Senior Manager, AI Tools & Services

About the role

This is a player-coach role combining hands-on client advisory work, running scoping calls, making prescriptive AI recommendations, and owning category intelligence with direct management of a team.

Responsibilities

• Own the AI Tools & Services category within the BluWave Network, including category intelligence, provider curation, and quality standards
• Serve as the senior voice on client scoping calls; diagnose AI needs and deliver specific, defensible tool and service recommendations
• Further build and maintain a best in class provider network: recruit, onboard, and manage AI service firms and software vendors relevant to PE-backed businesses
• Build BluWave’s AI-powered software tools ecosystem covering Office of the CFO needs and other developing categories
• Partner with BluWave’s Client Coverage and Marketing teams on demand generation, critical client opportunities and challenges, and category thought leadership
• Manage a direct report and utilize cutting edge AI resources for force multiplication
• Provide leadership on the future growth and development of BluWave’s AI powered network offerings.

Requirements

Must Haves:

• 8–13 years of experience in technology advisory, software selection, solutions engineering, or AI consulting (preference for 10–12 years)
• Proven ability to communicate with and advise senior decision-makers and drive alignment; can provide specific examples of guiding clients or stakeholders from options to a clear recommendation and commitment
• Deep, active fluency in the AI enablement and tools landscapes; regularly uses and evaluates AI tools and can speak to specific solutions implemented or recommended, including rationale and tradeoffs considered
• Strong diagnostic and advisory skills; able to quickly assess a client situation, identify where AI tools or services apply, and deliver a clear, actionable recommendation
• Strong ability to integrate the powers of AI with human intelligence to form a greater integrated value proposition for customers
• Hands-on technical literacy with the ability to credibly evaluate vendor solutions, engage on implementation considerations, and ask the right questions on behalf of a buyer
• Expert ability to transform manual processes into automated, intelligent workflows
• Background from tech transformation/software-selection

Bonus Backgrounds:

• Working experience with Office of the CFO AI and related software tools and/or enablement services
• Prior experience in or direct exposure to private equity or PE-backed portfolio company environments
• Experience building or scaling a service or product category within an existing firm