Associate Consultant - Data and AI Practice

Location: Walnut Creek, CA

Department: West Coast Office

Responsibilities of an Associate

The Consulting Associate in Metis Strategy’s Data & AI Practice plays a key role in supporting client engagements focused on developing and delivering data-driven and AI-enabled strategies for large enterprises. You will collaborate with teammates and client stakeholders to unlock growth, operational efficiency, and measurable impact through advanced analytics, responsible AI, data governance, and technology transformation initiatives. As an Associate, you will apply proprietary frameworks and strategic methodologies to help clients assess their maturity, identify high-value use cases, prioritize investments, and enable enterprise-wide adoption of data and AI solutions.

In this role, you will collaborate with teams to assess client data and AI maturity, leveraging Metis Strategy’s diagnostic frameworks across people, process, technology, data, and culture. You will support the identification, evaluation, and prioritization of AI and analytics use cases by utilizing standardized business case templates to analyze their impact, feasibility, and return on investment. You will gather and synthesize stakeholder perspectives through interviews, workshops, and surveys, translating these insights into actionable recommendations and strategic opportunity maps for clients. You will contribute to the development of AI operating models, governance structures, and change management plans that enable the responsible and scalable adoption of AI across business functions. 

Working closely with clients, you will assist in prototyping and piloting AI and machine learning solutions, establishing success criteria, measuring business outcomes, and refining solutions based on feedback. You will prepare high-quality deliverables, including strategy documents, roadmaps, business cases, and executive presentations, tailored for senior digital and technology leaders. Additionally, you will conduct market research, maturity benchmarking, and competitive analysis to inform your recommendations and accelerate client adoption of best practices. You will help build internal and client capabilities by supporting role-based fluency programs, repeatable processes, and reusable playbooks that drive sustainable impact. You will support the design, assessment, and implementation of enterprise data platforms and modern data architectures, such as data lakes, warehouses, and cloud-native solutions. 

Moreover, you will contribute to the development and review of data governance frameworks, policies, and operating models, ensuring the quality, consistency, and secure management of data assets. You will assist with identifying security risks and documenting compliance requirements related to data and AI, including regulatory standards such as GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and SOC2. Finally, you will partner with technology teams and client stakeholders to evaluate data platform technologies, architecture patterns, and platform scalability, enabling trusted, value-driven, and compliant data and AI solutions.

Qualifications and Expectations

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a quantitative, technical, or business field (e.g., Computer Science, Engineering, Data Analytics, Business, Information Systems).
• 4+ years of experience in data analytics, machine learning, AI strategy, and/or enterprise technology transformation.
• Advanced proficiency with data platforms (cloud and on-premise), data architecture principles, and modern data engineering stacks.
• Ability to support risk discovery and gap analysis for data security and compliance, contributing to the creation of recommendations and remediation plans.
• Awareness of data governance best practices, data management principles, and frameworks for data quality, lineage, and master data management.
• Understanding of security, privacy, and compliance requirements associated with enterprise data and AI systems, including relevant laws and regulatory frameworks.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills; comfort with quantitative analysis, business case development, and data/AI concepts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to distill complex topics into clear recommendations for senior audiences.
• Collaborative, adaptable mindset with an ability to thrive in fast-paced consulting projects and cross-functional teams.
• Experience supporting client engagements via research, stakeholder interviews, and deliverable development is a plus.

What We Look For

• Leadership: A healthy balance of intellectual curiosity, confidence, humility, creativity, and empathy, with the ability to coach junior team members and senior clients
• Relevant Experience: Technology and business acumen with concrete examples of having helped companies solve complex business problems using a combination of people, process, and technology solutions
• Problem Solving: Innovative problem-solving skills and entrepreneurial spirit, with the ability to turn ideas into action in pursuit of personal, team, and firm growth targets
• Communication Skills: Ability to communicate complex ideas concisely, tailored appropriately for different audiences (executive to operational) and media (presentations, white papers, emails, etc.)
• C-Level Interactions: Ability to produce polished and compelling analyses and recommendations for C-level initiatives
• Relationship Orientation: Willingness to learn from, and collaborate with, others to build strong relationships with clients and team members
• Motivation: Entrepreneurial grit with an outcome-oriented approach to business and an energetic “roll up your sleeves” mentality
• Curiosity: High intellectual curiosity and intrinsic interest in, and knowledge of, emerging technologies and their applications in business contexts
• Work Status: Eligibility to work in the U.S. without sponsorship is preferred

What Metis Strategy Has to Offer

Successful candidates will be motivated by the desire to make a difference by helping our clients achieve and maintain strategic and operational excellence while continuously improving their own skill set and embracing emerging intellectual challenges.

This position is also eligible for bonus compensation. Additional benefits include but are not limited to:

• comprehensive medical insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance;
• parental leave, and family benefits; 
• retirement contributions;
• stipend for continued learning;
• paid time off, and more. 

Compensation and benefits are competitive and will be commensurate with each candidate’s qualifications and relevant work experience. 

If you are driven by the desire to help some of the world’s most renowned companies solve complex business problems and excited by the intersection of business strategy and technological innovation, you will enjoy being a part of our team.

About the Company

About Metis Strategy

Metis Strategy, a management and strategy consulting firm, focused on the intersection of business and technology, continues to grow and is looking for highly motivated individuals to join our San Francisco Bay Area team. We are trusted advisors to Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies, helping them meet their most critical business objectives through tailored engagements and deep professional relationships. We work across industries on topics related to business & digital strategy and navigating organizational change.

We are an entrepreneurial, fast-growing firm headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Dallas, Texas. The firm’s presence from coast to coast allows us to serve clients throughout the United States and internationally. In our 20+ year history, we have established a track record of making lasting impacts on organizational performance and helping executives improve business outcomes. In a career with Metis Strategy you will experience high growth as you encounter new challenges with each client engagement; have a high degree of autonomy to craft the direction of your work; and become empowered to work directly with thought-leaders, C-level clients, and other decision-makers.