Principal Data and AI Strategy

Summary

Join phData, a leading innovator in the modern data stack, partnering with major cloud platforms. We are a remote-first global company committed to helping global enterprises overcome their toughest data challenges. The Principal, Data and AI Strategy role involves advising clients on utilizing data and AI to drive business transformation. You will create data and AI strategies, design implementation roadmaps, and guide organizations through adopting advanced data platforms. This role requires strong executive presence, deep understanding of cloud ecosystems, and proven ability to lead cross-functional teams. You will also contribute to building the Advisory practice by developing offerings and mentoring teams. phData offers a remote-first work environment, competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and professional development opportunities.

Requirements

• 8+ years as a hands-on Data and AI Strategy Leader who has led Data Strategy engagements
• 4+ years previous Consulting leadership experience working with external clients, with the ability to multitask, prioritize tasks, and work across a variety of projects
• Understands the evolving AI capabilities in the industry, including their applications and how to leverage them effectively to help clients increase revenue, improve customer experience, or introduce new products to the market
• Brings vertical/industry expertise to bear, in making Strategic recommendations, given the nuances of each industry, e.g. Financial Services, Healthcare, Retail
• Experience engaging senior stakeholders, including members of the C-suite
• Functional Strategy Leadership expertise and/or exposure, including: Identification and prioritization of business-focused opportunities
• Expertly balancing technical, organizational, and process recommendations
• Developing and sequencing long-term roadmaps
• Designing future state operating models
• Designing processes for effective data and analytical asset management
• Developing business cases with return on investment in mind
• Making recommendations that resonate with organizations, and have a clear story behind why we are making them
• Adept at making technical recommendations that are tied to business outcomes, including but not limited to the following areas: Cloud computing
• Adept at making technical recommendations that are tied to business outcomes, including but not limited to the following areas: Data platform development
• Adept at making technical recommendations that are tied to business outcomes, including but not limited to the following areas: Integration patterns
• Adept at making technical recommendations that are tied to business outcomes, including but not limited to the following areas: Data quality resolution
• Adept at making technical recommendations that are tied to business outcomes, including but not limited to the following areas: Data Governance
• Adept at making technical recommendations that are tied to business outcomes, including but not limited to the following areas: Privacy and security
• Adept at making technical recommendations that are tied to business outcomes, including but not limited to the following areas: Regulatory needs
• Experience prioritizing use cases by value and complexity, conducting SWOT analysis, and bringing the confluence of capability and industry, to inform recommendations
• Can communicate relatively technical concepts to a non-technical audience verbally clearly and concisely
• Has facilitated discovery sessions and workshops, ensuring a focus on business value to keep all participants aligned on the objectives
• Had led “art of the possible” sessions to bring insights into what other organizations are doing within an industry, and to inspire client stakeholders
• Able to guide on technology rationalization decisions, taking into account criteria such as total cost of ownership (TCO) and business need in mind
• Knowledge of industry-wide strategy frameworks, principles, and best practices
• Knowledge of global privacy requirements, e.g. GDPR, CCPA
• Proven ability to lead and manage a team of Business Analysts, Technical Architects, Data Engineers, and Change Leaders while fostering internal growth through coaching, mentoring, and performance management
• Proven track record of collaborating with client stakeholders, technology partners, and cross-functional sales and delivery team members across distributed global teams, ensuring seamless, successful project delivery outcomes
• Ability to create strong cross-practice relationships to drive customer success
• Exhibits a strong sense of ownership in resolving challenges, committed to ensuring exceptional outcomes for all aspects of project execution
• A vision for how the Data and AI industry is evolving, and the value that evolutions will bring to the organizations that we serve
• Strong client-facing written and verbal communication skills and experience; ability to deliver presentations with compelling storylines, tailored to the target audience, from technical stakeholders through to executive teams
• 4-year Bachelor's degree

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on how to utilize data and AI to drive business transformation and competitive advantage
• Create data and AI strategies aligned to client goals
• Design implementation roadmaps
• Guide organizations through adoption of advanced data platforms, machine learning solutions, and responsible AI practices
• Build and expand the Advisory practice by developing offerings
• Cultivate client relationships
• Mentor high-performing teams in a rapidly evolving market

Benefits

• Remote-First Work Environment
• Casual, award-winning small-business work environment
• Collaborative culture that prizes autonomy, creativity, and transparency
• Competitive comp, excellent benefits, 4 weeks PTO plan plus 10 Holidays (and other cool perks)
• Accelerated learning and professional development through advanced training and certifications