You Are: A thought leader and practitioner at the intersection of AI strategy and data delivery - someone who can shape and lead enterprise-wide AI and data transformation programmes for public sector clients. You translate high-level government and institutional roadmaps into actionable AI strategies, delivery frameworks, and operating models. You connect and advise senior client stakeholders through strong storytelling, a data-driven mindset, and deep knowledge of the public sector landscape.

As an Associate Director, you will coach and mentor up-and-coming leaders, guide diverse multi-disciplinary teams, and help clients embed AI and data capabilities as a lasting part of their organisational culture - with a strong focus on responsible AI, data governance, and public trust.

What You'll Be Doing:

AI Strategy & Transformation

• 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.

Data & AI Delivery

• 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.

Leadership & People

• 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.

Business Development & Thought Leadership

• 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.

Job Qualifications

Here's what you need:

• 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.

Bonus points if:

• 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.

Compensation at Accenture varies depending on a wide array of factors, which may include but are not limited to the specific office location,
role, skill set, and level of experience. As required by local law, Accenture provides a reasonable range of compensation, based on full-time
employment, for roles that may be hired as set forth below.
The recruiting efforts for this position are intended to fill a brand new position.
The base pay range shown below is intended as a guideline to reflect the majority of offers for this role.
It does not represent a maximum limit - in some cases, actual compensation may exceed the range where appropriate.

Information on benefits is here:

Role Location Annual SalaryRange

British Columbia/Ontario/New Brunswick $131,700 to $278,100