Job Description

• Location: Toronto, Ontario
• Type: Permanent
• Job #18289

AI Strategist & Implementation Director
Overview
Our client is seeking an experienced AI Strategist & Implementation Director to lead the development and integration of artificial intelligence across their agency. This role is responsible for defining and executing the organization's AI vision, ensuring it drives both internal efficiency and client-facing innovation. With a strong background in process mapping, project management, and change management, the successful candidate will guide teams through transformation while balancing strategic foresight with operational excellence.
The AI Strategist & Implementation Director will collaborate across all departments - strategy, creation, media, production, and consulting, as well as with various partners to identify, test, and scale AI solutions that enrich capabilities, strengthen operations, and generate new high-performing offerings.
Key Responsibilities
AI Strategy & Leadership
Audit current practices and map processes to identify AI-driven optimization opportunities across all departments.
Define and champion the agency's AI vision, aligning leadership and teams behind a shared roadmap for adoption.
Contribute to the development of monetization opportunities and AI-enabled client services.
Transformation, Process Mapping & Operations
Translate strategic vision into actionable roadmaps and project plans with clear milestones, deliverables, and accountability.
Lead the prototyping, testing, and full-scale implementation of AI solutions (agents, workflows, automation, knowledge management).
Document practices (guidelines, workflows, KPIs) to ensure clarity, adoption, and long-term scalability.
Oversee change management initiatives, ensuring smooth adoption and minimizing disruption.
Partner with creative, strategy, and media teams to integrate AI into workflows while safeguarding human creativity.
Innovation & Experimentation
Design and develop proprietary AI products and services in collaboration with the agency and external partners.
Foster a culture of experimentation and intrapreneurship across teams.
Bridge emerging AI practices with traditional agency expertise to create differentiated client offerings.
Partnerships & Ecosystem Development
Build and manage relationships with technology providers, academia, and industry partners.
Evaluate internal development versus external vendor solutions based on scalability, ROI, and risk.
Training, Governance & Change Management
Lead training initiatives to build AI literacy, confidence, and applied expertise across teams.
Establish guidelines and best practices for responsible, ethical, and compliant AI usage.
Act as a change leader, embedding new systems and processes into daily operations.
Qualifications & Experience
7+ years' experience in advertising, creative technology, innovation, or product development.
Demonstrated expertise in process mapping, project management, and leading change management initiatives.
Strong knowledge of AI tools applied to marketing, creative workflows, and operational processes.
Proven success in managing cross-functional, multidisciplinary projects with competing priorities.
Ability to combine strategic vision with operational delivery.
Familiarity with content creation workflows, digital strategy, and solution design.
Strong communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to align stakeholders.
Additional Assets
Experience with AI APIs, prompt engineering, or scripting tools.
Certification or training in project management (PMP, Agile, Scrum) or change management (PROSCI, ADKAR).
Background in consulting, digital transformation, or enterprise systems integration.
Why Join
This is an opportunity to shape the future of AI within a leading creative agency. The AI Strategist & Implementation Director will have the mandate to architect scalable transformation, drive innovation, and lead organizational change, making a direct impact on both internal performance and the client work that defines the agency's reputation.

Skills Required