Head of AI Transformation

Relay is fundamentally reshaping how goods move in an online era. Backed by Europe’s largest-ever logistics Series A ($35M), led by deep-tech investors Plural (whose portfolio spans fusion energy and space exploration), Relay is scaling faster than 99.98% of venture-backed startups. We're assembling the most talent-dense team the logistics industry has ever seen Relay’s Mission is to free commerce from friction. Today, high delivery costs act as a hidden tax on e-commerce, quietly shaping what can be sold online and limiting who can participate. We envision a world where more goods move more freely between more people, making the online shopping experience seamless and accessible to everyone. THE TEAM • ~110 people, more than half in engineering, product and data • 45+ advanced degrees across computer science, mathematics and operations research • Thousands of data points captured, calculated, analysed and predicted for every single parcel we handle • An intellectually vibrant culture of first‑principles thinking, tight feedback loops and relentless experimentation The Opportunity We're building a finance function that scales faster than the business — not by adding headcount, but by designing a system where AI, automation, and clean architecture do the heavy lifting. We're looking for someone to build that system from scratch: the finance stack, the AI workflows, and the operating model that ties it all together. Reporting to our CFO, you'll work directly with founders and functional leaders to turn Relay's finance function into a real-time decision engine. This is not a "transformation" role in the traditional sense. This is a 0 to 1 build role with direct leverage on company velocity. What you’ll own * Design the finance function from first principles. Own how finance operates in an AI-native, high-growth company — not as an improvement on legacy systems, but as a definition of the default state. Rebuild core processes (R2R, P2P, O2C, FP&A) to eliminate manual work before it takes root. * Deploy AI across every high-leverage workflow Identify and ship use cases in weeks, not quarters — AI-driven forecasting and scenario modelling, automated reporting and commentary, close and reconciliation workflows, and collections, risk, and anomaly detection. * Build and own the technical stack Select the minimum viable, maximum scalable architecture. Make strong calls on ERP vs lightweight tooling, build vs buy, and data design. Ensure everything is modular, API-friendly, and AI-ready from day one. * Work directly with engineering and data teams Translate financial logic into production systems. This is a hands-on, cross-functional role — you're putting ideas into production, not handing them over. * Redesign the operating model around augmentation Define how humans and AI work together — including which roles don't need to exist. Build a function where one great operator and AI outperforms five traditional hires. * Deliver the outcomes leadership needs Reduce time to close, time to forecast, and time to decision. Give leadership real-time, high-quality financial insight, and build systems that scale from current revenue to £100M+ without breaking. Who will thrive in this role * You've built or redesigned finance systems and operating models end-to-end — not just advised on them. * You've deployed automation or AI in real finance workflows. Production, not strategy decks. * You're fluent in the TA and Ops/data hybrid: FP&A, R2R, funnel diagnostics, and partnering with RevOps/FP&A to forecast and drive decisions. * You think in systems, not processes — and you're comfortable making decisions with incomplete information. * You've worked closely with CFOs, founders, or operators on scaling finance in high-growth environments. * Proven experience owning finance programs and delivering systems implementations end-to-end * Hands-on deployment of AI or automation in real finance workflows * Experience in hypergrowth startups or scale-ups * Strong technical fluency — comfortable working directly with engineering and data teams * Structured, clear communicator with strong stakeholder management skills Compensation & Benefits * Generous equity, richer than 99% of European startups, with annual top-ups to share Relay’s success. * Private health & dental coverage, so comprehensive you’d need to be a partner at a Magic Circle law firm to match it. * 25 days of holidays * Enhanced parental leave. * Hardware of your choice. * Extensive perks (gym subsidies, cycle-to-work, Friday office lunch, covered Uber home and dinner for late nights, and more). Fast and Focused Hiring Process 1. Talent Acquisition Interview - 30 min 2. HM interview - 45min 3. Case Exercise - 90min 4. Final round Interview - 60 min Decision and offer within 48 hours, our process mirrors our pace of work, typically completed in a week. Who Thrives at Relay? * Aim with Precision: You define problems clearly and measure your impact meticulously. * Play to Win: You chase bold bets, tackle the hard stuff, and view constraints as fuel, not friction. * 1% Better Every Day: You believe that small, consistent improvements lead to exponential growth. You move quickly, deliver results, and learn from every experience. * All In, All the Time: You show up and step up. You take ownership from start to finish and do what it takes to deliver when it counts. * People-Powered Greatness: You invest in your teammates. You give and receive feedback with care and candour. You build trust through high standards and shared success. * Grow the Whole Pie: You seek out win-win solutions for merchants, couriers, and our customers, because when they thrive, so do we. If these resonate, and you combine strong technical fundamentals with entrepreneurial drive, let’s connect. Relay is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and fostering a workplace where everyone thrives.

CSQ227R77 PLEASE NOTE: Due to federal contract requirements and client site access obligations, an active U.S. government security clearance is required. The position is based in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia metropolitan area and includes periodic on‑site work and client collaboration. Candidates with an active secret or higher clearance are strongly encouraged to apply. MISSION The Public Sector AI Forward Deployed Engineering (AI FDE) team is a highly specialized customer-facing AI team at Databricks. We deliver professional services (PS) engagements to help our customers build and productionize first-of-its-kind AI applications with a focus on GenAI. We work cross-functionally to shape long-term strategic priorities and initiatives alongside AI Product, Research, and Engineering. We are looking for a world-class leader to lead and grow our AI FDE Public Sector team. In this role, you will lead public sector customers on their AI transformation with Databricks, push the boundaries of our product, recruit and develop top AI engineers, and manage a portfolio of key accounts. You will report directly to the Head of Public Sector, FDE.  THE IMPACT YOU WILL HAVE: * Lead and scale a world-class AI FDE team, including hiring, mentoring, and building a team structure to support long-term growth and execution at scale * Develop and expand executive relationships with key customers and partners (including VP+, CIO/CDO-level stakeholders), acting as a trusted advisor during complex technical engagements and AI transformations * Align with Field Engineering and Sales Leaders to define joint strategies for strategic accounts and ensure strong delivery coordination across functions * Lead strategic AI initiatives, practice development, and standardized delivery processes; design scalable engagement models and reusable solutions for repeatability across the global team * Shape cross-functional collaboration by influencing Product, R&D, and GTM, ensuring voice-of-customer insights and delivery learnings help inform the product roadmap and GTM strategy * Own OKRs for AI-services led accounts, revenue, utilization, and public references * Represent Databricks as a thought leader in AI WHAT WE LOOK FOR: * Passion for transforming the public sector with data and AI * Extensive experience managing, hiring, and building a team of high-performing data scientists/ML engineers and leaders, with a track record of scaling organizations through developing scalable processes and cultivating leaders * Ability to scope, guide, and sell technical engagements, manage escalations, and ensure successful delivery in enterprise environments * Deep technical expertise in ML, GenAI, and data science, and curiosity to continue to stay up-to-date in this ever-changing field * Experience leading teams building cutting-edge production AI solutions in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP) * Proven success developing strategy with senior executive stakeholders to define program-level goals, align technical vision, and build trust throughout complex enterprise engagements * Demonstrated experience in cross-functional leadership roles, collaborating with Sales, Product, and GTM teams to drive business impact through AI * “Company-first” mindset * Graduate degree in a quantitative discipline (Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics, Operations Research, etc.) or equivalent practical experience Preferred: * Experience in a customer-facing consulting or professional services leadership role * Experience working with Databricks   Pay Range Transparency Databricks is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The pay range(s) for this role is listed below and represents the expected salary range for non-commissionable roles or on-target earnings for commissionable roles.  Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, depth of experience, relevant certifications and training, and specific work location. Based on the factors above, Databricks anticipates utilizing the full width of the range. The total compensation package for this position may also include eligibility for annual performance bonus, equity, and the benefits listed above. For more information regarding which range your location is in visit our page here.   Local Pay Range $232,900—$320,200 USD About Databricks Databricks is the data and AI company. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide — including Comcast, Condé Nast, Grammarly, and over 50% of the Fortune 500 — rely on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to unify and democratize data, analytics and AI. Databricks is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe and was founded by the original creators of Lakehouse, Apache Spark™, Delta Lake and MLflow. To learn more, follow Databricks on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Benefits At Databricks, we strive to provide comprehensive benefits and perks that meet the needs of all of our employees. For specific details on the benefits offered in your region click here. Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion At Databricks, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone can excel. We take great care to ensure that our hiring practices are inclusive and meet equal employment opportunity standards. Individuals looking for employment at Databricks are considered without regard to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other protected characteristics. Compliance If access to export-controlled technology or source code is required for performance of job duties, it is within Employer's discretion whether to apply for a U.S. government license for such positions, and Employer may decline to proceed with an applicant on this basis alone.