Practice Lead - AI Strategy and Transformation

Kognitiv Inc.; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Kognitiv Inc. is seeking an AI Practice Lead to establish and scale our Artificial Intelligence practice, blending strategy, executive advisory, and hands-on execution.

You will shape internal capabilities while guiding clients through transformative AI journeys, translating technical complexity into business value. In this role you will lead AI strategy development, drive governance and ROI-focused roadmaps, mentor future leaders, and build repeatable frameworks for client delivery.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in technology consulting, digital transformation, software engineering, or enterprise advisory.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams or driving enterprise-scale tech programs.
• Deep understanding of the modern AI ecosystem (LLMs, generative AI tools, prompt engineering, agentic workflows, automation).
• Proven track record translating AI architectures into business metrics, ROI, and executive messaging.
• Strong track record running executive strategy sessions, discovery workshops, and POC presentations.
• Ability to drive technology adoption and structure initiatives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills with executive presence.

Responsibilities

• Define, evolve, and execute the practice’s offerings, roadmap, and go-to-market methodology.
• Partner with Marketing and Sales to create service collateral and thought leadership content.
• Represent the firm at industry conferences, panels, and community forums.
• Serve as trusted advisor to C-suite on AI readiness, risk, governance, and implementation roadmaps.
• Facilitate discovery workshops to identify practical AI use cases with clear business outcomes.
• Support pre-sales with compelling presentations, demos, and ROI models.
• Lead evaluation, architecture, and execution of AI POCs, generative agents, and automation workflows.
• Develop governance, playbooks, and repeatable delivery frameworks; mentor AI champions.

Skills

AI strategy

Leadership

Executive messaging

Discovery workshops

POC presentations

Business metrics ROI

Technology adoption

Communication skills

Job description

At Kognitiv Inc., we’re redefining what it means to be a Workday partner. As one of the fastest-growing companies in the ecosystem, we bring deep expertise, innovative thinking, and a people-first mindset to everything we do. We’re not just building better Workday solutions—we’re building a company where talented people thrive.**Ready to do your best work? Join us.**The **AI Practice Lead** will establish and scale our Artificial Intelligence practice, driving meaningful adoption for both our internal teams and external clients. Blending high-level strategy, executive advisory, and hands-on execution, you will shape our internal capabilities while guiding clients through transformative AI journeys. In this role, you will bridge the gap between technical complexity and business value—helping leadership translate emerging AI trends into high-impact ROI. Success here isn’t measured solely by your personal technical output, but by your ability to build organizational momentum, mentor future leaders, and build repeatable frameworks that enable others to lead. **Key Responsibilities****AI Strategy & Practice Development*** Define, evolve, and execute the practice’s service offerings, roadmap, and go-to-market methodology.* Partner with Marketing and Sales to create compelling service collateral and thought leadership content (e.g., whitepapers, webinars, podcasts, and articles).* Establish the firm as an AI authority by representing the company at industry conferences, panels, and community forums. **Client Advisory & Business Value*** Serve as a trusted advisor to C-suite and executive clients on AI readiness, risk mitigation, governance, and long-term implementation roadmaps.* Facilitate strategic discovery workshops to identify practical, high-impact AI use cases aligned with clear business outcomes.* Support pre-sales and business development with compelling presentations, solution demos, and outcome-based ROI models.* Establish frameworks that articulate the long-term productivity and innovation gains of AI deployment. **Solutions & Innovation*** Lead the evaluation, architecture, and execution of AI proof-of-concepts (POCs), generative AI agents, and intelligent automation workflows.* Continuous evaluation of emerging LLMs, platforms, frameworks, and AI tools to ensure optimal tech selection for client and internal needs.* Build reusable assets, accelerators, and code/prompt templates to speed up client delivery and build practice efficiency. **Organizational Enablement & Capability Development*** Cultivate AI literacy across technical and business teams through structured workshops, training programs, and playbooks.* Identify and empower \"AI Champions\" across departments to foster a culture of responsible innovation.* Establish scalable governance, ethical AI guidelines, and repeatable delivery frameworks. **Leadership & Organizational Change*** Drive change management strategies that address the human side of AI adoption, helping clients re-skill workforce segments.* Lead through influence across cross-functional, multi-disciplinary teams without relying on direct authority.* Mentor and develop the next generation of technical leads and consultants. **Required Qualifications*** 8+ years of experience in technology consulting, digital transformation, software engineering, or enterprise advisory.* 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams, leading practice areas, or driving enterprise-scale technology programs.* Deep understanding of the modern AI ecosystem (LLMs, generative AI tools, prompt engineering, agentic workflows, and automation platforms).* Proven track record translating complex AI architectures into business metrics, ROI, and clear executive messaging.* Strong track record running executive strategy sessions, discovery workshops, and technical POC presentations.* Demonstrated ability to drive technology adoption and structure initiatives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.* Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills with natural executive presence. **Preferred Qualifications*** Experience building or scaling an AI/Analytics Center of Excellence (CoE) or dedicated service practice within a professional services or consulting firm.* Experience authoring published AI thought leadership content or presenting at tech conferences.* Exposure to enterprise SaaS ecosystems (e.g., HR, Finance, ERP platforms, or Workday) is a plus, but not required.* History of active involvement in pre-sales, solution architecture, and RFP responses. **Kognitiv is an Equal Opportunity Employer**All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. Kognitiv will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in a manner consistent with the requirements of the law, including any applicable fair chance law.