Data & Ai Practice Lead

**Description**:
The Data & AI Practice Lead is a critical driver of Lantern's mission to empower clients to leverage custom solutions focused on Data Science & Machine Learning, Data Engineering, Data Platforms, and Business Analytics solutions to drive transformative business outcomes. This role leads our Data & AI practice, focusing on building and scaling a high-performance team with expertise in cutting-edge data-centric technologies.

The Practice Lead oversees Got-to-Market Strategy, Business Development & Presales Support, People, and Technology Leadership. This person will closely collaborate with the Go-to-Market and Commercial teams, having business-driven, technology-supporting, and solution-focused conversations in the marketplace. This role requires close collaboration with our Go-to-Market teams to develop relevant offerings, as well as with Delivery and Operations to ensure the successful and efficient execution of projects. Other core responsibilities include understanding and shaping the market landscape, driving talent acquisition and retention, and ensuring optimal workforce utilization to exceed client expectations.

**Key Responsibilities**:
**Go-to-Market & Sales Support**
Offering Development
- Contribute to Lantern GTM Offering development, prioritization, and activation.
- Develop Practice Sales Plays and partner with Business Development Teams to take those to market in areas not covered by Lantern GTM Offerings.

**Demand Generation**
- Champion Lantern GTM Campaigns and support related demand generation activities (e.g. briefings, events, sales enablement, etc.)
- Partner with Business Development teams in driving pipeline by presenting Lantern GTM Offerings & Studio Sales Plays to Clients and Microsoft.

**Sales Support**
- Provide input during New Business Meetings to help qualify and ensure new opportunities have practice support.
- Contribute to strategic account planning with the Business Development team, based on deep client environment knowledge.
- Proactively support sales pursuits and coordinate people's requirements as required to win business.
- Develop project estimates and deliver proposal presentations to clients.
- Partner in the Sales Process for solution shaping and deal success.

**Delivery Leadership**
- Work closely with the Delivery & Operations teams to ensure seamless transitions from Sales to Delivery and mobilize resources effectively.
- Oversee delivery quality, addressing escalations and offering guidance throughout project lifecycles.
- Optimize staffing, resource planning, and utilization management to maximize efficiency and client satisfaction.

**People Leadership**
- Set the vision and strategy for the Data & AI practice, inspiring consultants to deliver high-impact results.
- Facilitate consultants' continuous professional development in priority areas such as Microsoft Fabric, Azure Databricks, Data Factory, and Azure Machine Learning.
- Partner with recruiting and People & Culture teams to attract and retain top talent in alignment with the practice’s growth objectives.

**Technology Leadership**
- Act as the primary technical leader for clients, consultants, and sales pursuits within the practice.
- Provide expert technical oversight and mentorship to consultants in Microsoft Fabric, Azure Databricks, Data Factory, and Azure Machine Learning development.
- Establish thought leadership through blog posts, presentations, and conference speaking engagements.

**Position Requirements**:

- Experienced consulting leader with a deep understanding of the Microsoft ecosystem
- Experienced in supporting sales and driving new business with existing clients, and the ability to drive growth through Go-to-Market offerings.
- Experienced in practice development, team leadership, sales enablement, and high-level client engagements, ensuring the practice meets both technical excellence and business objectives.

10+ Years in a consulting leadership role is required with experience leading data engineering, analytics, business intelligence, or machine learning engagements.
**Position Metrics**:
**Primary Practice Health Indicators**
- Individual Utilization
- Practice Utilization
- Practice Growth YoY
- Practice Billable Hours
- Practice Headcount Growth

**Supplemental Practice Health Indicators**
- Budget vs. Actuals (Hours)
- Practice Pipeline Forecast
- Practice Revenue Growth
- Practice Member Learning Index (Prof. Dev. Goals & Certs)
- Client NPS
- Practice Member NPS
- Practice Retention Rate

**About Lantern**:
At** Lantern**, our company culture stands as the bedrock of our success and a source of pride for our teams. We firmly believe that a culture founded on trust forms the basis for enduring relationships with clients, colleagues, and partners.

Within this culture, we nurture an environment of respect, inclusion, and belonging, fostering collaboration among inspired teams. We prioritize the well-being of our colleagues, the success of our clien