Senior AI Project Manager

About the role

KUNGFU.AI is a management consulting and engineering firm focused exclusively on artificial intelligence. We empower CEOs and senior executives to leverage the full potential of AI so they remain competitive in a rapidly evolving world. The Senior AI Project Manager owns the end-to-end delivery of high-impact AI initiatives, acting as the central orchestrator between our expert teams of Machine Learning Engineers, Data Scientists, and AI Strategists and our executive clients. This role requires driving project governance, shaping realistic scopes, and ensuring that every engagement not only meets but exceeds expectations on schedule and budget. You will be responsible for translating ambiguous business challenges into clear, actionable project plans while navigating complex stakeholder landscapes with exceptional emotional intelligence. Outside of work, our team consists of painters, foodies, cocktail connoisseurs, musicians, crossword-doers, athletes, dungeon masters, non-profit board members, and more, and we actively seek partners who are curious and collaborative. Ultimately, you will ensure that our AI strategies are implemented into production quickly, safely, and responsibly, solidifying our reputation for excellence in the AI consulting space.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Overseeing projects from inception to completion, ensuring high-quality, on-time, and on-budget delivery while managing scope, risks, and resources.
• Leading end-to-end project management across the entire project lifecycle, from initial discovery through to final client acceptance and handover.
• Driving project governance by establishing clear frameworks for scope, staffing, Statement of Work (SOWs), timelines, and proactive risk mitigation.
• Partnering with project leads and technical specialists to keep clients aligned and successfully navigate escalations and changing requirements.
• Ensuring all deliverables consistently exceed client expectations in terms of quality, usability, and strategic value.
• Shaping realistic and sustainable project scopes that balance ambition with practical constraints and delivery capacity.
• Overseeing the financial health of projects, including detailed budget management, forecasting, and invoicing processes.
• Emphasizing people management, mentoring, and facilitating effective collaboration among cross-functional engineering and strategy teams.
• Coaching and mentoring teammates, clients, and new hires to elevate the overall performance and capability of the delivery organization.
• Championing delivery excellence through the facilitation of retrospectives, continuous improvement initiatives, and the implementation of process enhancements.
• Driving clarity and alignment within the team by facilitating productive discussions and decision-making frameworks.
• Partnering closely with project leads to establish quality benchmarks and ensure the timely delivery of high-standard outputs.
• Translating client and end-user needs into concrete solution requirements and product specifications.
• Acting as the voice of the customer to guide solution development and ensure business needs are met throughout the engagement.
• Managing and refining the product backlog to maintain a clear and prioritized view of work for the team.
• Making real-time scope tradeoff decisions to preserve value, momentum, and client satisfaction during complex engagements.
• Bringing a strategic lens to every delivery, identifying opportunities for innovation and growth within the client's AI roadmap.

Requirements

• Substantial experience delivering high-complexity software projects in a consulting or professional services environment, ideally involving AI, data, or emerging technologies, with deep Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) knowledge.
• Exceptional Emotional Quotient (EQ), demonstrating an ability to intuit team dynamics and client needs, anticipate challenges several steps ahead, and clearly translate those insights across internal and external stakeholders.
• A proven track record of successfully managing senior client relationships while navigating challenging conversations and ambiguous project objectives with professionalism.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects or programs, typically handling two to three initiatives depending on their complexity and size, from ideation and initiation through final delivery and client acceptance.
• Comfort navigating ambiguity, shifting priorities, and evolving requirements without losing focus on project outcomes and team morale.
• Strong financial acumen, with the ability to manage project budgets, forecast resource needs, and handle invoicing accurately and efficiently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of conveying complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.
• A collaborative mindset that thrives in cross-functional environments, working effectively with diverse teams that include engineers, data scientists, and strategists.