AI and Analytics Sales Specialist - Retail, Consumer Goods

Cognizant; California (MO); On-site; USD 190,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary annual incentive program

Stock awards based on performance

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking an AI + Analytics Lead to spearhead pivotal AI projects, engaging with senior stakeholders in the retail and consumer goods sectors. The candidate will leverage an extensive background in AI, data science, and analytics solutions to drive consultative sales while managing critical client relationships.

The position requires a minimum of 5 years in presales roles with proven experience in using Azure, AWS, and GCP technologies. A comprehensive understanding of data management and analytics, along with strong communication skills, will be essential for success.

This role offers an attractive annual salary between $190,000 - $220,000 and eligibility for Cognizant’s performance-based bonuses and stock awards.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years in advanced presales AI, data & analytics.
• 10+ years overall work experience.
• P&L management experience required.
• Strong ability to influence and communicate with C-suite.

Responsibilities

• Build client relationships with executive decision makers.
• Perform lead generation and sales processes.
• Develop account growth strategy and business plans.
• Manage sales pipeline and forecast hygiene.

Skills

Consultative solutions-selling

Selling data solutions with Azure

Navigating multi-agent cloud solutions

Knowledge of Snowflake and Databricks

AI and data insights life cycle

Excellent communication skills

Education

MS or MBA degree

Tools

Azure

AWS

GCP

Informatica

Job description

AI + Analytics Lead

Service Line Sales Specialist role is an incredible opportunity to be at the forefront of the AI revolution and collaborate with some of the most successful global retail and consumer goods companies! The successful candidate will work with Cognizant’s internal solution development teams and our client’s team(s) on a variety of cutting‑edge artificial intelligence, agentic AI, data modernization, analytics, and data science projects. The individual will evangelize, sell, and transform mission‑critical projects for our clients, working closely with client CIO/CDO/CXO organizations, brand teams, product owners, solution architects, data scientists, and data engineers.

The ideal candidate must be an exceptional communicator and a dynamic leader who can engage with senior stakeholders while driving agile teams. They should be able to develop and guide proactive pursuits and RFP/RFI responses. The candidate should have practitioner-level experience in AI/ML, data science solutions, and familiarity with two or more of the following: Azure OpenAI/Machine Learning, AWS SageMaker, Bedrock, Google Vertex AI, Gemini, BigQuery, TensorFlow, Databricks, Snowflake, etc.

Key Responsibilities

• Forge local client relationships with executive decision makers across IT and business teams face-to-face.
• Be trusted partner for our clients in the retail, CPG, or travel & hospitality space.
• Map client organization, build outstanding relationships with new business units, and build sales strategies for developing new business opportunities for AI and data analytics‑driven services.
• Run end-to-end lead generation, sales, and RFI/RFP processes for specific solutions in a multi‑technology, multi‑skill, and service line environment for the achievement of sales target.
• Counsel account leadership and delivery leadership by highlighting risks and issues related to the engagements.
• Develop and implement account (client) growth strategy and business plans that coordinate with account teams to integrate with the account’s larger growth plan.
• Work in a matrix organization to achieve prospecting and other sales management goals.
• Maintain sales pipeline and forecast hygiene to enable system‑oriented key performance metrics and measurement.

Required Qualifications

• Consultative solutions‑selling experience, finding technical solutions to solve business problems in artificial intelligence (AI) and agentic AI, data management, and analytics across multiple clients in retail, travel, consumer goods, and travel & hospitality.
• Strong experience selling data solutions with hyperscalers’ Azure, AWS, and GCP platforms with an understanding of cloud data warehouse concepts like cloud modernization, enterprise data governance, analytics, and reporting.
• Ability to navigate multi‑agents: Azure OpenAI, CoPilot, Google Gemini, AWS Bedrock, SageMaker, or Anthropic cloud solutions.
• Sound knowledge of Snowflake, Databricks, Informatica and other leading data products.
• Minimum 5‑7 years hands‑on in advanced presales AI, data & analytics solutions and services.
• 10+ years overall work experience required.
• P&L management experience.
• Excellent ability and aptitude to influence and communicate effectively with business stakeholders up to C‑suite executives.
• Experience with large‑scale consulting and program execution engagements in the AI and data analytics space.
• Ability to appreciate and work on 360‑degree aspects around an AI and data insights life cycle across the business value chain.
• Strong technical skills with the ability to find technical solutions to business problems and engage the potential customer with “consultative selling” is essential.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and executive presentation and persuasion skills are required.
• MS or MBA degree preferred.

The annual salary for this position is between $190,000 - $220,000 depending on the experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program and stock awards, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.