style foundations, semantic models and quality controls AI depends on.
Executive communication
Board-ready reporting on AI progress, risk and value — in business language, not model metrics.
How it works
A commitment that fits the stage
Fractional engagements run on a regular weekly cadence, with the level of commitment set to match what the business needs right now. As your AI and data foundations mature and your team grows, the engagement scales down — or hands over cleanly to the permanent hire it helped you make.
It is senior leadership you can bring in quickly and adjust as you go, without the cost and lead time of a full-time executive hire.
Start with a conversation
The simplest way to explore a fractional engagement is to book an intro call. If you want a shared, honest picture of your AI and data foundations first, start with an AI Readiness Assessment — either way, we shape the arrangement around what you actually need.
Investment
Monthly, scoped to commitment.
Already know a fractional lead is what you need? Use the same link and say so when you book — we can talk it through directly.
Weighing up whether you need this
The free Data & AI Readiness Check is a quick way to gauge it. It scores your data foundations, AI readiness and governance and shows you how much senior attention your systems really need.
Take the Data & AI Readiness CheckRelated offers
Fractional leadership often follows an assessment or a build — or runs alongside both.
Put senior hands on your AI agenda
Book an intro call and we will work out the cadence, the priorities and whether fractional leadership is the right fit.
Book an intro call