Data & AI Director

About Us

The energy industry is undergoing an incredible transformation as the world decarbonizes and embraces digital. This creates significant business opportunities requiring a new way of approaching technology and data as strategic accelerators. National Grid’s New York and Massachusetts operations provide critical national infrastructure for both Gas and Electric customers. 

About The Role

The AI & Data Director will be responsible for leading and executing the US Data and AI strategy, driving data maturity across US Gas and Electric business areas, and ensuring that data and AI are leveraged to deliver measurable business value. This role will define the vision, strategy, and roadmap for data and AI initiatives, fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making while ensuring governance, compliance, and innovation, and alignment with National Grid’s Enterprise Data and AI Strategy. 

Reporting directly to the New York & US Electric and Gas Chief Information & Digital Officer, this person will be a motivational leader providing strategic direction, mentorship, and feedback, while modelling National Grid’s leadership values to foster a high-performing, delivery-oriented team environment. The role will partner closely with the enterprise data organization, business unit leaders, and technology teams to ensure data and AI capabilities are embedded into operations, enhancing customer experiences and operational efficiency. This is a unique opportunity to lead a data and AI organization that will help solve some of the most challenging and aggressive climate-change goals in the world.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and Implement Comprehensive Data and AI Strategy 
• Build upon and execute the US data and AI strategy that aligns with organizational goals and drives data maturity across all business areas
• Identify key areas of business value, set clear objectives, and establish a roadmap for initiatives
• Partner with product, architecture, and functional leadership to integrate data and AI into product roadmaps and operational processes
• Manage the data and AI budget, with ongoing focus on personnel, vendor, and capital expenditures
• Drive Innovation and AI Adoption: lead efforts to innovate and adopt AI technologies in partnership with the enterprise team. Stay updated with the latest AI trends and ensure the organization leverages AI to improve operations, enhance customer experiences, and gain a competitive edge
• Foster a data-driven culture
• Increase data literacy across the organization, ensuring employees understand the value of data and AI, and promoting the use of data in decision-making processes. Partner closely with the enterprise data organization to embed data capabilities into business operations
• Champion cultural change toward rapid deployment and continuous improvement in data and AI capabilities
• Ensure Data Governance and Compliance: establish and maintain strong data governance practices to ensure data quality, security, and compliance with relevant regulations. Implement data management frameworks and oversee governance initiatives
• Build and manage a strong Data team
• Oversee relationships with consultants, vendors, and contractors, supporting negotiation of statements of work and business terms with suppliers 

About You

The ideal candidate will be an experienced data and AI leader with broad and deep demonstrated subject matter expertise across data strategy, governance, analytics, and AI adoption. They will serve as a recognized thought leader and expert in all things data and AI.

• Technical and Functional Excellence: Deep expertise in data strategy, governance, analytics, AI/ML, and related technologies (e.g., cloud platforms, data warehouses, data lakes, BI tools, MLOps)
• Thought Leadership: Brings a mindset that embraces innovation and questions conventional wisdom. Expert in emerging trends in data and AI, and able to translate them into actionable strategies 
• Team Leadership: Proven ability to recruit, lead, mentor, and develop high-performing data and AI teams. Strong talent management skills including coaching, mentoring, and team motivation
• Collaboration and Influence: Excels at partnering across multiple functions to facilitate prioritization into actionable plans
• Best Practices: Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining data governance, quality, and compliance frameworks 
• Customer Centricity: Focused on building a culture that understands and responds to customer needs through data-driven insights
• Communication: Ability to communicate complex data and AI concepts clearly to diverse audiences, from executives to technical teams
• Innovation: Experience using AI and automation to increase operational efficiency and create competitive advantage
• Financial Acumen: Skilled in managing budgets, resource plans, and investment initiatives for data and AI functions

Qualifications

• Strong track record in data strategy, governance, analytics, and AI leadership, with significant experience in senior management roles 
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with demonstrated ability to build and lead large, high-performing teams, and foster a data-driven culture
• Excellent communication skills, able to develop, document, and explain data and AI strategies to diverse audiences
• Proven track record of delivering measurable business outcomes through data and AI initiatives
• Bachelor’s degree in Data Science or related discipline required; advanced degree or MBA preferred

More Information

Closing Date: Monday the 15th of June 2026.

Location: New York, NY / Waltham, MA (or remotely based in MA, NY, CT, NJ, PA)

Hiring Manager: Erik Barthel, New York & US Electric and Gas Chief Information & Digital Officer 

Salary Range: Between $186k - $315k

Candidates will be assessed and provided offers against the minimum qualifications of this role and their individual experience. This range is also variable dependent on the location of the candidate.

National Grid is an equal opportunity employer that values a broad diversity of talent, knowledge, experience and expertise.  We foster a culture of inclusion that drives employee engagement to deliver superior performance to the communities we serve.  National Grid is proud to be an affirmative action employer. We encourage minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to join the National Grid team.