Fractional Head of AI

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.

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What the market looks like

Over the last six months, we've tracked 100+ executive-level postings in AI strategy across the United States, with particular concentration in California, New York, and Texas. These roles span technology, professional services, financial services, and life sciences — sectors where AI transformation directly impacts competitive positioning. Organizations are leaning toward fractional or advisory structures for this work, valuing strategic flexibility and the ability to scale engagement as initiatives mature. The strongest candidates bring hands-on experience building AI strategy from the ground up, translating between technical possibility and business impact, and shepherding organizations through the organizational and cultural shifts that AI adoption demands.

Job responsibilities

• Partner with the C-suite and board to define AI strategy aligned with business objectives, competitive landscape, and risk tolerance

• Assess current state AI maturity, data infrastructure, talent, and organizational readiness; identify quick wins and longer-term roadmap priorities

• Lead cross-functional working groups to scope pilots, define success metrics, and oversee execution on high-impact AI initiatives

• Build the case for investment: develop business cases, ROI models, and governance frameworks that secure buy-in from stakeholders

• Coach internal teams and leadership on AI concepts, use cases, and organizational change; identify and close talent and capability gaps

• Monitor market trends, emerging models, and competitive moves; advise on make-vs-buy decisions and vendor/partner selection

• Own communication cadence with the board and executive team on progress, blockers, and course corrections

Candidate requirements

• 10+ years in AI, machine learning, data science, or closely related technical leadership roles; fractional/advisory experience a plus

• Demonstrated track record building and executing AI strategy at enterprise scale — from whiteboard to live models in production

• Deep fluency in current generative AI, large language models, and their application to business problems; ability to distinguish hype from real capability

• Comfort translating between technical detail and executive narrative; ability to influence without direct authority

• Experience leading organizational and process change, including hiring, training, and reshaping teams around AI capability

• Proven judgment on risk, governance, and responsible AI; familiarity with emerging regulatory landscape