Heads up: this posting is for future opportunities rather than one specific open role. If you apply, we’ll add you to our candidate network and may reach out when relevant roles come up.

Axial Search is a specialist executive search firm built for one kind of hire: leaders who help organizations navigate AI transformation. Apply today to express your interest in roles like this one.

Visit our website to learn more about our process and explore free tools for your job search, including our live job market dashboard with salary, skills and hiring trend data from thousands of AI transformation roles.

What the market looks like

We've tracked 4,400+ senior-level AI strategy postings across the US in the last six months, with hiring concentrated in technology, financial services, and professional services — particularly in California, New York, and Texas. Median compensation for these roles lands around $240,000, with top-quartile packages reaching $450,000. The strongest candidates bring a blend of hands-on AI/ML fluency and proven ability to translate technical capability into measurable business outcomes. They typically combine deep domain expertise in their industry with experience building or scaling AI initiatives from strategy through deployment, comfortable operating at both the board level and in technical architecture reviews.

Job responsibilities

Develop and own the enterprise AI strategy roadmap — defining priorities, resource allocation, and success metrics aligned to business objectives
Build and lead the AI/ML organization — recruiting talent, setting culture, establishing governance frameworks, and holding teams accountable to delivery
Partner with C-suite and board leadership to communicate AI opportunity, risk, and progress — translating technical concepts into business impact
Drive AI adoption across core business functions — identifying high-impact use cases, removing organizational blockers, and accelerating time-to-value
Establish responsible AI practices — building guardrails around model governance, data quality, bias mitigation, and regulatory compliance
Own vendor and technology partnerships — evaluating platforms, tools, and external expertise to accelerate capability while managing cost and risk
Track and report on AI transformation metrics — measuring adoption, ROI, capability maturity, and competitive position

Candidate requirements

10+ years building and scaling technology organizations or driving major digital transformation initiatives, with 3+ years in an AI/ML or AI strategy leadership role
Deep working knowledge of AI/ML fundamentals, current model architectures, and real-world implementation constraints — not certification-level, but hands-on fluency from leading technical teams or building models in production
Proven track record translating AI strategy into measurable business outcomes — shipping products, launching capabilities, or driving adoption that moved the needle on revenue, cost, or competitive position
Experience building and leading high-performing technical and cross-functional teams — recruiting, developing talent, and establishing organizational structure that scales
Comfort operating across multiple levels — presenting to boards and executives, collaborating with engineering and data teams, engaging with business unit leaders to drive adoption
Track record navigating emerging regulatory and governance landscapes — understanding responsible AI, data privacy, and compliance implications in your industry

Chief AI Officer