Manager Advocacy & Business Development Artificial Intelligence / AI - D-A-CH-market (m/f/d)

DEKRA Germany; Stuttgart; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Attractive salary

30 days vacation

Flexible, mobile working

Internal training and qualification

Job summary

DEKRA Germany seeks a senior AI strategy leader to position the organization at conferences and expert panels, shaping European standards and driving AI growth in the DACH region. You will translate regulatory and ethical challenges into scalable commercial offerings and build relations with customers, authorities, NGOs, and research institutes.

You will lead collaborative R&D initiatives, leverage EU funding, and shape consortia and joint ventures with external partners, ensuring the AI roadmap

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Law, or a related field (PhD or MBA desirable).
• 10+ years of experience in AI, digital innovation, or related strategic roles.
• Proven success in business development, strategic partnerships, or technology commercialization.
• Hands-on experience in AI-related standardization initiatives (ISO, IEC, CEN/CENELEC, etc.).
• Strong knowledge of European AI and Cybersecurity regulations and governance frameworks.
• Demonstrated track record in securing and managing R&D or publicly funded projects.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Deep understanding of Germany’s AI landscape (regulatory, political, industrial).
• Strategic mindset with ability to link technical challenges to business and societal impact.
• Skilled at partnership building, alliance management, and long-term value creation.
• Familiar with maturity models, audit frameworks, and assessment methodologies.
• Business-fluent in German and English.

Responsibilities

• You act as a thought leader, positioning the company at conferences, expert panels, and industry forums on AI, regulation, and ethics.
• You contribute to global and European standardization initiatives (ISO, IEC, CEN/CENELEC, etc.), including standardization bodies and working groups.
• You drive the AI growth in the DACH market, translating strategy into revenue and partnerships.
• You identify and develop new business opportunities, partnerships, and revenue streams in AI services, products, and advisory offerings.
• You translate regulatory, ethical, and societal challenges into scalable commercial solutions.
• You build and maintain relationships with customers, authorities, NGOs, and research institutions to expand the AI business pipeline.
• You proactively source, design, and lead collaborative R&D initiatives and innovation projects in trustworthy AI.
• You monitor and leverage national and EU funding programs, tenders, and research calls.
• You shape consortia, proposals, and joint ventures with external partners.
• Lastly, you track market trends, standards, and regulations to anticipate shifts and update the company’s AI roadmap.

Skills

AI strategy

Business development

Partnership management

Stakeholder management

Regulatory knowledge

Standardization initiatives

German/English fluency

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

PhD or MBA desirable

Job description

• You act as a thought leader, positioning the company at conferences, expert panels, and industry forums on AI, regulation, and ethics
• You are responsible for contributing to global and European standardization initiatives (ISO, IEC, CEN/CENELEC, etc.), including standardization bodies and working groups
• You drive the AI growth in the DACH market, translating strategy into revenue and partnerships
• You identify and develop new business opportunities, partnerships, and revenue streams in AI services, products, and advisory offerings
• You translate regulatory, ethical, and societal challenges into scalable commercial solutions
• You build and maintain relationships with customers, authorities, NGOs, and research institutions to expand the AI business pipeline
• You proactively source, design, and lead collaborative R&D initiatives and innovation projects in trustworthy AI
• You monitor and leverage national and EU funding programs, tenders, and research calls
• You shape consortia, proposals, and joint ventures with external partners
• Lastly, you track market trends, standards, and regulations to anticipate shifts and update the company’s AI roadmap

Tasks

• You act as a thought leader, positioning the company at conferences, expert panels, and industry forums on AI, regulation, and ethics
• You are responsible for contributing to global and European standardization initiatives (ISO, IEC, CEN/CENELEC, etc.), including standardization bodies and working groups
• You drive the AI growth in the DACH market, translating strategy into revenue and partnerships
• You identify and develop new business opportunities, partnerships, and revenue streams in AI services, products, and advisory offerings
• You translate regulatory, ethical, and societal challenges into scalable commercial solutions
• You build and maintain relationships with customers, authorities, NGOs, and research institutions to expand the AI business pipeline
• You proactively source, design, and lead collaborative R&D initiatives and innovation projects in trustworthy AI
• You monitor and leverage national and EU funding programs, tenders, and research calls
• You shape consortia, proposals, and joint ventures with external partners
• Lastly, you track market trends, standards, and regulations to anticipate shifts and update the company’s AI roadmap

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Law, or a related field (PhD or MBA desirable)
• 10+ years of experience in AI, digital innovation, or related strategic roles
• Proven success in business development, strategic partnerships, or technology commercialization
• Hands-on experience in AI-related standardization initiatives (ISO, IEC, CEN/CENELEC, etc.)
• Strong knowledge of European AI and Cybersecurity regulations and governance frameworks
• Demonstrated track record in securing and managing R&D or publicly funded projects
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills
• Deep understanding of Germany’s AI landscape (regulatory, political, industrial)
• Strategic mindset with ability to link technical challenges to business and societal impact
• Skilled at partnership building, alliance management, and long-term value creation
• Familiar with maturity models, audit frameworks, and assessment methodologies
• Business-fluent in German and English

What We Offer

• Attractive salary, variable bonus
• 30 days vacation
• Flexible, mobile working
• Internal training and qualification options
• Events such as ski cup, motorcycle meeting or Christmas party
• Other great benefits: company pension, job bike leasing, job ticket/transportation costs, employee discounts, canteen with food subsidies, internal company health management, parking spaces, and much more

About DEKRA

DEKRA has been active in the field of safety for almost 100 years and ensures safety on the road, at work, and at home. As one of the world’s leading expert organizations, the company currently employs around 49,000 people in 60 countries on 5 continents. With qualified and independent expert services, they work to achieve the company's vision that DEKRA will be the global partner for a safe, secure, and sustainable world.

Contact

Kristin Müller

[e-mail]

[phone]