VP of AI Strategy

Change.org http://Change.org is searching for a VP of AI Strategy. You will report to our COO. As a key member of our executive team, you’ll develop and drive the organization’s AI strategy and transformation, such that all teams are effectively leveraging AI for step-change improvements in the quality and velocity of our work. Change.org http://Change.org is the world’s largest platform for democracy. At a time when dissatisfaction with democracy globally is at an all-time high, we’re investing heavily in using AI to build an operating system for modern democracy. This includes our platform for giving people greater voice, a personalized voter guide for elections, and a new product which aims to bring people across the political spectrum together to identify shared solutions. To realize this vision, we're building a team at the intersection of technology and civic engagement — bringing together top talent focused on giving citizens a direct voice, strengthening accountability, and building stronger, more resilient democracies. Key Outcomes: - Develop and communicate an AI strategy that has wide alignment and support across the organization. - Build and maintain an iterative roadmap of AI transformation initiatives across and within our teams. - Develop a robust AI learning program, including regular ‘step change’ training and frequent AI demos relevant to each team. - Infuse the organization with frequent insights into developments in AI relevant to each team, and push all of us to grasp what’s already possible, or coming soon. - Own the AI transformation operating cadence — run the meeting rhythm and reporting forums (AI-Exec, AI-PD, and related working groups) that keep teams aligned on sequencing and dependencies. - Come in with ‘big ears’ and proactively listen to ICs on the ground before recommending major changes — map what’s actually happening versus what leadership believes is happening, and deliver candid recommendations on where AI adoption stands and should be going. - Partner with Engineering on tooling operations — triage tool requests and keep the org current on the AI tooling landscape (without owning technical build decisions). - Stand up the org’s first AI adoption and impact measurement framework. - Build strong working relationships with the org’s existing AI leads as a thought partner. The most important core competencies for the role are: - Leading through influence, not authority — proven ability to convince senior stakeholders and drive cross-functional alignment with no direct reporting line over them. - Program/product management rigor — can build and run a recurring cadence that holds multiple functions accountable to a shared plan. - Senior-management-level credibility — prior experience operating at a level where you’ve directly partnered with or advised C-suite/VP stakeholders (e.g. in a role as Chief of Staff, senior program/product management, or equivalent). - Uniquely strong AI fluency and bleeding-edge awareness — maintains a real external network of AI practitioners and tools, and translates outside developments into internal recommendations. - Technical literacy and credibility: may not be a PM or engineer, but can easily understand and contribute to in depth, technical PD discussions. Target experience: - 6–8+ years within a fast-moving tech organization - Demonstrated experience operating at senior-management level, or in a Chief of Staff-type role which leads through influence, not authority, at a senior level. - Direct experience helping an organization adopt a significant new technology or way of working, ideally including an AI adoption initiative in the last 1–2 years. - Track record partnering across Product, Design, and Engineering specifically. - Experience in program/product management, strategy operations, or Chief of Staff–type roles, is a plus but not required. - Communications/Ops team exposure is a plus, not required. Interested? Great! Here's what you should know: This is…