Principal AI Transformation Strategist - FTC

Mckesson Corporation; Cork; On-site; EUR 105,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

McKesson Technology is seeking a Principal AI Transformation Strategist to accelerate enterprise AI adoption and value realization. You will advise executives, shape long‑range roadmaps, and guide cross‑functional teams spanning Product, Data Science, Engineering, and Operations.

The role centers on defining scalable AI programs, establishing guardrails, and driving measurable outcomes across regulated environments.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent and typically requires 13+ years, with 8+ years of direct work‑related experience.
• Advanced degrees are a plus for leadership in AI transformation.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the enterprise AI portfolio roadmap across business units.
• Shape scope and success criteria for high‑impact programmes; coach delivery leaders.
• Remove blockers to accelerate scaled delivery and adoption of AI initiatives.
• Define benefits realization plans with baselines and target metrics.
• Lead quarterly value reviews and consider portfolio realignment.
• Represent Technology in executive steering committees and governance forums.
• Influence BU leaders, Compliance, Risk, Security to align on governance.

Skills

AI strategy

Executive influence

MLOps

Portfolio governance

Stakeholder engagement

Regulated environments

Communication skills

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master's or Doctorate preferred

Tools

MLOps Platforms

Model risk management

Data quality controls

Job description

McKesson is an impact-driven, Fortune 10 company that touches virtually every aspect of healthcare. We are known for delivering insights, products, and services that make quality care more accessible and affordable. Here, we focus on the health, happiness, and well-being of you and those we serve – we care.

What you do at McKesson matters. We foster a culture where you can grow, make an impact, and are empowered to bring new ideas. Together, we thrive as we shape the future of health for patients, our communities, and our people. If you want to be part of tomorrow’s health today, we want to hear from you.

McKesson is an impact-driven, Fortune 10 company that touches virtually every aspect of healthcare. We are known for delivering insights, products, and services that make quality care more accessible and affordable. Here, we focus on the health, happiness, and well-being of you and those we serve – we care. What you do at McKesson matters. We foster a culture where you can grow, make an impact, and are empowered to bring new ideas. Together, we thrive as we shape the future of health for patients, our communities, and our people. If you want to be part of tomorrow's health today, we want to hear from you.

The internal McKesson Technology team is at the forefront of driving digital transformation, including the adoption and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver measurable value across the organisation.

We are seeking a Principal AI Transformation Strategist to accelerate the company's adoption of advanced AI technologies and ensure value realisation at enterprise scale. This individual contributor role operates as a senior-most expert, advising executives, shaping strategy, and guiding complex AI programmes across multiple business units. You will serve as a trusted thought partner to senior leadership, influencing long-range roadmaps and ensuring AI initiatives deliver measurable business impact. This role partners closely with Product, Data Science, Engineering, Operations, Compliance, and business leaders and reports to the VP, IT AI Innovation & Automation.

Key Responsibilities

• Enterprise AI strategy leadership with demonstrated ability to translate corporate objectives into a multi-year, value-backed AI portfolio.

• Deep expertise across AI/ML architecture, model lifecycle (from data readiness to deployment and monitoring), and operations in regulated environments.

• Proven executive influence: frames complex technical topics into clear business narratives that drive prioritisation and funding decisions.

• Hands‑on familiarity with MLOps/ModelOps platforms, data quality controls, model risk management, and responsible AI practices.

• Portfolio governance: establishes standards, reusable frameworks, and decision guardrails that scale across business units.

• Ability to design and review KPIs/OKRs that track adoption, time‑to‑value, reliability, safety, and total cost of ownership.

• Strong vendor/platform evaluation skills and the judgement to balance build vs. buy, speed vs. control, and innovation vs. risk.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting to VP/SVP and enterprise steering committees.

Programme Delivery

• Define and maintain the enterprise AI portfolio roadmap, sequencing initiatives to maximise compound value and reduce duplicated effort.

• Shape scope and success criteria for high‑impact programmes; coach delivery leaders while holding teams accountable for outcomes.

• Remove structural blockers (operating model, data access, funding mechanisms) to accelerate scaled delivery.

Performance Tracking

• Define benefits realisation plans with clear baselines and target metrics (e.g., productivity, quality, cycle time, revenue uplift).

• Establish standard dashboards for executive consumption; ensure telemetry is reliable, auditable, and explains variance.

• Lead quarterly value reviews and recommend portfolio rebalancing based on performance and risk.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a senior advisor to product and engineering leaders on shaping roadmaps for scale, auditability, and measurable outcomes.

• Represent McKesson Technology in executive steering committees and enterprise governance forums.

• Influence without authority across BU leaders, Compliance, Risk, Security, and Legal to align on standards and guardrails.

Enterprise Governance & Risk

• Co‑lead the definition and rollout of Responsible AI, model risk, and policy controls; ensure controls are effective yet developer-friendly.

• Chair or materially contribute to model review boards; serve as escalation point for high‑risk AI deployments.

Technology Strategy & Architecture

• Evaluate and recommend technical approaches, tools, and platforms that improve reliability, safety, and time‑to‑value.

• Guide reference architectures for generative and predictive AI; ensure patterns are secure, observable, and cost‑aware.

External Thought Leadership

• Represent McKesson in strategic partner engagements, technology councils, and cross‑industry working groups.

• Continuously scan the market and regulatory landscape and translate implications into pragmatic internal guidance.

Minimum Requirement

Degree or equivalent and typically requires 13+ years, with 8+ years, of direct work‑related experience. Less years required if has relevant Master's or Doctorate qualifications.

Critical Skills

• 12-15+ years in AI, advanced analytics, data engineering, or technology transformation, including 7+ years guiding large‑scale programmes.

• Demonstrated success taking AI solutions from concept to scaled production in complex, multi‑stakeholder enterprises.

• Experience in regulated industries with comfort navigating compliance, risk, audit, and privacy requirements.

• Advanced degree in a quantitative or technical field (e.g., Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science) preferred.

• Relevant certifications (e.g., cloud, security, agile, or programme management) are a plus.

Behavioural Competencies

• Executive Presence: Communicates with clarity and credibility; simplifies complexity for decision makers.

• Systems Thinking: Anticipates second‑ and third‑order effects; optimises for the whole rather than local maxima.

• Accountability: Owns outcomes and sets a high bar for pace, quality, and integrity.

• Collaboration: Builds trust and effective working rhythms across Product, Data, Engineering, and Operations.

• Adaptability: Thrives amid ambiguity and evolving technology; adjusts course based on signal and evidence.

• Pragmatic Innovation: Balances ambition with feasibility to ship value responsibly.

Why This Role Is Critical

This Principal role shapes how McKesson responsibly applies AI at enterprise scale - driving measurable outcomes for patients, providers, and partners. By setting strategy, establishing guardrails, and accelerating delivery, you will materially influence the success, safety, and sustainability of AI across the company.

Our Base Pay Range for this position

€105,000 - €175,000

As part of Total Rewards, we are proud to offer a competitive compensation package at McKesson. This is determined by several factors, including performance, experience and skills, equity, regular job market evaluations, and geographical markets. The pay range shown below is aligned with McKesson's pay philosophy, and pay will always be compliant with any applicable regulations.

In addition to base pay, other compensation, such as an annual bonus or long‑term incentive opportunities may be offered.

McKesson job postings are posted on our career site: careers.mckesson.com.