AI Transformation Lead | €2bn AUM Private Equity Firm | Portfolio Transformation

AI Transformation Lead | €2bn AUM Private Equity Firm | Portfolio & Fund Transformation

AI Futures is partnered with a established Private Equity firm, they have a proven 'Buy & Build' Investment Thesis to acquire SaaS Mittelstands across the DACH region. The Firm now have an approved and on-going AI Strategy in place with significant investment behind it, so we are now looking for an AI Transformation Lead to join the practice.

The AI Transformation Lead will serve as the intersection between the investment team, portfolio company leadership, and technical execution teams. This person will own the AI strategy and transformation agenda across our portfolio; identifying high-value opportunities, building the business case, and driving hands-on implementation. This is a rare role for someone who is equally comfortable in a boardroom discussing ROI and change management.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and own the firm's overarching AI strategy for portfolio company transformation, aligned with each company's value creation plan
• Conduct AI readiness assessments across portfolio companies, evaluating data infrastructure, operational maturity, and organizational capability
• Identify, prioritize, and build business cases for AI use cases (automation, analytics, GenAI applications, AI-enabled products) based on ROI, feasibility, and strategic fit
• Partner with portfolio company leadership teams to design transformation roadmaps and secure buy-in from executives and boards
• Lead or oversee hands-on implementation of AI initiatives, including vendor/tool selection, pilot design, and scaling successful pilots into production
• Work directly with technical teams (internal or third-party) to guide architecture decisions, data strategy, and integration with existing systems
• Establish governance, risk, and responsible-AI frameworks appropriate for regulated and non-regulated portfolio companies
• Build repeatable playbooks, frameworks, and diligence tools that can be applied across the portfolio and during pre-acquisition due diligence

Key Skills & Experience:

• 8+ years of experience spanning technology/engineering roles and business strategy or operations roles
• Demonstrated experience designing and leading enterprise-wide AI or digital transformation programs, ideally across multiple companies or business units
• Technical fluency - able to evaluate data architecture, ML/AI model approaches, and system integrations, and to hold credible technical conversations with engineering teams (ideally with hands-on programming experience).
• Strong grasp of business operations - P&L ownership, process design, org design, or general management experience is highly valued
• Prior experience in private equity, management consulting, or a portfolio operations role is a strong plus
• Track record of translating AI capabilities into measurable business outcomes (cost reduction, revenue growth, margin improvement)
• Excellent stakeholder management skills - able to influence C-suite executives, boards, and technical teams alike
• Strong project/program management skills; comfortable running multiple concurrent transformation efforts across different companies and industries
• Familiarity with responsible AI, data governance, and risk considerations relevant to deploying AI in operating businesses