UK Service Line Director - Data

About HSO 

HSO is a Microsoft focused, business transformation partner, with deep industry expertise and global reach. We leverage the full power of the Microsoft Cloud to transform the way in which people work and engage customers, accelerating the impact of cloud transformation and improving overall business performance. By leveraging the power of Dynamics 365, Generative AI, Data, AI, Copilot capabilities and the Microsoft Cloud, HSO helps companies innovate faster, by modernizing business operations, adopting data-driven intelligent automation, delivering real-time insights and connecting the enterprise.  

Founded in 1987, HSO has more than 2,500 professionals throughout EMEA, the Americas and Asia and is one of the world’s top business solution and implementation partners. We are a member of Microsoft’s elite Inner Circle, representing the Top 1% of partners worldwide. HSO UK has grown to more than 300 people and we expect over 100% organic growth in the next 5 years. 

HSO specializes in industry sectors such as Retail, Manufacturing, Professional Services, Financial Services and Public Sector. HSO has been recognized as the global winner of the 2023 Partner of the Year Award for D365 Finance and as a Finalist for D365 Sales and Marketing. In addition, we have been awarded ‘Best Tech Company 2021 to Work For’ and the ‘6th Best Large Company to Work For’ in 2022.   

At HSO we take pride in being large enough to serve, but small enough to care. Both for our customers and colleagues. We are uniquely positioned to empower you to transform your career, without compromising your life goals and we take pride in investing as much in our people as we do in our clients. Our culture and values support entrepreneurial mindsets and attitudes, where your voice will always be heard. 

Why Work for HSO? 

Joining the HSO team means being an integral part of a dynamic organization that values innovation, collaboration and professional growth. Here are some of the reasons why HSO is a great place to work and build your career: 

• Customer Value: Work for market-leading clients across multiple industries, delivering value-adding solutions and a meaningful difference. 

• Supportive Culture: Enjoy an environment where everyone is encouraged to be heard in a positive and inclusive environment. 

• Flexibility and Wellbeing: We understand that life is complex and if you share what you need, you’ll find we care in return.  

• Commitment to Quality: Be part of a team that truly places quality at the heart of all we do. 

If you're looking for a rewarding career with opportunities to stretch yourself, make an impact and work with a supportive team, HSO is the place for you! 

Purpose of the Role & Key Responsibilities

This is a genuinely transformative leadership opportunity. Our Data Platform (DP) team is rapidly growing and we’re looking for a someone with the skills, knowledge and experience to achieve this.  Our goal is for Data to be a growth engine of our UK business, at the forefront of our ambition as the UK’s services partner of choice, for Enterprise clients wishing to drive, innovate and run their businesses with Microsoft. The market opportunity is huge and this role is key in ensuring HSO takes full advantage of this, alongside our dedicated Data Sales team.  

There are four major accountabilities: 

1. Business Growth – to build on our success to date, by defining and building the market opportunity for Data, then leading key opportunities and winning net new clients, as well as to grow on existing. This role’s primary objective is to grow the HSO UK Data business by at least 40% year on year.
2. P&L Management – to run and operate the profit and loss as best in class, using known best practices and to build on these, as the Service Line grows, to meet / exceed our financial and other targets.
3. Customer Leadership – to work successfully as an Executive Sponsor on key accounts and to coach others to do the same, so that we deliver on our client commitments and win multi-year relationships.
4. Talent Development – to build a high performing Data team and to develop new talent for the future success of HSO.

While this is a UK role, there is also an HSO-wide global contribution to the DP Service Line: sharing knowledge, experience and helping others achieve.  

Overview of Essential Behaviours & Experience 

Essential Behaviours 

• Team Leadership - wants to lead and be accountable. Takes personal responsibility. Ability to influence others and build followship. Listens to others to find the best outcome. 

• Ambitious - for client success, as well as personal success and for the success Data and the wider HSO team.  

• Strategic - sees the wider picture and makes informed decisions from complex and varied sources.  

• Care - demonstrates care with every interaction. Looks for team success. Embodies Servant Leadership. 

• Tenacious - happy to roll sleeves-up to deliver and drive challenging outcomes over a sustained period. Strives for excellence in oneself and others. 

• Entrepreneurial - ability to work successfully in a fast-paced environment. Comfortable with ambiguity. 

Essential Experience 

• Led, built and grown a multi-disciplined Data function, preferably with Microsoft technology. 

• Leadership experience in a consulting services environment, with a strong track record of selling, managing and delivering multi-million pound engagements, using resources both onshore and offshore. Building multi-year relationships for Enterprise clients. 

• Managed an annual budget in excess of £10m per annum, including investment, forecasting, revenues, profit and loss.  

• Proven ability to understand and successfully manage risk.   

• Able to identify and resolve issues to deliver challenging growth targets. 

• Deployed and leveraged technology (eg. AI) and new ways of working to improve business performance and take advantage of new market potential. 

• Worked collaboratively in a business with multiple lines of business. 

• Led a geographically dispersed team of at least 8 direct reports and a total team of 20 or more people. Successfully led such a team through periods of significant change and business improvement.  

• Previous experience utilising AI to deliver data solutions to customers, or delivering AI solutions to customers. 
   

Location 

This is a hybrid role and can be based either from our London, Glasgow or Manchester offices, as well as from home. There will be regular, planned travel, involving overnight stays near our offices and other UK locations for customer / internal meetings, events and training. Occasional planned international travel is expected. 

Total Reward 

We offer competitive and equal pay which reflects the skills, experience and performance of the individual. Any reward package will be discussed honestly during the interview process.  

Our people have the opportunity to earn performance-based bonuses or commission, and everyone can benefit from paid holiday, private healthcare, private dental care, life assurance, pension, retail discounts and monthly wellbeing activities. 

We set the bar high and won't extend an offer until we're convinced we've found the right candidate. This is why a job may stay open for months or be reposted several times.  

Studies suggest that women tend not to apply for a job if their CV isn’t a perfect fit. Here, talent takes precedence over experience. So if you like the role and think you could be awesome at it in time, go ahead and apply. HSO is an equal opportunity employer. We will consider for employment any applicant and provide reasonable accommodations for an individual with disabilities - just let us know how we can support you.