Director, Applied AI Strategy

Publicis Groupe ANZ; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 217,000; Full time

Job summary

Publicis Groupe in New York seeks a vision-driven leader to define AI agent and skill development on the Marcel platform. You will audit complex business processes, design scalable workflows, and guide cross-functional teams across data, media, and marketing to scale AI adoption.

You will shape platform roadmaps, lead executive storytelling with live demos, and develop commercial models that align client needs with CoreAI program goals while maintaining a strong executive presence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, or related strategy field.
• 7–10 years in marketing/media agencies or adjacent orgs with leadership of complex initiatives.
• Experience analyzing workflows and translating into scalable solutions.
• Strong cloud, martech, and data-driven decision making.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams across remote/onsite settings.

Responsibilities

• Own strategy and design of vertical-specific AI workflows.
• Lead path-to-solution and cross-functional collaboration.
• Present use cases with demos to senior stakeholders.
• Shape commercial models and timelines.
• Influence platform roadmaps with client priorities.
• Establish feedback loops across client and delivery teams.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Executive presence

Stakeholder influence

Analytical mindset

Team leadership

Problem solving

Education

BA/BS in Business

Economics background

Tools

Cloud platforms

MarTech stack

Data modeling

Job description

Company description

Present in over 100 countries and employing nearly 80,000 professionals, Publicis Groupe is the third largest communications group in the world. Publicis Groupe is listed on the Euronext Paris [FR0000130577] and is part of the CAC 40 index. Active across the entire value chain, Publicis Groupe offers its major clients a transversal, unified and fluid model allowing them access to all the Groupe’s tools and expertise around the world through the mantra "The Power of One."

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 Strategy: Own the strategy and design of vertical-specific solutions by translating key business needs into AI workflows using platform functionality, DSAI models, partners, and net-new builds.
• Path-to-Solution Leadership: Set the approach for adapting existing cross-vertical capabilities or designing bespoke client and vertical flows to solve complex client problems.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Lead collaboration with Product, Strategy, Engineering, Data Science, and Delivery to scope, price, structure, and prioritize proposals and strategic initiatives.
• Executive Storytelling & Demos: Present use cases that map client challenges to platform capabilities, using compelling storytelling and live demos to earn senior stakeholder and client buy-in.
• Commercial Leadership: Shape commercial models, priorities, and timelines that meet client expectations while advancing CoreAI program goals.
• Roadmap Influence: Serve as a senior voice for vertical needs in platform roadmaps, translating client and market priorities into clear product direction and investment recommendations.
• Feedback Loop Management: Establish feedback loops across client and delivery teams to identify common challenges, guide future enhancements, and prioritize scalable use cases.
• Internal Enablement & Leadership: Set the narrative and enablement approach for AI solutions, developing materials and guidance that equip internal teams and support strategic new business pursuits.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in Business, Economics, or a strategy-related discipline.
• 7-10 years of relevant experience in marketing and media agencies or adjacent organizations (ad-/mar-tech, consultancies, client-side marketing), including experience leading complex strategic initiatives.
• Demonstrated expertise in analyzing complex workflows and processes, setting strategic direction, and translating recommendations into scalable solutions aligned with business objectives.
• Deep experience with cloud environments, marketing technology, and complex solution design initiatives.
• Creative problem solver with strongintuitionand structured thinking.
• Strong executive presence, interpersonal skills, and ability to influence across senior cross-functional stakeholders.
• Excellent strategic thinker who uses both data and intuition to make decisions and set direction.
• Experience leading and developing teams across co-located and virtual environments.
• Impeccable time management and strong judgment when leading high-priority, complex, and 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.

#LI-RM3

Compensation

Compensation Range: USD $135,375.00 - USD $216,684.00/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 10/8/2026.