AI Advisory Lead

Accenture•Toronto, ON

2d•CA$131,700 - CA$278,100•Hybrid

About The Position

Accenture Data & AI is seeking an AI Advisory Lead to join their Public Sector team. This role involves partnering with government agencies and public institutions to drive citizen-centered transformation using AI and data capabilities. The ideal candidate is a thought leader and practitioner at the intersection of AI strategy and data delivery, capable of shaping and leading enterprise-wide AI and data transformation programs. As an Associate Director, you will coach and mentor emerging leaders, guide multi-disciplinary teams, and help clients embed AI and data capabilities into their organizational culture, with a strong emphasis on responsible AI, data governance, and public trust.

Requirements

Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, business administration, commerce, or engineering
10+ years of experience in data, AI, or digital transformation — with at least 3–5 years in a leadership or management role within consulting or a comparable environment.
Proven track record of leading large, complex AI and data transformation engagements with senior client sponsors and multi-million-dollar budgets.
Deep understanding of generative AI, LLM technologies, agentic systems, RAG, and advanced analytics, and how they map to business opportunity and operating model change.
Solid understanding of data architecture, data management practices, and cloud-based data and AI platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), including data lakes, data pipelines, and real-time data processing.
Strong business acumen with the ability to link AI and data ambitions to value creation, cost models, risk models, and operating model design.
Excellent stakeholder management skills — including experience influencing at C-suite or equivalent government leadership level, and driving strategic decisions under ambiguity.
Understanding of data governance frameworks and best practices, including data quality, security, and compliance standards.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. English is required as this role regularly interacts with stakeholders across Canada, the US, and globally.
Excellent project and programme delivery skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in public sector, government, or regulated industry engagements (federal, provincial, or municipal).
Experience within Financial Services, Health, or other regulated sectors driving AI-enabled reinvention.
Demonstrated thought leadership in AI strategy, generative AI/LLMs, or agentic automation.
Direct experience developing AI operating models, maturity assessments, and value frameworks.
Familiarity with cloud-native data services and modern data platform tooling across major cloud providers.
Prior experience managing global delivery or offshore teams.

Responsibilities

Architect and lead end-to-end AI and data transformation programmes within the public sector — from visioning and strategy through roadmap, use-case prioritisation, business case, value capture model, and scaling to full operations.
Engage with Deputy Ministers, C-suite sponsors, and senior client stakeholders to identify strategic AI and data opportunities, align them to government mandates and business objectives, and define measurable success metrics.
Define and embed AI-powered operating models, governance frameworks, organisational readiness plans (people, process, technology), and change management strategies to operationalise AI at scale in public sector environments.
Architect solution mixes including generative AI and LLMs, retrieval-augmented workflows (RAG), agentic automation, and advanced data architecture — ensuring alignment to business value and risk, privacy, and ethical requirements specific to the public sector.
Estimate cost models and business viability of AI and LLM usage patterns — including licensing, cloud/compute, fine-tuning, and ongoing operationalisation — and drive decisions on technology sourcing and vendor partnerships.
Oversee the design and implementation of scalable, secure data and AI solutions on cloud and/or hybrid platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud), ensuring alignment to best practices in data management, governance, and quality.
Lead the development of data products and AI-powered solutions that deliver actionable insights and measurable operational value for public sector clients.
Implement and enforce data governance frameworks ensuring data accuracy, accessibility, and compliance with relevant public sector regulations and standards.
Oversee end-to-end delivery of complex, large-scale data and AI projects — from planning and resource allocation through execution and post-implementation support — ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and to Accenture's quality standards.
Continuously identify opportunities to improve data infrastructure performance, reduce cost, and modernise legacy government systems.
Lead cross-functional delivery teams spanning strategy, design, architecture, engineering, data science, and delivery — including mentoring, resource planning, performance management, and ensuring high-quality client outcomes.
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within your teams and the broader Accenture Public Sector practice.
Manage financial oversight of AI and data programmes: forecasting, budgeting, commercial tracking, risk mitigation, and value realisation metrics.
Drive go-to-market efforts: contribute to proposal development, service offering definition, executive thought leadership, and internal capability uplift within the Public Sector practice.
Establish and manage delivery frameworks and reusable solution patterns for AI strategy and execution, enabling acceleration across public sector clients.
Keep abreast of developments in AI, data management, cloud computing, and public sector policy — continuously exploring and integrating emerging tools and approaches.