Associate Director, AI & Business Transformation (US)

Code and Theory is hiring an Associate Director to work at the core of business transformation engagements within our Enterprise Transformation practice. You will conduct organizational diagnostics, redesign workflows and operating models, support technology adoption, and use AI tools to demonstrate value inside real client processes.

This is not an advisory role. The expectation is direct: you can design the solution and build the proof of concept that shows it working.

Depending on the client engagement, this role may operate in a forward-deployed capacity — embedded inside a client team, working alongside their engineers, product leads, and operators to ship solutions in real time. That is not a separate track or program. It is a mode this work requires, and the expectation is that you are ready for it when the account calls for it.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Map current-state workflows end-to-end and diagnose root causes of operational friction — handoff failures, governance gaps, tooling mismatches, incentive misalignment
• Redesign processes for target-state operations: leaner workflows, clearer decision rights, human-agent collaboration where AI accelerates throughput
• Design operating models: org structure, roles, governance, cross-functional interaction models
• Establish performance baselines before engagements begin; build the measurement framework that tracks improvement over the engagement — not just at the end
• Identify value gaps in stalled implementations: diagnose where technology deployment has outpaced business adoption and restore the path to ROI
• Build reporting cadences that give clients a clear line from initiative to impact
• Build working AI-powered prototypes directly: LLM APIs, platform-native features, no-code and low-code environments; you have shipped something functional
• Use prototypes as the primary tool for stakeholder alignment — a working demo inside the client's actual process is more effective than a roadmap
• Evaluate where AI changes a workflow and where it is a distraction; advise clients accordingly without overselling
• Support rollout of new tools and workflows; ensure adoption is grounded in process design and change management, not just deployment
• Design enablement materials that make new technology stick
• Ensure technology implementations connect to the operating model they are designed to support
• Support complex engagement scoping where client needs are ambiguous or span multiple services
• Conduct diagnostic assessments: value capture, implementation readiness, adoption strategy
• Contribute reusable frameworks and tools that improve how the practice qualifies and scopes work

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• 5-10 years in management consulting or equivalent roles at enterprise technology, SaaS, or professional services
• Demonstrated experience in at least two of: organizational design, operating model transformation, change management, technology enablement, process engineering, or go-to-market execution
• Track record of building structured, evidence-based arguments for senior stakeholders
• Experience on organizational assessments, process redesigns, or large-scale technology rollouts is a strong differentiator
• Hands-on experience building AI-powered workflows, automations, or prototypes — you have shipped something functional, not just designed it
• Ability to scope and build a working proof of concept within the constraints of a client engagement — fast, focused, and designed to move a skeptical stakeholder
• Comfort working without a dedicated engineering team; you know when to build it yourself and when to pull in help
• Working knowledge of the enterprise marketing technology landscape and where adoption typically breaks down organizationally
• Familiarity with the Adobe ecosystem — AEM, Workfront, GenStudio, Firefly, Adobe Analytics, Marketo — is a strong differentiator
• Diagnostician first: resist jumping to solutions before you understand exactly what is broken and why
• Accountable to outcomes, not deliverables — a good deck that does not change anything is a failure
• Biased toward early proof: you would rather build a working prototype than produce a roadmap that sits in a shared drive
• Most useful close to the work, inside the client team
• Bachelor's degree required
• Willingness to travel within the US (10-20%)

ABOUT US

Born in 2001, Code and Theory is a digital-first creative agency that sits at the center of creativity and technology. We pride ourselves on not only solving consumer and business problems, but also helping to establish new capabilities for our clients. With a global client roster of Fortune 100s and start-ups alike, we crave the hardest problems to solve. We have teams distributed across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. The Code and Theory global network of agencies is growing and includes Kettle, Instrument, Left Field Labs, Create Group, Current, and TrueLogic.

Striving never to be pigeonholed, we work across every major category: from tech to CPG, financial services to travel & hospitality, government and education to media and publishing. We value the collaboration with our client partners, including but not limited to Adidas, Amazon, Con Edison, Diageo, EY, J.P. Morgan Chase, Lenovo, Marriott, Mars, Microsoft, Thomson Reuters, and TikTok.

The Code and Theory network is comprised of nearly 2,000 people with 50% engineers and 50% creative talent. We’re always on the lookout for smart, driven, and forward-thinking people to join our team.

The compensation range for this role is $110,000 – $160,000 and spans multiple levels. We're open to hiring at the level that best matches the right candidate's experience. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, budget, and location.