Executive Technical Director
hace 1 día
London
At AKQA, we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products, and services. We design connected experiences that transform brands and businesses through the integration of creativity, technology, and data.We are seeking an Executive Technical Director to lead and shape technology-driven transformation for our clients. This role combines deep technical expertise with strategic thinking, client leadership, and a strong point of view on how AI is redefining customer experience, commerce, and business operations.The Executive Technical Director operates as a senior partner to both clients and internal leadership, helping define how AI and modern technology reshape customer experience, commerce, and business operations. They translate business ambition into technology strategy, identify and originate new opportunities, and drive the creation of innovative, AI-enabled products and experiences. This role is critical in scaling AKQA’s impact by extending CTO-level thinking across key clients and engagements in the region.ROLE REQUIREMENTSTechnical LeadershipDefine and drive end-to-end technical strategy and architecture across complex ecosystemsLead design of scalable, secure, cloud-native systemsChampion MACH architecturesEstablish engineering standards and best practicesOversee architecture, integrations, and data flowsDrive modern development practices (CI/CD, DevOps, etc.) Partner with Data teams on data architecture, personalisation strategies, and real-time decisioning systemsClient & Strategic Leadership Act as a senior technology partner to clients, leading strategic conversations at C-level across AI, platforms, and digital transformationTranslate business ambition and customer experience goals into clear, actionable technology strategies and roadmapsShape and originate new opportunities, from early-stage thinking through to solution definition and proposalLead technical discovery, solution design, and estimation for new business and pitchesDrive the conversion of innovation initiatives (POCs, pilots) into scaled programmes and long-term partnershipsNavigate complex enterprise environments, influencing stakeholders across business, technology, and experience functionsProactively identify whitespace opportunities and define new AI-led use cases, propositions, and engagement models for clientsAI, Innovation & Product Thinking Define how AI transforms client business models, customer experience, and operational efficiencyIdentify and shape AI-driven opportunities, products, and services that create tangible business valueApply generative AI, LLMs, and agent-based systems to real-world use cases across commerce, marketing, and serviceContribute to the development of AI-led propositions, accelerators, and repeatable offeringsLead the integration of AI into end-to-end solutions, from use case definition to architecture and deploymentEnsure responsible AI implementation, including governance, scalability, and complianceCustomer Experience & Business Understanding Strong understanding of customer journeys, digital ecosystems, and experience design principlesAbility to connect technology decisions to customer experience quality, brand impact, and business outcomesExperience working within large, complex organisations, understanding governance, stakeholders, and decision-making dynamicsAbility to bridge strategy, design, data, and technology into cohesive solutionsDelivery & Team Oversee delivery across multiple programmes, ensuring technical quality, performance, and scalabilityLead and mentor senior engineers and technical leaders, building high-performing, distributed teamsContribute to AKQA’s technical roadmap, capability development, and thought leadershipHelp scale technology leadership across the region by elevating senior talent and acting as a proxy for CTO-level thinking when requiredAct as a senior representative of AKQA’s technology leadership in key client engagements, operating with autonomy and authorityQUALITIES & CHARACTERISTICSStrong strategic thinker, able to connect business ambition, customer experience, and technology into clear, differentiated propositionsA client-first technology leader, comfortable operating at senior levels within complex organisations and influencing strategic directionDeep technical credibility across platform engineering, distributed systems, and modern web/application stacksA natural leader and coach, experienced in developing senior technical talent and building engineering capabilityPassionate about engineering craft, including code quality, performance, scalability, and maintainabilityDeeply fluent in AI and emerging technologies, with the ability to translate them into concrete client opportunities, products, and transformation programmesConfident communicator, able to influence both technical and non-technical stakeholders at senior levelsCollaborative and cross-disciplinary, thriving in environments that blend creativity, technology, and dataCalm and decisive in complex environments, balancing strategic vision with practical deliveryHighly credible in client environments, with strong communication and presentation skills, able to influence senior stakeholdersCommercially minded, with experience shaping solutions that drive revenue, growth, and long-term client valueEntrepreneurial and proactive, bringing ideas and opportunities rather than only responding to briefsComfortable operating across strategy, experience, and technology, not confined to a single disciplineWe believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.About WPPWPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.