AI Business Transformation Manager

Arcus Search; Brussel Hoofdstad; Hybrid; EUR 129,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

Arcus Search seeks a Transformation Lead for AI process re-imagination based in Belgium. The role is hybrid with 8 days onsite per month in Brussels, with a daily rate market-rate based on experience.

You will guide large‑scale transformations, shape target-state processes and operating models, align with IT, data, risk and compliance, and deliver measurable outcomes. The assignment runs through 2026 with possible extensions, offering exposure to regulated environments and senior stakeholder

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience; an advanced degree or relevant professional designation is preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of business experience, ideally combining consulting experience with line-management or operational transformation experience.
• Proven ability to lead complex transformation, process re-engineering, service redesign or operating model redesign initiatives in a business environment.
• Strong consulting toolkit, including structured problem solving, hypothesis-driven analysis, facilitation, stakeholder management, issue resolution and executive-level communication.
• Practical knowledge of Lean, Agile and continuous improvement principles, with the ability to coach others in applying these methods effectively.
• Affinity with AI, automation, data and digital technologies, combined with the curiosity and judgment to explore new possibilities while remaining grounded in business value, feasibility, risk and adoption.
• Experience working in regulated, control-heavy or audit-sensitive environments is strongly preferred; experience in financial services or market infrastructure is an advantage.
• Outstanding written and verbal English communication skills, including the ability to influence, negotiate, challenge constructively and present complex ideas clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Strong empathy and listening skills, with the ability to understand business constraints, build trust, influence decisions and bring stakeholders on board.
• Hands-on leadership style, high energy, entrepreneurship, resilience and willingness to lead from the front while empowering others.
• Passion for people development, capability building and sustainable change.
• Ability to travel across other business locations when required.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex transformation waves from scoping through delivery with clear objectives and measurable outcomes.
• Translate the transformation mandate into practical engagement plans, deliverables and decisions.
• Structure analysis to diagnose root causes and align stakeholders on future-state options.
• Guide business domains through reimagination beyond incremental optimisation.
• Define target-state processes, service models, governance, and KPIs.
• Shape AI-enabled transformation opportunities with IT, data, architecture and AI teams.
• Ensure future designs embed risk, compliance, auditability and responsible AI.
• Develop roadmaps, migration paths and adoption plans with business and tech teams.
• Drive benefits through value hypotheses and measurable delivery plans.
• Operate in a fusion-team model with sponsors, SMEs, IT, risk, compliance, and legal teams.
• Coach wave team members and impacted teams to strengthen consulting and problem-solving skills.
• Capture lessons learned and contribute to repeatable delivery methods across waves.

Skills

Consulting toolkit

Structured problem solving

Facilitation

Stakeholder management

Executive communication

Lean

Agile

Continuous improvement

AI affinity

Education

Master's degree

Advanced degree

Professional designation

Job description

Transformation Lead for AI process re-imagination

Please only apply for this role if you are currently based in Belgium and able to commit to 8 days per month onsite in Brussels, candidates current based outside of Belgium will not be considered.

Duration: until end of 2026 (extensions confirmed thereafter)

Location: Brussels (Hybrid 8 days per month onsite)

Rate: Daily rate (Market rate - dependent on level of experience)

Key Responsibilities

• Lead complex transformation waves in an empowering manner, from initial scoping through delivery, ensuring clear objectives, disciplined execution, stakeholder alignment and measurable outcomes.
• Translate the team’s end-to-end transformation mandate into practical engagement plans, deliverables and decisions for specific domains or services.
• Bring clarity to complex transversal problems by structuring analysis, diagnosing root causes, challenging assumptions and aligning stakeholders around pragmatic future-state options.
• Guide business domains through reimagination, ensuring that proposed changes go beyond incremental optimisation and lead to materially different ways of working where the opportunity justifies it.
• Define or quality-assure target-state processes, service models and operating models, including roles, responsibilities, decision rights, governance, controls, KPIs, management routines and capability implications.
• Shape AI-enabled transformation opportunities in collaboration with IT, data, architecture and AI teams, ensuring that technology choices are linked to business value, adoption and operating model impact.
• Ensure that future-state designs are realistic for our regulated environment and embed risk, compliance, auditability, traceability, human oversight and responsible AI considerations from the outset.
• Develop practical transformation roadmaps, interim states, migration paths, business requirements and adoption implications in partnership with business and technology teams.
• Drive benefit realisation by defining value hypotheses, benefit drivers, measurement approaches and delivery plans that link transformation activity to tangible business outcomes.
• Operate effectively in a fusion-team model, working side by side with business sponsors, SMEs, operational teams, IT, AI, data, architecture, risk, compliance, legal, change and programme stakeholders.
• Coach wave team members and impacted business teams, strengthening consulting, facilitation, problem-solving and continuous improvement skills.
• Capture lessons learned, improve reusable methods, templates and playbooks, and contribute to consistent delivery across multiple transformation waves.

Expected Profile

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience; an advanced degree or relevant professional designation is preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of business experience, ideally combining consulting experience with line-management or operational transformation experience.
• Proven ability to lead complex transformation, process re-engineering, service redesign or operating model redesign initiatives in a business environment.
• Strong consulting toolkit, including structured problem solving, hypothesis-driven analysis, facilitation, stakeholder management, issue resolution and executive-level communication.
• Practical knowledge of Lean, Agile and continuous improvement principles, with the ability to coach others in applying these methods effectively.
• Affinity with AI, automation, data and digital technologies, combined with the curiosity and judgment to explore new possibilities while remaining grounded in business value, feasibility, risk and adoption.
• Experience working in regulated, control-heavy or audit-sensitive environments is strongly preferred; experience in financial services or market infrastructure is an advantage.
• Outstanding written and verbal English communication skills, including the ability to influence, negotiate, challenge constructively and present complex ideas clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Strong empathy and listening skills, with the ability to understand business constraints, build trust, influence decisions and bring stakeholders on board.
• Hands-on leadership style, high energy, entrepreneurship, resilience and willingness to lead from the front while empowering others.
• Passion for people development, capability building and sustainable change.
• Ability to travel across other business locations when required.

Personal Attributes

• Curious, well-read and eager to learn quickly across new domains, technologies and business challenges.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and able to create structure, clarity and momentum in complex environments.
• Analytical and diligent, while also willing to step back, challenge the obvious and explore options outside the comfort zone.
• Empathetic, collaborative and able to build trust across seniority levels and functions.
• Pragmatic and delivery-oriented, with the judgment to balance ambition, value, feasibility, risk and adoption.
• Role model for continuous improvement, constructive challenge, ownership and sustainable change.