Director, AI Strategy & Emerging Technology

The Hartford•Hartford, CT

11h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Hartford is establishing a new enterprise AI partnerships function within the Office of the Chief AI & Analytics Officer to accelerate its AI and emerging technology agenda. This senior leadership role will build and oversee a capability that identifies frontier technologies, shapes the firm’s external ecosystem strategy, forges high-impact strategic alliances, and converts emerging technologies into measurable enterprise value. This leader will serve as a strategic advisor to the Chief AI & Analytics Officer and key business and technology executives, providing market intelligence, forging transformative partnerships, leading POCs and guiding responsible AI adoption across the enterprise. The role will connect The Hartford to the global innovation ecosystem—including hyperscalers, frontier labs, VCs, accelerators, and emerging startups— while defining partnership strategy, operationalizing responsible AI adoption, and informing enterprise decision-making through market intelligence, and research insights. This is a highly visible and builder-oriented role, ideal for a senior executive with deep experience in AI, emerging technologies, and strategic partnership ecosystem leadership. This role can have a Hybrid or Remote work schedule. Candidates who live near one of our office locations will have the expectation of working in an office 3 days a week. Candidates who do not live near an office will have a remote work arrangement, with the expectation of coming into an office as business needs arise. Candidates must be authorized to work in the US without company sponsorship.

Requirements

10+ years of senior leadership experience across AI, innovation, digital transformation, partnerships, strategy, venture, or related fields.
Extensive experience designing, executing, and scaling POCs and pilot programs, including evaluation frameworks, success criteria, and cross functional implementation.
Strong ability to operate in fast-moving, ambiguous environments while providing clarity, structure, and strategic direction.
Demonstrated success sourcing, negotiating, and executing large-scale strategic technology partnerships - hyperscalers, AI platforms, emerging tech vendors, or innovation partners.
Experience navigating enterprise environments with deep collaboration across legal, risk, procurement, finance, data, and engineering.
Strong understanding of AI model capabilities, cloud architectures, data ecosystems, and frontier technologies.
Exceptional executive presence and communication - capable of influencing CXO audiences and external industry leaders.
Demonstrated ability to build teams, define operating models, and scale new functions from inception.
Relationships with global tech ecosystem: hyperscalers, researchers, VC network, labs, accelerators, and industry bodies.
Experience evaluating startups, conducting due diligence, or working with venture/innovation ecosystems.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the US without company sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead The Hartford’s enterprise strategy for AI and emerging technology partnerships.
Establish a new enterprise capability that integrates market scouting, external partnerships, ecosystem intelligence, AI governance, and portfolio acceleration.
Define the long-term strategy, operating model, success metrics, and talent roadmap.
Represent The Hartford externally among hyperscalers, academia, investment networks, and AI leaders.
Oversee the full lifecycle of partnerships—from scouting and diligence through negotiation, activation, and scale.
Monitor frontier AI research, infrastructure trends, model advancements, and regulatory developments that impact enterprise strategy.
Map and manage an evolving ecosystem of hyperscalers, VCs, accelerators, elite labs, startups, universities and emerging platforms.
Act as an advisor to senior leaders on ecosystem movements, competitive intelligence, and future-state operating models.
Attend top-tier research conferences, demystify evolving innovations, and translate signals into actionable enterprise priorities.
Build a culture of experimentation, learning, and responsible AI adoption across the enterprise.
Drive sourcing, evaluation, due diligence, and structuring of partnerships spanning AI platforms, cloud providers, data products, workflow automation, and emerging technologies to accelerate enterprise transformation.
Build scalable processes and best practices for assessing vendors, pilots, and co-development opportunities.
Oversee proof-of-concepts, technical reviews, compliance/legal alignment, and rollout frameworks.
Partner with engineering, data, risk, legal, and business teams to prioritize, evaluate, and implement AI solutions.
Develop policies and best practices to ensure ethical, transparent, and safe AI usage.
Establish governance and ethical AI frameworks to ensure transparency, trust, safety, and brand aligned usage.
Support enterprise education, training, and upskilling programs related to responsible AI and emerging technologies.
Serve as a senior advisor and thought partner to the Chief AI & Analytics Officer.
Provide C-suite leadership with market intelligence, frontier insights, opportunity assessments, and strategic recommendations.
Prepare executive-level insights, briefings, and strategy narratives for C-suite and Board discussions.
Curate innovation roundtables, partners forums, and research convenings that bring top external thinkers to the enterprise.