Principal, AI & Digital Transformation

We are urgently looking to hire an experienced and highly talented Principal – AI and Digital Transformation with strong Technology, Media & Telecommunications and Government industries experience to join a global industry-leading Digital Consulting firm, based in their Dubai office. The successful candidate will lead large-scale transformation programs from strategy through implementation, adoption, and value realisation, so should be comfortable operating at both executive and working-team levels, moving between strategic decisions and the practical delivery issues that determine whether transformation initiatives succeed. Responsibilities will include:Serving as the senior leader for large and complex AI and digital transformation programs.Manage senior client relationships and acting as a trusted adviser to C-suite executives and functional leaders.Lead engagements across the TMT and Government sectors, while bringing strong familiarity with the telecommunications companies.Lead AI initiatives across the full lifecycle.Provide effective product ownership.Lead delivery across internal teams, technology providers, system integrators, and specialist partners.Ensure that AI and digital solutions are embedded into business processes, operating routines, roles, and ways of working.Define measurable business outcomes.Provide thought leadership.Lead multiple project components and senior teams.Build alignment across corporate, business, technology, and operational stakeholders.Lead, coach, and develop high-performing consulting teams.Contribute to the growth of the Middle East business by identifying opportunities and selling work through personal relationships and the firm’s client network.Support recruitment and attract, retain, develop, and motivate highly qualified staff.Required Experience:A minimum of ten years of postgraduate work experience, including at least five years in a leading global strategy or management consulting firm.A strong consulting background, ideally from a Tier-1 global consulting firm, with demonstrated progression to senior engagement and client-leadership responsibilities.Significant experience leading large-scale AI or digital transformation programs, preferably involving multiple business functions, technology platforms, delivery partners, or geographies.Demonstrated experience taking AI solutions beyond strategy and experimentation into implementation, production deployment, business adoption, and measurable value realisation.Strong familiarity with a range of AI technologies and delivery approaches.Sufficient technical fluency to challenge architects, engineers, and vendors.A strong industry orientation toward the TMT and Government sectors. Substantial telecommunications experience is mandatory, gained through consulting or client-side roles.A practical understanding of how telecom operators function and meaningful exposure to the operational realities of telecom environments.Broader experience across Government, technology, media, digital infrastructure, or other complex and regulated sectors would be an advantage.Strong experience managing external technology providers, system integrators, and consulting partners.The ability to connect AI and digital initiatives to measurable revenue, cost, productivity, customer service, and operational outcomes.Experience managing senior client relationships and a proven ability to build trust, influence decisions, and constructively challenge senior stakeholders.Strong project and program leadership skills, with the ability to provide direction while remaining sufficiently close to delivery detail.Excellent collaboration and interpersonal communication skills, both verbal and written.Strong leadership, maturity, self-confidence, and executive presence.A self-starting and pragmatic working style.The ability to inspire others, and build strong teams.A track record demonstrating sustained progression, consistent performance, and increasing levels of responsibility.If you are an executive-level Consulting with a background of delivering large-scale AI & Digital transformation projects within the Telco and wider TMT & Government sectors, and are looking to join a dynamic, AI-forward Consulting firm then we’d love to hear from you!