Architect of Data and AI - Microsoft Practice

About the Position

Architect of Data and AI - Microsoft Practice

Location: United Kingdom, with travel to client sites as required

Practice: Microsoft

Focus: Data, analytics and artificial intelligence

Role type: Senior leadership and client-facing consulting

Core technologies: Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Azure Data & AI and Microsoft AI services

About the Company

BearingPoint is one of Europe’s leading independent, partner-led technology services and business consulting organizations and a highly regarded strategic partner for our clients.

This is a great opportunity to join BearingPoint at a pivotal moment of growth and investment and be part of a community of like-minded consultants. We are proud to operate as a “boutique style” cohort of inspired and passionate experts in our field with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and customer success.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial Architect of Data and AI to join and help scale a growing Microsoft practice in the UK. The successful candidate will provide senior leadership across complex client engagements, shape market-leading propositions, support account growth, and build a high-performing Data & AI capability.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can move confidently between the boardroom, presales workshops, and delivery governance. The role will be more delivery-led than pure sales, while requiring the commercial credibility to originate, shape, and convert opportunities alongside sector and account leaders.

Responsibilities

Client Delivery and Programme Leadership

• Lead major Microsoft Data & AI programmes from discovery and strategy through architecture, delivery, and value realization.
• Act as a trusted adviser to senior client stakeholders, translating business priorities into pragmatic data, analytics, and AI roadmaps.
• Provide executive oversight, design authority, and delivery assurance across complex programmes, including scope, quality, risk, dependencies, and commercial outcomes.
• Create repeatable delivery approaches, governance standards, and quality controls that enable the practice to scale.

Sales, Presales, and Market Development

• Work with UK sector and account leaders to identify, qualify, and progress Data & AI opportunities.
• Lead presales activity including client discovery, solution shaping, estimations, proposals, bids, presentations, and executive workshops.
• Build compelling propositions around Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, modern data platforms, analytics, AI, and responsible AI adoption.
• Develop strong relationships with Microsoft sellers, specialists, and partner stakeholders to support co-selling, pipeline development, and joint go-to-market activity.
• Contribute to revenue growth, pipeline quality, and the commercial performance of the Microsoft practice.

Practice and Capability Leadership

• Define and execute the UK Data & AI capability plan, balancing near-term delivery needs with longer-term growth.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop consultants, architects, engineers, and analysts, creating clear career pathways and a strong community of practice.
• Establish reusable accelerators, reference architectures, demonstrations, case studies, and sales collateral.
• Coordinate effectively with wider UK and international teams to bring the best capability to clients.
• Promote an inclusive, collaborative, and high-accountability culture.

Requirements

• Significant experience leading enterprise data, analytics, or AI consulting engagements within a professional services, systems integration, or technology environment.
• Demonstrable leadership of client programmes, with accountability for successful delivery, senior stakeholder management, and commercial outcomes.
• Strong hands-on understanding of Microsoft Fabric, including platform architecture, data engineering, integration, lakehouse and warehouse patterns, governance, and security.
• Deep Power BI expertise, including semantic models, data visualization, governance, adoption, and enterprise reporting approaches.
• Practical knowledge of AI and generative AI, including use-case identification, solution shaping, responsible AI, data readiness, and integration into business processes.
• Broad knowledge of the Microsoft data ecosystem, such as Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Databricks, Azure SQL, Microsoft Purview, and Power Platform.
• Proven presales capability with experience leading discovery, solution design, estimates, proposals, bids, and executive presentations.
• Commercial acumen and the ability to balance client value, delivery feasibility, risk, and profitability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with the gravitas to influence executive stakeholders and the ability to explain technical topics in business language.
• Experience building teams, propositions, methods, or a consulting capability in a growth environment.

Nice to Have

• Sector experience in utilities, government, or financial services, particularly where data sensitivity, regulation, resilience, or security are material considerations.
• Experience establishing or growing a Microsoft Data & AI practice, capability, or center of excellence.
• Knowledge of Microsoft partner programmes, co-selling motions, and Microsoft-funded engagement models.
• Experience with data strategy, operating models, data governance, master data management, data quality, and analytics adoption.
• Familiarity with cloud economics, FinOps, and optimization of data platform consumption.
• Relevant Microsoft certifications in Fabric, Power BI, Azure, or AI.
• Existing or previous eligibility for UK security clearance would be beneficial for selected public-sector engagements.

We Offer

BearingPoint provides a highly competitive and flexible benefits package designed to support employee well-being, career development, and work-life balance. This includes private health and dental insurance, pension contributions, annual bonuses, gym membership support, professional subscriptions, paid maternity and paternity leave, income protection, nursery workplace benefits, and many more.

• Professional development: In order to aid career progression, you will be provided with the opportunity to attend exclusive business courses to help accelerate professional and network growth.
• Entrepreneurial spirit: Being part of a team that values stewardship and developing both our people and future generations. We want someone to seize the opportunity to drive us forward in directions that are meaningful to them and our clients.
• Diverse and inclusive culture: You’ll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.

For further information, please see BearingPoint’s careers website.

Equal Opportunities

BearingPoint is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce where each individual feels they belong. Fostering a work environment with a strong sense of community and where everyone can thrive is a core pillar of our business. We are focused on attracting and retaining the best people with the right skills and the desire to deliver excellent results, regardless of background. In return, we will provide a working environment in which everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to fulfil their potential, where their talents are fully utilized and company goals are met. We celebrate the strength that comes from our similarities and our differences through local initiatives which promote inclusion, outreach, and respect.