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Job market data

AI strategy remains one of the clearest growth lanes in senior hiring — over 6,000 US roles tracked in the past year, split between in-house strategy functions at enterprises and embedded consultants at professional-services firms. Mid-senior compensation generally lands in a $140K–$250K band, with directors clearing $280K and executive-level strategy hires regularly breaking $300K. The strongest AI strategists we place combine technical fluency, commercial judgment, and the credibility to operate directly with the C-suite.

Key responsibilities

Partner with senior business leaders to identify, prioritize, and shape high-impact AI opportunities
Translate organizational strategy into concrete AI use cases, roadmaps, and investment plans
Lead AI maturity assessments, value-case development, and executive workshops
Work across functions — data, product, engineering, finance — to stress-test ideas before major commitment
Shape the long-term AI operating model, including governance, talent, and delivery structure
Bring external benchmarks, patterns, and honest perspective to internal decisions
Challenge bad ideas early — and build consensus around the right ones
Operate as a trusted advisor to the CEO, CIO, and business-line leadership

Candidate requirements

6+ years in strategy, management consulting, or in-house AI program leadership
Demonstrated ability to connect AI capability to business outcomes, not just pilots
Fluency in modern AI concepts — generative AI, agents, MLOps — without needing to be an engineer
Strong financial modeling, use-case prioritization, and executive storytelling skills
Track record of influencing C-level stakeholders on transformation decisions
MBA or equivalent experience preferred but not required

AI Strategist