AI & Applications Practice Lead

AI & Applications Practice Lead

Department: Data and AI

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Richardson, Texas

Description

We are currently looking for an AI & Applications Practice Lead who will be a critical driver of Lantern's mission to empower clients to leverage AI and custom applications for transformative business outcomes. This role leads our AI and Custom Application Development practice, focusing on building and scaling a high-performance team with expertise in cutting-edge AI and app development technologies.

Key Responsibilities

The Practice Lead oversees People Leadership, Business Development, Go-to-Market Strategy, and Technology Leadership. Core responsibilities include understanding and shaping the market landscape, driving talent acquisition and retention, and ensuring optimal workforce utilization to exceed client expectations. This role also requires close collaboration with our Go-to-Market teams to develop relevant offerings, as well as with Delivery and Operations to ensure the successful and efficient execution of projects.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

People Leadership

• Set the vision and strategy for the Generative AI, ML, and Custom App Dev practice, inspiring consultants to deliver high-impact results.
• Facilitate consultants' continuous professional development in priority areas such as AI model development, deployment, and custom application engineering.
• Partner with recruiting and People & Culture teams to attract and retain top talent in alignment with the practice's growth objectives.

Technology Leadership

• Act as the primary technical leader for clients, consultants, and sales pursuits within the practice.
• Provide expert technical oversight and mentorship to consultants in Generative AI, ML, and custom application development.
• Establish thought leadership through blog posts, presentations, and conference speaking engagements.
• Develop strong relationships with Microsoft and other partners to support clients in adopting cloud, AI, and application technologies.

Delivery Leadership

• Work closely with Delivery & Operations teams to ensure seamless transitions from Sales to Delivery and mobilize resources effectively.
• Oversee delivery quality, addressing escalations and offering guidance throughout project lifecycles.
• Optimize staffing, resource planning, and utilization management to maximize efficiency and client satisfaction.

Go-to-Market & Sales Support
Offering Development

• Contribute to Lantern GTM Offering development, prioritization, and activation.
• Develop Practice Sales Plays and partner with Business Development Teams to take those to market in areas not covered by Lantern GTM Offerings.

Demand Generation

• Champion Lantern GTM Campaigns and support related demand generation activities (e.g. briefings, events, sales enablement, etc.)
• Partner with Business Development teams in driving pipeline by presenting Lantern GTM Offerings & Studio Sales Playsto Clients and Microsoft.

Sales Support

• Provide input during New Business Meetings to help qualify and ensure new opportunities have practice support.
• Contribute to, strategic account planning with the Business Development team, based on deep client environment knowledge.
• Proactively support sales pursuits and coordinate people requirements as required to win business.
• Develop project estimates and deliver proposals presentations to clients.
• Partner in the Sales Process for solution shaping and deal success.

Position Metrics

Primary Practice Health Indicators

• Individual Utilization
• Practice Utilization
• Practice Growth YoY
• Practice Billable Hours
• Practice Headcount Growth

Supplemental Practice Health Indicators

• Budget vs. Actuals (Hours)
• Practice Pipeline Forecast
• Practice Revenue Growth
• Practice Member Learning Index (Prof. Dev. Goals & Certs)
• Client NPS
• Practice Member NPS
• Practice Retention Rate