Engagement Lead Al Strategy exp; Remote

Engagement Lead with AI Strategy exp (Remote)

The Cognizant Automation practice focuses on providing Robotic Process Automation, Smart Data Intake, Analytics, Machine learning, Gen AI and Agentic AI solutions for mission critical business and IT processes to major industries globally. It is one of the fastest growing practices in the company, and a key pillar of our digital offerings. We are seeking an Engagement Lead / AI Strategy Lead to help our clients harness the power of AI and to manage the automation delivery for a North America-based customer.

This role will be accountable for establishing, sustaining and growing Cognizant’s Automation presence with the customer by ensuring operational and delivery excellence. The EL must also focus on creating value‑added long‑term partnerships with the client, internal account and market teams. The right candidate must have proven success with hands‑on delivery and program management, experience leading the design and implementation of global automation programs with established governance at the executive leadership level, and an understanding of business‑driven transformation based on AI‑driven Automation.

Success begins with delivery excellence and hence one of the primary expectations is to ensure that we first deliver on our commitments, forging strong and trusted partnerships with the client and account teams. This person is expected to leverage their combined industry, delivery and transformation expertise to lead AI automation opportunity identification, technical feasibility analysis, implementation of best practices, and intelligent risk management to support the client’s needs and solve business challenges through intelligent automation.

Goals will include demonstrated delivery excellence, high customer satisfaction scores, meeting margin commitments, opportunities to partner on solutions, expanded presence at the client, referrals, and publicly reference‑able accounts.

• Lead discovery sessions with clients and partner with the product owners and architects in the client organization to identify and evaluate AI automation opportunities, lead design and drive the right fit automation solution to achieve the expected business outcomes
• Design and deliver AI strategy roadmap aligned with client objectives
• Ensure delivery excellence by embedding best practices, outcome management and delivering on our commitments for both implementation and support.
• Establish, sustain or grow the Intelligent Process Automation capability in the assigned accounts. For example, identify opportunities for interconnected solutions, expand existing capabilities to new business areas, etc.
• Be a trusted delivery partner and point of contact for the client and Cognizant teams for the automation program/engagement.
• Ensure contractual commitments are tracked and implemented with reference to delivery.
• Collaborate with extended delivery teams across the globe.

• Intelligent Process Automation practitioner, experienced in leading AI automation opportunity identification and evaluation
• Experience in assessing client infrastructure, data capabilities and organizational readiness for AI adoption
• Recommend frameworks for AI governance, responsible AI and define operating models to scale AI within client environments
• Practitioner experience in leading design and implementation of AI automation solutions on either cloud AI services (Azure, AWS, GCP etc.) or IPA tools like UiPath, Microsoft Power Platform/Co‑pilot or full‑stack technologies including Python.
• Management experience – Experience in leading and executing global automation programs involving Smart Data Intake, ML, Gen AI and Agentic AI solutions, with established governance at exec leadership/steering committee level.
• Operational Rigor – Demonstrated success and strength in managing across clients and programs to deliver results. This will combine a strong mindset in program and project management, leveraging data to drive objectives and creating strategic plans to deliver results for today while setting up for continued accelerated growth.
• Business Acumen – demonstrated experience…