Head of Artificial Intelligence

About the Company

Our client is a well-established IT and digital transformation service provider with several thousand employees and multiple locations across Germany. Their portfolio spans diverse industries including industrial, public sector, and financial services. Their offerings range from consultancy and software development to managed services. While initial AI projects and some expertise exist internally, the goal is to create an independent, prominent AI practice.

Role Overview

We seek a candidate not limited to traditional AI consulting but someone who can simultaneously design and develop proprietary AI products and solutions, advise customers at executive (C-level) on AI strategy, and independently acquire and close projects. This is a unique opportunity to build an AI division from the ground up, encompassing technical, personnel, and commercial aspects.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and lead an AI team, overseeing both professional and disciplinary management.
• Develop proprietary AI products and reusable solution components beyond one-off custom projects.
• Consult customers at the C-level on AI strategy and prioritize use cases.
• Proactively acquire business through pitching, preparing offers, and closing contracts; fully accountable for the project pipeline.
• Promote AI topics both internally and externally through market presence, visibility initiatives, and conference participation.
• Manage budget and profit & loss responsibility for the AI division build-up.

Candidate Profile

• Several years of experience in AI/ML with a proven record of developing own products or platforms (beyond prototypes or proofs of concept).
• Experience in consulting or service business with comprehension of offer logic, project management, and client relations.
• Demonstrated sales proficiency, able to pitch, negotiate, and close deals successfully.
• First leadership experience or clear willingness to build a team from scratch.
• Willingness to travel for client meetings; core work arrangement is remote.

Conditions

• Remote-first work model with regular travel requirements.
• Direct reporting to executive management / C-level.
• Autonomy to build the team with no existing structures to maintain.

Why This Position?

This role offers the chance to define and shape an AI structure independently rather than joining an existing one. The mandate, budget, and visibility are provided; execution is in the candidate's hands.