Chief AI Officer

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.

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What the market looks like

We've tracked 4,400+ senior-level AI strategy postings in the last six months, concentrated in Technology, Financial Services, Professional Services, and Manufacturing across California, New York, and Texas. Chief AI Officer roles command median compensation near $240,000, with top-quartile packages reaching $450,000. Organizations hiring for this level seek leaders who combine deep AI/ML domain fluency with enterprise strategy experience—people who can translate board-level priorities into executable transformation roadmaps, navigate organizational change at scale, and partner credibly with both technical and business stakeholders.

Job responsibilities

• Own the organization's AI transformation strategy: define vision, prioritize use cases, and build the business case for AI investments across the enterprise

• Lead cross-functional governance and decision-making to ensure AI initiatives align with corporate strategy and deliver measurable ROI

• Build and mentor the AI/ML leadership team—hiring, developing, and retaining senior engineers, data scientists, and product leaders

• Partner with the CTO, CIO, and business unit leaders to integrate AI capabilities into product, operations, and customer-facing systems

• Manage risk, compliance, and ethical guardrails: establish AI governance frameworks, bias mitigation protocols, and regulatory alignment

• Communicate AI strategy and progress to the board, C-suite, and investors—translating technical complexity into business impact

• Drive market intelligence and competitive positioning: stay current on AI trends, emerging tools, and industry shifts to keep the organization ahead

Candidate requirements

• 12+ years of experience in AI/ML, data science, or engineering roles, with at least 5 years in a leadership or strategy position (VP, Head of AI, Chief Data Officer, or equivalent)

• Demonstrated track record of shipping AI/ML products or systems at scale—from conception through production deployment and business value realization

• Deep technical fluency in AI/ML architectures, LLMs, and modern tooling; ability to engage credibly with engineering and research teams

• Proven ability to build and lead high-performing technical teams and navigate organizational change in large, complex environments

• Experience translating AI strategy into business outcomes—defining use cases, building financial cases, and measuring ROI across enterprise initiatives

• Strong executive presence and communication skills; comfort presenting to boards, investors, and C-suite stakeholders