Software and Product Innovation - Technology Delivery - Director

Job Title: Managing Director & Head of AI Institute – PwC China Location: Shanghai, China About the Role: PwC China is establishing a flagship AI Institute in Shanghai to drive applied AI innovation and accelerate enterprise AI transformation across China and globally. We are seeking an exceptional Managing Director & Head of the AI Institute/Centre of Excellence—a visionary and highly respected senior AI leader with deep expertise in China’s AI technology landscape and ecosystem. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in leading AI, Internet, or high-tech companies in China and be capable of representing PwC as a top AI advisor locally and internationally. This leadership role is pivotal in positioning PwC as the premier enterprise AI partner for Chinese companies expanding globally and multinational corporations scaling AI in China. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership: Define and execute the AI Institute’s vision, roadmap, and operational strategy to build a leading innovation hub for AI collaboration and transformation. Ecosystem Orchestration: Develop and manage strategic partnerships with hyperscalers (e.g., Huawei, Microsoft, AWS), Chinese high-tech unicorns, startups, industry associations, and top universities to cultivate a vibrant AI ecosystem. Thought Leadership & Representation: Serve as PwC’s senior AI spokesperson in China and internationally, delivering authoritative insights at key industry events, media engagements, and global forums on AI developments and trends. Talent Recruitment & Development: Attract, develop, and lead a high-caliber team of AI experts and evangelists to support the Institute’s growth and influence. Business Growth: Collaborate closely with consulting and technology teams to expand PwC’s AI advisory services, supporting client AI transformation journeys across China and global markets. Qualifications & Experience: Deep Industry Background: 20+ years of leadership experience in AI, Internet, or high-technology companies in China, with a proven track record of driving large-scale AI architecture design, model development, and deployment. Experience at leading Chinese AI or Internet giants (e.g., Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, Huawei, ByteDance) or top cloud providers is strongly preferred. Technical Mastery: Hands-on expertise with advanced AI/ML architectures, large-scale model development, MLOps, and AI governance. PhD from a Tier-1 institution is highly desirable. China AI Ecosystem Expert: Extensive knowledge and established relationships within China’s AI ecosystem, including venture capital, think tanks, research labs, and industry consortia. Executive Leadership: Proven ability to inspire and lead multidisciplinary teams, with experience engaging senior executives and external stakeholders across China and globally. Bilingual Communication: Native-level Mandarin and fluent English proficiency, with demonstrated experience as a public speaker and media spokesperson on AI topics. Global Vision: Ability to connect China’s AI innovations and ecosystem with global market trends and multinational client needs.