Applied AI Transformation Leader

West Yost•Sacramento, CA

3d•$115,020 - $155,265•Hybrid

About The Position

This role combines strategic leadership, organizational transformation, client engagement, and applied AI expertise. The ultimate goal is to help West Yost responsibly leverage AI to improve how we operate, enhance the value we deliver to clients, and position the firm as a trusted leader in the responsible application of AI within the water industry. The Applied AI Transformation Lead is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and advancing AI opportunities that support West Yost's Strategic Plan and long-term business objectives. This role will partner with leaders across the firm to propose, refine, and help execute an enterprise AI strategy that aligns with our values, culture, and business priorities. The Applied AI Transformation Lead will provide recommendations and strategic direction to leadership while taking ownership of implementing approved initiatives. This role will help establish a long-term vision for how AI can transform West Yost's operations, service delivery, knowledge management, and client experience. This role will serve as a catalyst for organizational change by helping teams understand, adopt, and effectively utilize AI-enabled tools, processes, and services. The Applied AI Transformation Lead will collaborate with Business Sector Leaders, project managers, technical experts, and operational leaders to identify opportunities where AI can improve efficiency, quality, knowledge management, decision making, and client service. This role will help leadership evaluate emerging technologies, distinguish between experimentation and strategic investment opportunities, and establish achievable priorities that deliver measurable business value. This role will help develop and mature AI-enabled consulting services that create value for clients, including AI advisory services, AI readiness assessments, AI strategy development, and AI-supported solutions that complement West Yost's existing service offerings. The Applied AI Transformation Lead will participate in strategic client discussions, support proposals and pursuits, and help position West Yost as a trusted advisor in the responsible application of AI within the water industry. People are our core asset. As such, this role will support the development of AI capabilities across the firm by creating training programs, facilitating knowledge sharing, building communities of practice, and helping staff confidently adopt new tools and ways of working.

Requirements

Strategic leadership
Organizational transformation expertise
Client engagement skills
Applied AI expertise
Ability to responsibly leverage AI
Ability to improve operations
Ability to enhance client value
Ability to position the firm as a trusted leader in AI application
Ability to identify, evaluate, and advance AI opportunities
Ability to partner with leaders to propose, refine, and execute an enterprise AI strategy
Ability to align AI strategy with values, culture, and business priorities
Ability to provide recommendations and strategic direction
Ownership of implementing approved initiatives
Ability to establish a long-term vision for AI transformation
Ability to serve as a catalyst for organizational change
Ability to help teams understand, adopt, and utilize AI-enabled tools, processes, and services
Ability to collaborate with various leaders to identify AI opportunities
Ability to evaluate emerging technologies
Ability to distinguish between experimentation and strategic investment
Ability to establish achievable priorities with measurable business value
Ability to develop and mature AI-enabled consulting services
Ability to participate in strategic client discussions
Ability to support proposals and pursuits
Ability to develop AI capabilities across the firm
Ability to create training programs
Ability to facilitate knowledge sharing
Ability to build communities of practice
Ability to help staff adopt new tools and ways of working
Ability to lead recurring AI Champions Network meetings
Ability to facilitate collaboration across sectors and shared services
Ability to participate in AI Operations Team meetings
Ability to establish priorities, monitor progress, and coordinate implementation efforts
Ability to attend Business Sector meetings
Ability to attend Leadership Team meetings
Travel to other offices and/or client offices may be required.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the water industry
Experience with AI readiness assessments
Experience with AI strategy development
Experience with AI-supported solutions

Responsibilities

Identify, evaluate, and advance AI opportunities that support West Yost's Strategic Plan and long-term business objectives.
Partner with leaders across the firm to propose, refine, and help execute an enterprise AI strategy.
Provide recommendations and strategic direction to leadership while taking ownership of implementing approved initiatives.
Establish a long-term vision for how AI can transform West Yost's operations, service delivery, knowledge management, and client experience.
Serve as a catalyst for organizational change by helping teams understand, adopt, and effectively utilize AI-enabled tools, processes, and services.
Collaborate with Business Sector Leaders, project managers, technical experts, and operational leaders to identify opportunities where AI can improve efficiency, quality, knowledge management, decision making, and client service.
Help leadership evaluate emerging technologies, distinguish between experimentation and strategic investment opportunities, and establish achievable priorities that deliver measurable business value.
Develop and mature AI-enabled consulting services that create value for clients.
Participate in strategic client discussions, support proposals and pursuits, and help position West Yost as a trusted advisor in the responsible application of AI within the water industry.
Support the development of AI capabilities across the firm by creating training programs, facilitating knowledge sharing, building communities of practice, and helping staff confidently adopt new tools and ways of working.
Lead recurring AI Champions Network meetings and facilitate collaboration across sectors and shared services departments.
Participate in AI Operations Team meetings and help establish priorities, monitor progress, and coordinate implementation efforts.
Attend Business Sector meetings periodically to understand business needs, identify opportunities, and support adoption efforts.
Attend Leadership Team meetings as requested to provide updates, present recommendations, seek input, and support strategic decision making.