Business Development Bank of Canada

SENIOR BUSINESS ADVISOR, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, Advisory Services - Calgary

Business Services
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years in management consulting or technology advisory
  • Experience advising senior executives on business transformation
  • Hands-on experience with AI in business applications
  • Strong conceptual understanding of AI technologies
  • Excellent communication and influence skills
  • Proven leadership in managing complex advisory mandates

Responsibilities

  • Advise executives on AI strategy and adoption
  • Lead diagnostics of data maturity and operational readiness
  • Identify and validate AI use cases for business impact
  • Provide guidance on AI ethics and governance
  • Oversee delivery of AI advisory mandates
  • Ensure client satisfaction through effective change management
  • Develop AI advisory frameworks and contribute to thought leadership

Benefits

  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Access to advanced AI tools and technologies
  • Collaborative work environment
  • Exposure to diverse industries and clients
Full Job Description
POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Business Advisor for AI, serves as a trusted strategic advisor to Canadian entrepreneurs and executive teams seeking to leverage artificial intelligence to improve performance, productivity, and long-term competitiveness. Operating at the intersection of business strategy, operations, and emerging technology, this role helps clients move from AI curiosity to practical, value-driven adoption.

The Advisor works with SMEs across industries to assess AI readiness, identify high-impact use cases, define responsible AI strategies, and oversee the delivery of AI-enabled advisory mandates. The role emphasizes business outcomes, governance, and adoption rather than technical model development, ensuring AI initiatives are aligned with client strategy, data maturity, and operational realities .

CHALLENGES TO BE MET

Client Advisory & Engagement Leadership
  • Act as a senior advisor to entrepreneurs and management teams on AI strategy, readiness, and adoption, translating complex AI concepts into clear business decisions and priorities.
  • Lead diagnostic engagements assessing data maturity, operational processes, and organizational readiness for AI adoption.
  • Identify, prioritize, and validate AI use cases that deliver measurable business value (e.g., productivity, revenue growth, cost optimization, customer experience).
  • Provide executive-level guidance on AI risk, ethics, governance, and responsible use in alignment with organizational values and regulatory expectations .


Mandate Delivery & Oversight
  • Lead and oversee the delivery of standard and customized AI advisory mandates, ensuring quality, impact, and alignment with advisory methodologies.
  • Coordinate with internal specialists, delivery consultants, and external partners as required to execute AI-enabled solutions.
  • Ensure strong client adoption through change management, capability transfer, and executive alignment.
  • Maintain accountability for mandate outcomes, timelines, scope, and client satisfaction.


AI Strategy, Governance & Thought Leadership
  • Support the development and evolution of AI advisory offerings, frameworks, and tools, incorporating best practices in responsible and ethical AI use.
  • Contribute to internal thought leadership, training materials, and workshops to build AI literacy among advisors and clients.
  • Represent the AI advisory practice in business development activities, client presentations, and selected external events.
  • Stay current on AI trends, platforms, and the Canadian AI ecosystem to inform client advice and solution design .


WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Qualifications & Experience

Required
  • 8+ years of experience in management consulting, technology advisory, digital transformation, or related strategic advisory roles.
  • Proven experience advising senior executives on business strategy, operations, or technology-enabled transformation.
  • Demonstrated experience applying artificial intelligence in a business context (strategy, use-case design, adoption, or governance).
  • Strong understanding of AI concepts (e.g., machine learning, NLP, generative AI) at a conceptual and applied business level (not hands-on model development).
  • Excellent communication and executive presence, with the ability to influence and guide decision-makers.
  • Proven ability to lead complex advisory mandates and manage multiple stakeholders.

Preferred
  • Experience working with SMEs across diverse industries.
  • Exposure to data strategy, analytics, automation, or enterprise systems.
  • Familiarity with AI governance, ethics, and risk management frameworks.
  • Bilingualism in English and French is an asset.

About Business Development Bank of Canada

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is a federal Crown corporation that provides financing, advisory services, and capital to Canadian businesses. The bank was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. BDC offers a range of financial services, including loans, venture capital, and consulting services. The bank focuses on small and medium-sized businesses, and has a particular emphasis on supporting entrepreneurs and startups. BDC has offices across Canada and works with businesses in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, technology, and services.
Learn more about Business Development Bank of Canada
Size
2,000 employees
Industry

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