Director - AI/ML Data Strategy

As a Director – Data & AI Strategy, you will lead the growth, development, and implementation of Data & AI Strategy services across Publicis Sapient in Australia. This includes identifying new opportunities, shaping value propositions, and fostering organic growth in existing relationships. You will leverage your expertise in data and AI to drive transformative strategies, while working closely with Publicis Sapient’s digital transformation technology teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify and Create Opportunities: Build strategic relationships with senior clients to identify opportunities that harness data and AI strategy for transformative impact.
• Shape and Nurture AI-Driven Data Strategies: Originate, shape, and nurture data and AI strategy opportunities, guiding them from inception through to full implementation.
• Develop Market-Leading Propositions: Create forward-thinking data and AI strategy propositions that address client needs and emerging industry trends.
• Drive New Business & Organic Growth: Source and close new business development opportunities and identify areas for organic growth within existing client accounts, leveraging AI and data strategies.
• Lead High-Profile Engagements: Spearhead high-profile data and AI strategy engagements, delivering innovative solutions and measurable impact.
• Expand Programs of Delivery: Scale data and AI strategy projects into larger, multi-disciplinary programs of delivery, fostering end-to-end transformation.
• Contribute to Global Data & AI Policies: Play a key role in developing and implementing global policies and standards for data and AI strategies.
• Cultivate a Talented Team: Mentor and develop talent within the data and AI strategy team, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• Build Thought Leadership & Team Growth: Actively contribute to the growth of the data and AI strategy team by supporting recruitment, establishing best practices, and providing thought leadership in the industry.

• Deep Data & AI Domain Expertise: Over 10 years of experience in roles such as data engineering, data science, AI strategy, or data analytics, with an emphasis on integrating AI into business solutions.
• Advanced Knowledge in Key Areas: Proven expertise in at least one of the following: data engineering (data platforms, cloud environments), data science (machine learning & AI deployment, data product development), or data analytics (instrumentation, reporting, optimization, experimentation & MarTech).
• AI Strategy Vision: Ability to translate complex data and AI topics into understandable, actionable insights for senior stakeholders, and align these insights with business strategies.
• Proven Transformation Delivery: Track record of delivering complex data and AI-driven transformation programs with demonstrable impact on business outcomes.
• Senior Stakeholder Management: Skilled at building and sustaining relationships with senior clients, delivering impactful and strategic work.
• Leadership & Team Development: Demonstrated experience in growing team capability, developing talent, and managing financial performance of team-delivered projects.
• Agile and Tech-Savvy: Strong appreciation for Agile ways of working, modern technology tools, engineering practices, and AI methodologies.
• Strong Communication & Consulting Skills: Excellent written, verbal, numerical, and presentation skills, with experience consulting to C-level clients.
• Analytical & Innovative Mindset: Creative, curious, deeply analytical, and passionate about data and AI-driven problem-solving.
• Openness to Travel: Willingness to travel and work on client sites to deliver exceptional, high-impact services.

Nice-to-Have:

• Deep experience in two or more of the following industries: Banking, Insurance, Wealth, Retail, Public Sector.
• Experience in both established and challenger professional services firms, with an entrepreneurial and growth mindset.

Publicis Sapient (PS) is a digital transformation partner helping our clients transform the way they serve their customers and the way their teams work by using the power of digital. We help unlock value through a start-up mindset and modern methods, fusing strategy, consulting and customer experience with agile engineering and problem-solving creativity. As digital pioneers with 22,000+ people and 53 offices around the globe, our experience spanning technology, data sciences, consulting and customer obsession – combined with our culture of curiosity and relentlessness – enables us to accelerate our clients businesses through designing the products and services their customers truly value. Publicis Sapient is the digital business transformation hub of Publicis Groupe. For more information, visit publicissapient.com.