AI Practice Lead

nexwave is an AI-first Microsoft consultancy helping ambitious organisations become ready for what’s next. Across AI, Data, Cloud and Productivity. We combine deep technical expertise with practical, value-led consulting to design and deliver transformational journeys that create measurable business value. Our senior-led teams work in partnership with customers to modernise technology, build lasting capability and turn AI ambition into realised outcomes. As a growing, AI-native business, we are investing in exceptional people, purposeful innovation and a high-trust environment where talented people can shape the future and make a genuine impact.

AI Practice Lead

Build and Lead nexwave's National AI Practice

Microsoft AI · Generative AI · Applied AI Consulting Melbourne · Sydney · Brisbane · Adelaide | Hybrid | Full-time

The mandate

Own and grow nexwave's AI practice across Australia: strategy, consulting, engineering, Microsoft partnership, go-to-market and delivery. A genuine leadership seat from day one, alongside our founders and our Data, Azure and Modern Applications leaders.

You will not inherit a mature practice. You will build and scale one.

Why this role, why now?

Australian organisations are moving AI from experimentation to production, and they need partners who deliver real outcomes. nexwave is an AI-first Microsoft consultancy built for this moment, and this is the chance to shape an AI practice the way it should be built.

What makes this different?

• A real leadership seat and direct influence over the future of our AI business

• Freedom to build offerings, teams and systems from the ground up

• Deep technical capability and genuine partnerships, without the bureaucracy of traditional consulting

• Investment in your certifications and development

• A competitive package with incentives, hybrid flexibility and a collaborative, low-ego culture

What you'll own

• AI practice strategy, growth and commercial performance (P&L, revenue, utilisation, margin)

• AI consulting and engineering capability, including hiring and capability uplift

• Microsoft AI partnership and co-sell engagement

• Solution development and go-to-market

• Client engagement, delivery oversight and market presence

What you'll lead

Microsoft AI and Generative AI solutions Shape our offerings across Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Foundry, Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Studio, agentic AI, AI-powered applications, AI-enabled data platforms and responsible AI governance.

Go-to-market and client advisory Partner with sales and delivery leaders on AI strategy engagements, solution shaping, pricing and proposals, executive engagement and transformation programs.

Microsoft partnership Strengthen our Microsoft relationship across co-sell, designations, certifications and strategic growth.

Capability and thought leadership Build a high-performing AI team through hiring and mentoring, and represent nexwave in the market through speaking, workshops and executive conversations on applied AI.

What we're looking for

• Experience leading or scaling an AI, Data and AI, Generative AI or Applied AI practice in a consultancy, technology company or enterprise
• Strong commercial track record: consulting growth, P&L ownership, pricing, sales pursuits and executive client engagement
• Deep Microsoft AI expertise: Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, Copilot Studio, Microsoft Fabric, AI governance and enterprise AI architecture
• Technical credibility across generative AI and LLMs, RAG and AI agents, cloud-native AI platforms and enterprise integration
• A builder's mentality: comfortable in ambiguity, able to turn momentum into scalable offerings and teams

Who this is for

Heads of AI, AI Practice Leads, AI Engineering leaders and consulting leaders who would rather build something from the ground up than maintain what already exists.

Ready to build the future of AI consulting?

Apply via LinkedIn, or send your CV and a short note to ***email_hidden***.