Associate Director, Applied AI Strategy

Publicis Groupe; New York (NY); On-site; USD 112,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Publicis Groupe seeks a leader to set vision and standards for AI agent and skill development on the MRCL (Marcel) platform in New York. You will audit complex processes, architect scalable workflows, and manage a team delivering AI-enabled solutions across data, media, and marketing.

The role requires 4–5 years in marketing/media, strong collaboration skills, and experience with cloud environments. You will influence platform roadmaps and lead client-facing demos and proposals.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in Business, Economics, or a strategy-related field.
• 4-5 years of relevant experience in marketing and media agencies or adjacents.
• Proficiency in analyzing workflows and strategic recommendations.
• Experience with cloud environments and marketing tech design projects.
• Creative problem solving with structured thinking.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills; resourceful teammate.
• Excellent data-informed decision making and intuition.
• Experience with co-located and virtual teams; strong time management.

Responsibilities

• Vertical Solution Design: translate business needs into AI workflows using platform capabilities and models.
• Path-to-Solution Evaluation: decide on adapting existing capabilities or custom client flows.
• Cross-Functional Scoping: collaborate with Product, Strategy, Engineering, and Delivery to scope proposals.
• Storytelling & Demos: present use cases mapping client challenges to platform capabilities.
• Commercial Alignment: align on commercial models and timelines meeting client expectations.
• Roadmap Influence: bring vertical context into platform roadmaps with client needs.
• Feedback Loop Management: surface client friction for future enhancements and scalable use cases.
• Internal Enablement: develop and present solution materials to enable internal teams.

Skills

Workflow analysis

Strategic thinking

Cloud environments

Marketing tech design

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Decision making

Time management

Education

BA/BS in Business or Economics

Job description

Company description

Publicis Groupe is a global leader in communication and is positioned at every step of the value chain, from consulting to execution, combining marketing transformation and digital business transformation. Through a unified and fluid organization, Publicis Groupe partners with its clients across communication, media, data and technology to ensure access to the full breadth of capabilities in every market. Present in over 100 countries, Publicis Groupe employs around 103,000 professionals.

Overview

A leader who sets the vision and standards for AI agent and skill development on the MRCL (Marcel) platform, leveraging deep expertise in media data and AI-native building to audit complex business processes and architect them into scalable, measurable workflows. Manages and develops a team while designing vertical-specific platform and service solutions and leading cross-functional, consulting-style projects to scale adoption of AI offerings across data, media, and marketing.

Responsibilities

• Vertical Solution Design:Shape vertical-specific solutions by translating key business needs into AI workflows using platform functionality, DSAI models, partners, and net-new builds.
• Path-to-Solution Evaluation:Assess whether to adapt existing cross-vertical capabilities or design custom client or vertical flows to solve client problems.
• Cross-Functional Scoping:Drive collaboration with Product, Strategy, Engineering, Data Science, and Delivery to scope, price, and structure proposals.
• Storytelling & Demos:Present use cases that map client challenges to platform capabilities, using storytelling and live demos to earn stakeholder buy-in.
• Commercial Alignment:Align on commercial models and timelines that meet client expectations while advancing CoreAI program goals.
• Roadmap Influence:Bring vertical context into platform roadmaps by translating client and market needs into clear product input.
• Feedback Loop Management:Surface common client challenges and friction points from delivery to guide future enhancements and prioritize scalable use cases.
• Internal Enablement:Develop and present solution overviews, narratives, and learning materials to enable internal teams and support new business pursuits.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in Business, Economics, or a strategy-related field.
• 4-5 years of relevant experience in marketing and media agencies or adjacent organizations (ad-/mar-tech, consultancies, client-side marketing).
• Proficiency in analyzing workflows and processes and making strategic recommendations aligned with business objectives.
• Experience with cloud environments and marketing technology solution design projects.
• Creative problem solver with strongintuitionand structured thinking.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills; highly resourceful team player.
• Excellent creative thinker using both data and intuition for decision-making.
• Experience working with co-located and virtual teams.
• Impeccable time management and strong judgment on high-priority, confidential initiatives.

Additional information

Our Publicis Groupe motto “Viva La Différence” means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent.

Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K, as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact [e-mail].

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Veterans Encouraged to Apply.

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Compensation Range: USD $112,290.00 - USD $179,712.00/Annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 9/5/2026.