Chief AI Officer

Chief AI Officer

Location: Remote (Preference for Chicago area)

Overview

Our client is seeking a Chief AI Officer to build and lead their enterprise AI capability from the ground up. This is not a maintenance role. This is a creation role.

The organization is highly technology-driven but does not yet have a formal AI strategy, infrastructure, or team in place. The Chief AI Officer will define the vision, establish the roadmap, and lead execution across the business.

This role sits at the intersection of business strategy and advanced technology. The right leader will translate AI capabilities into measurable outcomes such as revenue growth, operational efficiency, and improved customer engagement.

What You Will Own

You will take full ownership of how AI is defined, built, and deployed across the organization.

• Establish the company's AI vision and strategy aligned to business priorities
• Identify and prioritize use cases that drive revenue growth and cost optimization
• Design and implement the AI roadmap across functions including marketing, operations, and customer experience
• Build the AI function from the ground up including team, tools, and governance
• Partner with executive leadership and the board to align AI initiatives with long-term business strategy
• Evaluate and select AI platforms, tools, and technologies that best support the organization's direction
• Ensure responsible and compliant use of AI including data governance, privacy, and risk management
• Define success metrics and track ROI across all AI initiatives

What Success Looks Like

• AI is embedded into core business processes, not operating as a side initiative
• Measurable impact on revenue growth, customer acquisition, retention, and cost structure
• A clear and scalable AI platform that supports future innovation
• Strong executive alignment and adoption across the organization

What You Bring

This role requires both strategic leadership and technical credibility.

• Experience building or leading an enterprise AI strategy, ideally from early-stage or greenfield environments
• Strong business acumen with the ability to tie AI initiatives directly to financial outcomes
• Solid understanding of AI, machine learning, and data platforms with the ability to guide technical teams
• Proven ability to operate at the executive level and influence cross-functional stakeholders
• Experience evaluating and implementing AI technologies in a business setting
• Leadership experience building and developing high-performing teams

Profile

• Strategic thinker with a builder mindset
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and creating structure where none exists
• Strong communicator who can translate complex concepts into clear business value
• Balanced perspective across innovation, risk, and execution

Why This Role

This is an opportunity to define how an organization leverages AI at its core. You are not inheriting a system. You are creating it.

If you are looking for a role where you can shape strategy, build capability, and drive measurable impact, this is that opportunity.