Head of AI Strategic Initiatives

Vannin Chief of Staff has been retained by a leading global law firm to identify a Head of AI Strategic Initiatives.

Our client is a globally recognized firm with a significant international footprint spanning the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific. The firm has recently undergone a period of meaningful strategic transformation and has made artificial intelligence a cornerstone of its long-term growth agenda. The firm’s first-ever Chief AI Officer leads a global AI team operating across multiple regions and sits on the firm’s senior executive committee, reporting directly to the Global CEO. This is not a side initiative - it is one of the firm’s most visible and consequential strategic investments.

The firm’s culture is anchored in collaboration, high performance, and a genuine investment in its people. You will be joining an AI team that is actively shaping the future of the industry and doing so with the full weight of global firm leadership behind it.

Job Description

The Head of AI Strategic Initiatives serves as the trusted right hand advisor and strategic operator for the Chief AI Officer and the AI senior leadership team, providing senior-level support across all matters. The role is designed to enable the Chief AI Officer to operate at the highest level - ensuring the most critical priorities move forward with speed, precision, and accountability while this person serves as the connective force across the global AI organization.

To support the broader strategic development and growth of AI within the firm, this individual will help to shape strategy across the AI team and empower information flow and collaboration across regionally-focused Directors (US, UK/EMEA, APAC). They will be expected to build exceptional internal relationships, enabling the Chief AI Officer to stay abreast of priorities across the wider organization - something critical to ensuring strategic alignment and delivery of the firm’s global AI ambitions. Collaboration with stakeholders outside the AI team will also be central to the success of this role.

The successful candidate will develop an intimate understanding of the firm, its culture, and the business objectives of the AI team, and will be capable of quickly building credibility with both partners and Business Services colleagues. They must be able to work with and through others, forming close working relationships across HR, Business Finance, and Business Development.

The demands of this role will vary. It provides exposure to a wide range of work - from the highly strategic to the operationally precise - and requires someone who is entirely comfortable moving across that full spectrum.

This is a full-time, exempt position based in New York, NY, with travel up to 10%. London-based candidates will also be considered. This is a hybrid role, typically 3 days/week in office (midtown Manhattan).

Responsibilities

Business Planning & Management

• Establish and maintain foundational operating systems: planning frameworks, communication cadences, accountability structures, and meeting rhythms for the global AI team

• Support the Chief AI Officer in preparing and updating AI business plans, and ensure implementation and follow-through where required

• Partner closely with strategic roles across the firm to enable the Chief AI Officer to deliver on global priorities

• Ensure the firm’s policies and processes are followed and implemented appropriately across the AI function

• Own and drive special projects as directed by the Chief AI Officer, making things happen in a complex, matrixed environment

Communications & Executive Presence

• Prepare high-impact materials for Council and Executive-level meetings, including partner-facing presentations, business reports, and speeches on behalf of the Chief AI Officer

• Ensure meetings are well-organized: agendas set, actions agreed, follow-ups tracked, and relevant information cascaded appropriately

• Draft partner-level communications and build a reusable library of modular AI collateral that can be adapted efficiently across audiences

• Serve as the connective tissue across teams, bringing a diplomatic, tactical, and empathetic presence to every interaction

• Organize broader meetings, conferences, and firm-wide convenings as needed

Financial Performance

• Support the Chief AI Officer and Head of Business Finance in monitoring team performance against target

• Contribute to budget preparation and re-forecasting as required, ensuring financial visibility and accountability across the AI function

Operational Management & Team Alignment

• Ensure the efficient operational management of the AI team day-to-day, coordinating across the three regional directors on both standalone projects and cyclical processes

• Act as a trusted sounding board for members of the senior AI team, the wider partnership, and Business Services colleagues

• Actively manage the Chief AI Officer’s communications flow, surfacing critical partner and leadership requests with speed and sound judgment

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required

• 7 years of professional experience, with meaningful time in management consulting (MBB preferred), strategy, or a Chief of Staff / senior strategic operations role

• Demonstrated ability to work in a global, regional, and local context and address complex issues at all three levels

• Knowledge, experience, and gravitas to engender the confidence of senior partners and firm leadership, coupled with the interpersonal skills to articulate strategic views and contribute meaningfully to decision-making

• Demonstrated ability to produce executive-grade presentations and written communications for senior audiences including board-level, partner-level, and C-suite stakeholders - with a high bar for clarity, visual storytelling, and precision

• Proven ability to “roll up the sleeves” - this role moves fluidly between high-level strategy and hands-on implementation

• Experience working with senior stakeholders in a professional services context; comfortable with complexity, nuance, and strong influencing across organizational lines

• Demonstrated experience leading change initiatives and implementing projects from inception through delivery

• Highly motivated self-starter with strong organizational, project management, and written communication skills

• Strong team player with a proven ability to bring cross-functional groups together to deliver results within required timeframes

Preferred Skills & Attributes

• Master’s degree in law or business preferred (MBA, JD, or both); Ivy League or top-tier institution a plus

• Experience in legal, professional services, or a similarly complex institutional environment

• Genuine curiosity about AI and emerging technology

Core Competencies

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to produce business reports and executive materials for global and regional audiences

• Strategic and analytical thinker with the commercial acumen to analyze data and present logical recommendations

• High level of integrity and discretion; handles confidential information with sound judgment

• Strong emotional intelligence and the ability to read the room in politically sensitive environments

• Demonstrates strength of character - resilient in the face of challenge and resistance

• Builds trusted relationships with partners and senior colleagues through influence rather than authority

• Develops an intricate, working understanding of the firm - its priorities, its politics, and its people

• Flexible and adaptable; willing and able to operate across a wide range of tasks based on evolving leadership needs

• Humble with a team-first mindset; the role is that of a true Chief of Staff/trusted advisor

Compensation Range: DOE $275-325K/year Base compensation Bonus

What are the Benefits of Joining Our Team?

Comprehensive benefits package including generous time off (25 vacation days, 8 sick, 10 firm holidays), Medical/Dental/Vision, HSA/FSA, Life and AD&D Insurance, 401k, Pet insurance...

What to Expect from Our Selection Process

The process includes:

• Vannin Chief of Staff Predictive Index Behavioral Assessment

• Vannin Chief of Staff Screening: 15 min phone interview & 30 min video interview

• Client Interview 1: Virtual interview with HR Leader

• Client Interview 2: Virtual or In-person Interview with Chief AI Officer

• Client Interview 3: Panel Meeting with Regional Directors

• Case Study

• Final Interview: In-person with Chief AI Officer, Executive Team Member, and Chief of Staff

Our client is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workplace where our employees can thrive and be themselves! We welcome all persons into our community. We embrace the diversity of gender, gender identity or expression, race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, physical and mental disabilities, medical condition, genetic characteristic, sexual orientation, marital status, family care or medical leave status, military or veteran status, or perceived membership in any of these groups.