Kearney Activate Vice President, Data & AI Strategy

Kearney; Massachusetts; Hybrid; USD 290,000 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Discretionary bonuses

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision

401(k) and profit sharing

Remote work options

Learning & leadership development

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Kearney Activate seeks a visionary Vice President of Data & AI Strategy to guide clients through transformative data and AI initiatives. You will lead strategic engagements, shape offerings, and drive measurable business impact while partnering with diverse teams across geographies.

In this executive role, you will translate complex data concepts into actionable plans, mentor teams, and contribute to the growth of data-enabled services.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in data, analytics, and AI, ideally with a consulting or professional services background.
• 5+ years in hybrid delivery and commercial roles leading large-scale, multi-year AI and data transformation initiatives from strategy to execution.
• Deep knowledge of ML, NLP, generative AI, cloud-native architectures, MLOps, data platforms, and governance frameworks.
• Business-minded with a proven ability to translate data and AI into measurable client value.
• Strong communicator and storyteller for executive audiences.
• Experience in fast-paced, high-growth environments.

Responsibilities

• Build trusted C-suite relationships and advise clients on data and AI strategies delivering measurable outcomes.
• Lead pursuits, proposals, and thought leadership for data and AI transformations.
• Shape Activate's go-to-market strategy for data, analytics, and AI offerings and stay ahead of emerging technologies.
• Oversee delivery across multiple teams, ensuring governance, scalability, and architecture validity.
• Foster a culture of innovation and coach a global AI/data talent base.

Skills

Data & AI strategy

Executive leadership

Hybrid delivery leadership

ML & NLP & generative AI

Cloud-native architectures

MLOps

Data governance

Client relationship management

Communication & storytelling

Regulatory compliance awareness

Education

Advanced degree in data science or AI

Job description

Job Description

As a Vice President at Kearney Activate, you will be a key leader driving data and AI strategy, helping clients unlock measurable business impact through advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and decision intelligence.

Working alongside a diverse and dynamic team, you will guide organizations through complex data and AI transformations, shaping strategy and execution from end to end. In this role, you will bridge ambition and delivery - translating data and AI capabilities into real business outcomes.

At Kearney Activate, you will find an entrepreneurial environment where deep technical expertise meets client impact, all supported by the global scale, reach, and reputation of Kearney. With the freedom to lead boldly and recognition for what you bring to the table, you can put your purpose into action and help define the future of data and AI - as a Kearney Original.

Position Summary

We are seeking an energetic, visionary, and client-focused leader to serve as Vice President of Data & AI Strategy. This is a hands-on executive role at the intersection of business, technology, and innovation.

You’ll shape and own major client relationships, lead Data and AI-driven transformations, and define the next generation of data and analytics offerings. While you won’t be coding daily, you must have real depth in data architecture, governance and AI/ML technologies with the ability to guide teams, inspire clients, and roll up your sleeves when needed.

This role is about being the bridge: turning ambition into strategy, strategy into delivery, and delivery into measurable growth.

Who You Are

After nearly 100 years, we know this business is fundamentally about making connections - between insights, strategy, technology, and people. That’s why we look for visionary, curious, and client-focused leaders who thrive at the intersection of business and innovation.

We Want To Hear From You If You Are

• An experienced leader with 12+ years in data, analytics, and AI, ideally with a consulting or professional services background.
• Skilled in bridging technology and business, with 5+ years in hybrid delivery and commercial roles leading large-scale, multi-year AI and data transformation initiatives from strategy to execution.
• Deeply knowledgeable about modern data and AI technologies, including machine learning, natural language processing, generative AI, cloud-native architectures, MLOps, data platforms, and governance frameworks.
• Business-minded, with a proven ability to translate data and AI capabilities into measurable impact and sustained client value.
• A strong communicator and storyteller who can influence and inspire executive audiences.
• Resilient, optimistic, and energized by working in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
• Preferred:
• Educated with an advanced degree in data science, AI, or a related field.
• Experienced in industries such as life sciences, financial services, retail, or manufacturing.
• Recognized as a thought leader or contributor within the data and AI community through speaking, publishing, or industry engagement.
• Knowledgeable about data ethics, responsible AI, and regulatory compliance frameworks.

What You Will Do

Client & Market Leadership

• Build trusted C-suite relationships, advising clients on data and AI strategies that unlock measurable outcomes.
• Lead pursuits, proposals, and thought leadership, positioning Activate as the partner of choice for data and AI transformation.
• Represent Activate in the market as a recognized data and AI leader through conferences, publications, and executive forums.

Data, AI & Analytics Strategy

• Shape Activate's go-to-market strategy for data, analytics, and AI, including packaging, pricing, and positioning of offerings.
• Stay ahead of the curve on emerging data and AI technologies (e.g. data platforms, governance frameworks, generative AI, LLMs, MLOps, and data fabric) and translate them into practical client solutions.
• Drive innovation in areas such as predictive modeling, decision intelligence, data integration, personalization, and responsible AI.
• Embed robust data governance, data quality, and management practices that enable scalable and trusted AI outcomes.
• Advise clients on data platform modernization - covering cloud data ecosystems, data mesh, and real-time analytics to ensure AI readiness.

Delivery Excellence

• Oversee multiple teams to ensure world-class delivery, governance, and scalability.
• Guide solution architecture and validate critical data and AI designs.
• Step in during pivotal project phases, whether facilitating a data strategy or AI transformation workshop, leading a design sprint, or shaping a prototype.
• Ensure end-to-end data lifecycle excellence - from ingestion and modeling to analytics and AI enablement.

People & Culture

• Attract, grow, and retain top AI and data talent across geographies.
• Champion a culture of innovation, optimism, and growth mindset. Foster cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing across the global team.

What Success Looks Like (12-18 Months)

• Win and deliver flagship data and AI transformations with measurable ROI.
• Strengthen Kearney Activate's market position as a recognized leader in data and AI enablement.
• Expand and elevate the global data, AI, and analytics talent bench.
• Launch or evolve innovative AI-powered service offerings.
• Achieve high client satisfaction and loyalty scores.

What We Can Offer You

Every day, our people make an impact—for our clients, our colleagues, and our communities. At Kearney, you will find competitive compensation, entrepreneurial freedom, and opportunities to shape the future of data and AI at scale.

Our people are sustained by a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to:

• Competitive base compensation with discretionary performance bonuses
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and immediate family
• Generous retirement and savings contributions
• Non-partner equity-based awards (for consulting managers and above)
• Structured learning and leadership development opportunities
• Personalized flexibility programs, including remote work, talent mobility, and externships
• Access to health, wellness, and family care benefits

Range: $290k-$325k It is important to note that at Kearney, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role. Individual salaries within each range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills. Kearney reviews compensation regularly and may adjust base salaries to reflect market competitiveness. In addition to salary, individuals may be eligible for a discretionary performance bonus. Our full suite of benefits includes paid time off, 401(k) match and profit sharing, medical, dental and vision coverage, healthcare concierge, backup child/adult care, annual employer HSA contribution, home office stipend, subsidized Gympass and annual wellness program, and leaves of absence when needed to support employees’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Read more about our benefits and a career at Kearney.com/careers.

Equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination

Kearney prides itself on providing a culture where our employees belong and thrive equally, which means our people feel comfort, confidence, and joy as they do great things for our firm, our colleagues, and our clients. That’s why Kearney is committed to building a diverse workforce and inclusive environment. Kearney is an equal opportunity employer; we recruit, hire, train, promote, develop, and provide other conditions of employment without regard to a person’s gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other differences consistent with applicable laws. This includes providing reasonable accommodation for disabilities or religious beliefs and practices. We encourage everyone to apply, including those who may not feel historically represented in consulting.