Director, AI Strategy
Driven. Engaging. Innovative. Do these words motivate you? If so, then we want to talk with you. Academy of Art University offers a rewarding employment experience for those who excel in a dynamic environment and who can consistently deliver high-caliber customer service. We thrive on ingenuity and pursue ideas every day that lead to extraordinary opportunities for tomorrow. Apply here for your next career!
ArtU is seeking a Director of AI Strategy to serve as a trusted internal advisor to academic and administrative leadership. This role will lead the development and execution of institutionâwide AI strategies that support creative excellence, student success, workforce readiness, and operational effectiveness.
The Director of AI Strategy combines strategic thinking and vision, executive advisory skills, and practical execution, translating emerging AI technologies into responsible, humanâcentered solutions aligned with the universityâs mission and values. This role report to the Chief of Staff and partners closely with university leadership to align AI initiatives with institutional mission, values, and long-term goals, ensuring innovation enhances student outcomes, faculty enablement, and operational excellence.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Advisory & Leadership
Serve as a trusted advisor to university leadership on AI, emerging technologies, and digital transformation.
Translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable strategies for non-technical stakeholders.
Facilitate executive-level discussions to define AI vision, priorities, and enterprise-wide decision-making.
AI Assessment & Readiness
Lead comprehensive AI capability and readiness assessments across academic and administrative units, including:Evaluation of current-state of employees, processes including workflows across departments, technologies, data, and tools
Identification of gaps, risks, and opportunities related to AI adoption, governance, and workforce readiness
Synthesis of findings into concise, actionable insights for leadership and stakeholders
Strategy & Roadmap Development
Develop and maintain AI strategy roadmaps aligned with University objectives, including student success, faculty support, creative innovation, and operational efficiency.
Design phased implementation plans that balance innovation, feasibility, risk management, and human impact.
Define success metrics and expected outcomes, including adoption, maturity, and capability development.
Enablement, Governance & Responsible AI
Advise on AI enablement strategies, including governance frameworks, ethical use, accessibility, academic integrity, and responsible AI practices.
Support workforce transformation through learning strategies, training programs, and capability building.
Evaluate and recommend build vs. buy decisions for AI tools, platforms, and solutions.
Engagement & Facilitation
Design and lead workshops, executive briefings, and AI use case discovery sessions for diverse audiences, including faculty, administrators, and creative practitioners.
Partner with stakeholders to identify high-value, responsible AI use cases across academic, creative, and operational domains.
Qualifications & Experience:
Required
Demonstrated experience in AI strategy, digital transformation, technology consulting, or a related field
Proven ability to advise and collaborate with senior leaders and crossâfunctional stakeholders
Strong conceptual understanding of AI, data, and cloud technologies, with the ability to communicate clearly to nonâtechnical audiences
Experience leading assessments, developing strategic roadmaps, and supporting implementation efforts
Excellent facilitation, storytelling, and presentation skills
Preferred
Experience in higher education, creative industries, or missionâdriven organizations
Knowledge of responsible AI, ethics, governance, and workforce transformation
Familiarity with both enterprise and creative AI tools and platforms
Consulting or internal advisory experience within a complex organization
What Success Looks Like in This Role
Clear, actionable AI strategies aligned with ArtUâs creative and educational mission
Increased institutional readiness and confidence in AI adoption
Responsible, humanâcentered AI use across academic and administrative functions
Strong trust and partnership with leadership, faculty, and staff
Benefits:
Academy of Art University offers full-time employees health insurance, 401k options, paid vacation based on years of service (15 days' accrual at start), paid holidays, paid sick leave and a commuter benefit program. The Academy also offers full-time employees an opportunity to take one undergraduate course tuition free each semester.
Compensation:
$135,000 - $165,000 annually
Based on experience and location
THIS IS A FULLY REMOTE ROLE with travel to Campus in San Francisco, CA as needed
Application Deadline: June 22, 2026
Academy of Art University is based solely in San Francisco, California. This job opportunity may be available for remote work from a predesignated location within the contiguous United States.
IND123
Academy of Art University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered regardless of age, Aids or HIV positive status, marital status, domestic partnership, medical condition or genetic characteristics, race or national origin, pregnancy, religion, sex, gender identity, gender or sexual orientation, name change, citizenship, physical or mental disability, veteran status or other status protected by federal, state, local or other law. Academy of Art University will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. Equal access to the hiring process, services, and employment is available to all persons. Applicants requiring accommodations to the application and/or interview process should contact the Human Resources Department at [email protected].
ArtU is seeking a Director of AI Strategy to serve as a trusted internal advisor to academic and administrative leadership. This role will lead the development and execution of institutionâwide AI strategies that support creative excellence, student success, workforce readiness, and operational effectiveness.
The Director of AI Strategy combines strategic thinking and vision, executive advisory skills, and practical execution, translating emerging AI technologies into responsible, humanâcentered solutions aligned with the universityâs mission and values. This role report to the Chief of Staff and partners closely with university leadership to align AI initiatives with institutional mission, values, and long-term goals, ensuring innovation enhances student outcomes, faculty enablement, and operational excellence.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Advisory & Leadership
Serve as a trusted advisor to university leadership on AI, emerging technologies, and digital transformation.
Translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable strategies for non-technical stakeholders.
Facilitate executive-level discussions to define AI vision, priorities, and enterprise-wide decision-making.
AI Assessment & Readiness
Lead comprehensive AI capability and readiness assessments across academic and administrative units, including:Evaluation of current-state of employees, processes including workflows across departments, technologies, data, and tools
Identification of gaps, risks, and opportunities related to AI adoption, governance, and workforce readiness
Synthesis of findings into concise, actionable insights for leadership and stakeholders
Strategy & Roadmap Development
Develop and maintain AI strategy roadmaps aligned with University objectives, including student success, faculty support, creative innovation, and operational efficiency.
Design phased implementation plans that balance innovation, feasibility, risk management, and human impact.
Define success metrics and expected outcomes, including adoption, maturity, and capability development.
Enablement, Governance & Responsible AI
Advise on AI enablement strategies, including governance frameworks, ethical use, accessibility, academic integrity, and responsible AI practices.
Support workforce transformation through learning strategies, training programs, and capability building.
Evaluate and recommend build vs. buy decisions for AI tools, platforms, and solutions.
Engagement & Facilitation
Design and lead workshops, executive briefings, and AI use case discovery sessions for diverse audiences, including faculty, administrators, and creative practitioners.
Partner with stakeholders to identify high-value, responsible AI use cases across academic, creative, and operational domains.
Qualifications & Experience:
Required
Demonstrated experience in AI strategy, digital transformation, technology consulting, or a related field
Proven ability to advise and collaborate with senior leaders and crossâfunctional stakeholders
Strong conceptual understanding of AI, data, and cloud technologies, with the ability to communicate clearly to nonâtechnical audiences
Experience leading assessments, developing strategic roadmaps, and supporting implementation efforts
Excellent facilitation, storytelling, and presentation skills
Preferred
Experience in higher education, creative industries, or missionâdriven organizations
Knowledge of responsible AI, ethics, governance, and workforce transformation
Familiarity with both enterprise and creative AI tools and platforms
Consulting or internal advisory experience within a complex organization
What Success Looks Like in This Role
Clear, actionable AI strategies aligned with ArtUâs creative and educational mission
Increased institutional readiness and confidence in AI adoption
Responsible, humanâcentered AI use across academic and administrative functions
Strong trust and partnership with leadership, faculty, and staff
Benefits:
Academy of Art University offers full-time employees health insurance, 401k options, paid vacation based on years of service (15 days' accrual at start), paid holidays, paid sick leave and a commuter benefit program. The Academy also offers full-time employees an opportunity to take one undergraduate course tuition free each semester.
Compensation:
$135,000 - $165,000 annually
Based on experience and location
THIS IS A FULLY REMOTE ROLE with travel to Campus in San Francisco, CA as needed
Application Deadline: June 22, 2026
Academy of Art University is based solely in San Francisco, California. This job opportunity may be available for remote work from a predesignated location within the contiguous United States.
IND123
Academy of Art University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered regardless of age, Aids or HIV positive status, marital status, domestic partnership, medical condition or genetic characteristics, race or national origin, pregnancy, religion, sex, gender identity, gender or sexual orientation, name change, citizenship, physical or mental disability, veteran status or other status protected by federal, state, local or other law. Academy of Art University will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. Equal access to the hiring process, services, and employment is available to all persons. Applicants requiring accommodations to the application and/or interview process should contact the Human Resources Department at [email protected].