Head, Data, Analytics and AI

Kenya Airways PLC is seeking a Head, Data, Analytics and AI to lead its data, analytics and artificial intelligence initiatives within the Information Technology division in Nairobi. The role provides strategic, technical and operational leadership across data engineering, analytics, AI, governance and data-driven transformation.

Job Overview

• Organization’s Name: Kenya Airways
• Job Title: Head, Data, Analytics and AI
• Employment Type: Permanent
• Division: Information Technology
• Location: Kenya Airways Headquarters, Nairobi
• Expiry Date: October 1, 2026 at 12:13pm

Purpose

The Head, Data, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (Head-DNA) is responsible for spearheading Kenya Airways’ transformative initiatives in data, analytics and artificial intelligence. Reporting to the Chief Information and Data Officer (CIDO), the position oversees the strategic, technical and operational aspects of the Data, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence department, including talent recruitment and initiatives that contribute to organizational growth.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Data Privacy Officer to ensure personally identifiable information (PII) is classified and managed in compliance with legal requirements.
• Define the current and future state of enterprise data management and conduct gap analysis to assess organizational maturity and positioning relative to peer organizations.
• Establish and enforce best practices for data governance, compliance, quality and security across the organization.
• Oversee the design, development and maintenance of scalable data pipelines and data infrastructure while ensuring data quality, integrity and security.
• Lead the research, development and deployment of artificial intelligence and machine learning models to address complex business problems and integrate AI solutions into existing business processes and systems.
• Develop and implement the strategic vision for data analytics in alignment with organizational business goals.
• Provide subject matter expertise in advanced statistical analysis, experimental design and financial impact analysis, while guiding robust analytical methodologies and processes.
• Drive investment and budget planning of USD 2,500,000 and develop a three-to-five-year budget plan aligned with the organization’s strategic plan.
• Collaborate with business functions to address data requirements and ensure required data is appropriately modelled and available to analysts and end-users.
• Negotiate and manage Service Level Agreements and support contracts with Data Science and Analytics service partners to ensure SLA targets are achieved.
• Foster a data-driven culture by developing data-related competencies and data literacy across the enterprise.
• Provide educational opportunities to staff to strengthen understanding of Data Governance, Data Stewardship, roles and responsibilities.
• Monitor advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning and evaluate their potential impact on the organization.

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proven experience successfully leading data science, data engineering and/or AI teams.
• Excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while managing multiple priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, Engineering or another related quantitative field.
• Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• At least 7 years of experience in data engineering, data science and/or AI, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Familiarity with AI research and development tools and platforms.
• Extensive experience with machine learning frameworks, generative AI technologies and big data platforms.
• Strong understanding of data architecture, data governance and data security best practices.
• Experience with cloud-based data platforms and services such as AWS, Azure and Google Cloud.
• Knowledge of programming languages including Python, R, Java and SQL.
• Experience with big data technologies such as Redshift, S3, Databricks, data lakes and Spark.
• Working experience with at least one of Looker, Tableau or Power BI.

About Kenya Airways PLC

Kenya Airways PLC, known as the Pride of Africa, is the organization offering this permanent leadership opportunity within its Information Technology division.

How To Apply

If the candidate fits the profile, applications should be submitted through the Kenya Airways career portal by providing a detailed Curriculum Vitae. The job is based at Kenya Airways Headquarters, Nairobi. Only qualified applicants with the right to live and work in Kenya will be considered.

Due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.