AI Strategy Lead Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
AI Strategy Lead roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as a specialty occupation requiring a directly related bachelor's degree or higher. Employers file a Labor Condition Application before your visa petition, and the role's seniority means prevailing wage compliance at Level III or IV is standard. No lottery exemption exists, but cap-exempt employers do. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Description
We are seeking a highly experienced and commercially driven AI Strategy Lead to drive the identification, recruitment, and scaling of strategic AI agent partners at Sage. This role sits at the intersection of technology innovation and commercial execution, requiring deep fluency in AI platforms, tooling, and emerging agent-based ecosystems combined with a strong consultative sales and business development background. As an individual contributor with enterprise-level influence, you will drive outbound partner recruitment, co-innovate on AI-driven solutions, and design scalable business models that unlock new revenue streams. You will possess a “builder mindset” with the ability to operate cross-functionally and deliver measurable outcomes in complex, evolving environments.
You will play a critical role in accelerating AI-driven innovation through the partner ecosystem. By identifying and scaling breakthrough solutions, you'll directly shape the company’s AI portfolio, unlock new commercial opportunities, and ensure competitiveness in rapidly evolving AI markets.
Key Responsibilities
Partner Recruitment & Ecosystem Development
- Identify, prioritize, and recruit high-potential AI agent partners aligned to strategic solution gaps
- Lead outbound partner development efforts, building a pipeline of innovative AI solution providers
- Establish and manage relationships with emerging and established AI ecosystem players
- Lead Sage’s long-term Agentic AI partner strategy
Solution Envisioning & Co-Innovation
- Work directly with partners to co-create AI-driven solutions that address defined market needs
- Translate customer and market requirements into scalable AI solution architectures
- Ensure alignment between partner capabilities and priority business use cases
Business Model Design & Commercialization
- Define and structure commercial models for AI solutions, including pricing, monetization, and go-to-market strategies
- Guide partners from concept through launch, ensuring solutions are market-ready and revenue-generating
- Drive clarity on value propositions, target segments, and route-to-market execution
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Operate as a highly independent leader, influencing across Product, Sales, Marketing, and Partner organizations
- Align internal stakeholders to support partner onboarding, solution launch, and commercialization
- Remove barriers and drive execution in a matrixed organization without direct authority
Success Measures
- Success in this role will be evaluated based on solution gap closure through partner recruitment and commercialization, specifically:
- Recruitment of partners that deliver new AI solutions addressing defined market gaps
- Each “recruited” solution is defined as:
- Successfully launched into market
- Achieving at least three closed-won customer deals
- Demonstrated ability to build a repeatable pipeline of high-impact AI solutions
- Contribution to incremental revenue growth through partner-led innovation
Qualifications & Experience
- Minimum 15+ years of experience in technology, with a strong foundation in Software companies, and/or Technology consulting or advisory firms
- Proven track record in business development, partner strategy, or ecosystem development
- Experience working with or within AI/ML technologies, platforms, and tooling (e.g., AI frameworks, agent architectures, cloud AI services)
- Strong understanding of AI technologies, including modern agent-based systems, LLMs, and platform ecosystems
- Ability to shape opportunities, influence stakeholders, and guide complex solution development
- Deep experience designing business models and driving revenue outcomes
- Experience building and scaling partner networks in emerging technology domains
- Demonstrated ability to independently drive outcomes in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
- Combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution
Perks? We have plenty.
- Competitive salaries that landed us top 5% of similar sized companies (according to Comparably)
- Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage
- 401(k) retirement match (100% matching up to 4%)
- 32 days paid time off (21 personal days, 10 national holidays, 1 floating holiday)
- 18 weeks paid parental leave for birth, adoption or surrogacy offered 1 year after start date
- 5 days paid yearly to volunteer (through Sage Foundation)
- $5,250 tuition reimbursement per calendar year starting 6 months after hire date
- Sage Wellness Rewards Program ($600 wellness credit and $360 fitness reimbursement annually)
- Library of on demand career development options and ongoing training offerings
Dig deeper about who we are:
- Who is Sage:
- Life at Sage:
- Our Values & Behaviors:
- How we make a difference:
- Sage Business Cloud - SaaS for Every Business:
LI-RM1
Job Description
We are seeking a highly experienced and commercially driven AI Strategy Lead to drive the identification, recruitment, and scaling of strategic AI agent partners at Sage. This role sits at the intersection of technology innovation and commercial execution, requiring deep fluency in AI platforms, tooling, and emerging agent-based ecosystems combined with a strong consultative sales and business development background. As an individual contributor with enterprise-level influence, you will drive outbound partner recruitment, co-innovate on AI-driven solutions, and design scalable business models that unlock new revenue streams. You will possess a “builder mindset” with the ability to operate cross-functionally and deliver measurable outcomes in complex, evolving environments.
You will play a critical role in accelerating AI-driven innovation through the partner ecosystem. By identifying and scaling breakthrough solutions, you'll directly shape the company’s AI portfolio, unlock new commercial opportunities, and ensure competitiveness in rapidly evolving AI markets.
Key Responsibilities
Partner Recruitment & Ecosystem Development
- Identify, prioritize, and recruit high-potential AI agent partners aligned to strategic solution gaps
- Lead outbound partner development efforts, building a pipeline of innovative AI solution providers
- Establish and manage relationships with emerging and established AI ecosystem players
- Lead Sage’s long-term Agentic AI partner strategy
Solution Envisioning & Co-Innovation
- Work directly with partners to co-create AI-driven solutions that address defined market needs
- Translate customer and market requirements into scalable AI solution architectures
- Ensure alignment between partner capabilities and priority business use cases
Business Model Design & Commercialization
- Define and structure commercial models for AI solutions, including pricing, monetization, and go-to-market strategies
- Guide partners from concept through launch, ensuring solutions are market-ready and revenue-generating
- Drive clarity on value propositions, target segments, and route-to-market execution
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Operate as a highly independent leader, influencing across Product, Sales, Marketing, and Partner organizations
- Align internal stakeholders to support partner onboarding, solution launch, and commercialization
- Remove barriers and drive execution in a matrixed organization without direct authority
Success Measures
- Success in this role will be evaluated based on solution gap closure through partner recruitment and commercialization, specifically:
- Recruitment of partners that deliver new AI solutions addressing defined market gaps
- Each “recruited” solution is defined as:
- Successfully launched into market
- Achieving at least three closed-won customer deals
- Demonstrated ability to build a repeatable pipeline of high-impact AI solutions
- Contribution to incremental revenue growth through partner-led innovation
Qualifications & Experience
- Minimum 15+ years of experience in technology, with a strong foundation in Software companies, and/or Technology consulting or advisory firms
- Proven track record in business development, partner strategy, or ecosystem development
- Experience working with or within AI/ML technologies, platforms, and tooling (e.g., AI frameworks, agent architectures, cloud AI services)
- Strong understanding of AI technologies, including modern agent-based systems, LLMs, and platform ecosystems
- Ability to shape opportunities, influence stakeholders, and guide complex solution development
- Deep experience designing business models and driving revenue outcomes
- Experience building and scaling partner networks in emerging technology domains
- Demonstrated ability to independently drive outcomes in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
- Combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution
Perks? We have plenty.
- Competitive salaries that landed us top 5% of similar sized companies (according to Comparably)
- Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage
- 401(k) retirement match (100% matching up to 4%)
- 32 days paid time off (21 personal days, 10 national holidays, 1 floating holiday)
- 18 weeks paid parental leave for birth, adoption or surrogacy offered 1 year after start date
- 5 days paid yearly to volunteer (through Sage Foundation)
- $5,250 tuition reimbursement per calendar year starting 6 months after hire date
- Sage Wellness Rewards Program ($600 wellness credit and $360 fitness reimbursement annually)
- Library of on demand career development options and ongoing training offerings
Dig deeper about who we are:
- Who is Sage:
- Life at Sage:
- Our Values & Behaviors:
- How we make a difference:
- Sage Business Cloud - SaaS for Every Business:
LI-RM1
See all 1,345+ AI Strategy Lead Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new AI Strategy Lead roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding AI Strategy Lead Jobs
Map your degree to the role
Consult O*NET to confirm that AI Strategy Lead aligns with your specific degree field, not just computer science broadly. Employers and USCIS both scrutinize whether your credential directly supports strategic AI work, so a business analytics or data science degree may need supplemental documentation.
Target cap-exempt employers first
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government-affiliated entities can file your H-1B petition outside the annual cap and lottery. AI strategy roles exist at these organizations, and a cap-exempt filing means you can start without waiting for a selection cycle.
Verify prevailing wage tier before negotiating
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level III or IV wage for your location and job category before you enter salary discussions. Your employer's LCA must certify that your offered wage meets or exceeds that threshold, so knowing the floor protects your offer from last-minute compliance problems.
Find sponsors through verified LCA history
Search Migrate Mate to identify employers with confirmed LCA filing history for AI strategy and related senior technology roles. Focusing on companies that have already filed for similar positions cuts the time you spend educating hiring managers about the sponsorship process.
Prepare a specialty occupation evidence package
Because AI Strategy Lead is a senior cross-functional role, gather degree transcripts, professional publications, board presentations, or industry conference speaking records before your employer files. USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence questioning whether the position requires a specific degree, and proactive documentation shortens response time significantly.
Clarify PERM timing if pursuing a green card
If your employer plans to sponsor permanent residence, ask whether they'll start the PERM labor certification process during your first H-1B period. For India- or China-born nationals, priority date backlogs mean starting PERM early is the only way to preserve your place in the queue while you're still in H-1B status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an AI Strategy Lead role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, provided the employer can demonstrate that the position normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as computer science, data science, or management information systems. Generic business or general management degrees are harder to defend. Employers often need to show through job posting history or internal documentation that the AI strategy function is inseparable from specialized technical knowledge.
Which visa types can sponsor an AI Strategy Lead position?
H-1B is the primary path and covers the full scope of an AI Strategy Lead's responsibilities. Australian nationals can use the E-3 visa, which has a separate cap and no lottery. Chilean nationals may qualify under H-1B1 and Singaporean nationals under H-1B1 Singapore. All three require a Labor Condition Application filed by the employer and confirmation that the role meets specialty occupation standards. TN visa does not cover this role.
How do I find employers actively sponsoring AI Strategy Lead roles?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified sponsorship history for senior AI and strategy roles, so you can focus your applications on companies that have already committed to the LCA filing process for comparable positions. This is more reliable than applying broadly and hoping a recruiter raises the sponsorship question during screening.
Will an employer's unfamiliarity with AI strategy as a specialty occupation cause problems?
It can. Some employers in this space are early-stage or lack in-house immigration counsel experienced with cross-functional leadership roles. USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence if the job description blends strategy, product, and business development without anchoring the degree requirement clearly. You can reduce this risk by working with an employer who has prior H-1B filing history in similar roles and by supplying a detailed position description before the LCA is filed.
Does a three-year bachelor's degree from outside the U.S. qualify for H-1B specialty occupation purposes?
USCIS evaluates foreign degrees through credential evaluation reports, and a three-year bachelor's degree from countries such as Australia, India, or the UK is often accepted as equivalent to a U.S. four-year bachelor's when the evaluating agency confirms the equivalency. The specific field still matters. A three-year degree in a tangential discipline is less likely to satisfy the specialty occupation requirement than a three-year degree directly aligned with AI or data systems.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored AI Strategy Lead jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.