AI Manager / Senior Project Lead (m/f/x)

Your tasks will include 

• Steer a portfolio of engagements. Manage multiple concurrent projects or large-scale complex programs for our partner companies; build the structures, processes, and governance that enable scalable, high-quality delivery across parallel workstreams.
• Be a trusted strategic advisor to client leadership. Maintain enduring C-suite relationships that transcend individual initiatives; orchestrate complex multi-stakeholder engagements; bring executive presence and structured narratives to influence direction across the client’s leadership ecosystem.
• Drive follow-on business and grow accounts. Formalise pipeline coming out of delivery, shape the next-phase narrative, align stakeholders, and co-lead proposals and negotiations (scope choices, commercials, staffing strategy) - while actively improving account economics through scope control, change requests, and utilisation discipline.
• Shape appliedAI’s offerings and signature area. Design and improve methodologies for systematic problem-solving across multiple domains; develop a recognised signature area within appliedAI; link insights to create thought leadership and new client opportunities (e.g., talk, article, case, reusable playbook).
• Lead cross-team and internal initiatives. Represent appliedAI in cross-team initiatives, influence delivery standards and ways of working, and lead internal initiatives that build organisational capacity for cross-functional excellence.
• Develop people and grow the next generation of leaders. Invest time to teach and coach others; model an apprenticeship culture; manage teams through complex situations; create deliberate learning opportunities for junior colleagues and develop AI Project Leads / Senior AI Consultants into their next level.
• Deliver measurable business impact. Drive significant, quantifiable business improvements across multiple teams or departments at our clients; own outcomes that shift performance metrics at department level, including leveraging advancements like AI agents to unlock new value.
• Stay at the frontier of AI. Stay up to date with strategic AI questions,state-of-the-art research, and emerging AI capabilities - translating them into concrete value for our clients and our internal offerings.

• An outstanding academic record in a business- or tech-related subject.
• Substantial experience (>10years) as a Strategy or Management Consultant, Project Lead, or comparable with a track record of owning large, complex projects or running multiple concurrent AI engagements end-to-end.
• Hands-on experience applying AI within companies, combined with the ability to design methodologies, set quality standards, and build governance that enable delivery to scale.
• Strong business development mindset and trusted-advisor presence at C-suite - comfortable co-leading proposals, negotiations, and account growth, and building enduring client leadership relationships.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills - you translate complex AI topics into business impact for any audience (C-Level, Domain Experts, Operational Teams) and stay composed in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
• A people leader and coach who actively develops others, leads internal initiatives, and ideally contributes to thought leadership (e.g., talks, articles, cases, reusable playbooks).
• Fluency in English and German is .

• A highly qualified and motivated team of ~90 people is on a journey to change the rapidly evolving European AI Landscape
• Experience the best of both worlds with our hybrid work model: You can choose to work from our vibrant offices - either at the IPAI in Heilbronn or the House of Communication in Munich - while also enjoying the flexibility to work remotely a few days each week
• Opportunity to shape a variety of projects and the development of new, original content based on the latest developments in AI and its adoption in businesses
• An atmosphere that encourages to think and experiment in new ways with software, hardware, and processes
• A highly visible initiative that helps you build a large and high-level network of start-ups, partners, and tech companies
• No fixed budget for growth – you decide how you want to develop, whether through training, certifications, conferences, or new challenges
• Sports membership with Wellpass to access thousands of sports facilities all over Germany (and beyond), as well as online courses
• JobRad: Lease a bike for a cheaper rate via JobRad and we cover the bike insurance on top 
• Sabbatical option: You can take a sabbatical of up to 3 months after min. 3 years of employment - because sometimes 30 vacation days are not enough to explore the beauty of this world
• PME Familienservice: A 24/7 support for a successful work & life in any life situation. Benefit from free support in areas like life coaching, child care and many other options
• Mobility budget: Every month we contribute to your individual mobility usage with public transport or shared mobility offers within the app Moovster
• Workation: Work from anywhere in the EU/EWR area for up to 3 months per year - combining working at a nice place and spending your leisure time in the evening like vacation